Tasting Notes
Organic. Reship. A lip-smacking, crystalline Chenin from the southern soils of the Limoux region (more famous for its sparkling wines), made in the spirit of Montlouis. Chenin d'Ailleurs means ‘Chenin from another place’. If you haven’t heard how the story started, in 2016 Chidaine lost most of his Loire Valley fruit to frost. His friends and seasoned winegrowers, the Fort family, offered up part of their harvest to François to make his own wine. In the hands of a Chenin master, this fruit continues to produce a white worth every one of those many kilometres regularly driven by François Chidaine up and down the long L’Occitane highway.
This a juicer and more playful style than the grower’s northern Chenin, yet it remains classically minimalist, detailed and pure. It has ripe citrus, golden delicious and creamed honey notes, a flowing and nicely textured palate, and a twist of earthy complexity to the juicy finish. The note below gives you a fair clue to the value on offer. - Importer Note
In France's Loire Valley, Chenin Blanc might be synonymous with the famed region of Vouvray, but François Chidaine has put the smaller, lesser known Montlouis sur Loire on the map.
Yes, Chidaine has done for Chenin in the Loire what Didier Dagueneau did for its Sauvignon Blanc, creating a renaissance of winemaking in Montlouis and resuscitating sites in Vouvray. His reputation amongst Loire vignerons should bring no surprise that in his youth, Dagueneau's own son Benjamin sought to gain experience from Chidaine.
Although Chidaine's Vouray vineyard wine, the Baudoin, is declassified to Vin de France on account of it being vinified across the river border, the collection really speaks of the terroir of Montlouis. Les Bournais is perhaps the the most "Vouvray-esque" of the Montlouis, but even the Chenin d'Ailleur, the Chenin "from another place" really echoes Chidaine's spirit of Montlouis. First made in 2016 when Chidaine lost most of his fruit to ferocious frosts, the Fort family in Limoux, Languedoc offered up part of their Chenin harvest to the Chenin Master. Despite more ideal conditions in the Loire over the past years, the relationship has weathered the storm, now with the third vintage of the Vin de France as a more playful and juicy offering amongst Chidaine's classic style.
The Montlouis sur Loire wines from François Chidaine are deep, powerful, layered and textural. Whole bunch, wild ferment and long ageing on lees in larger format neutral oak with a very considerate, hands off approach in the cellar gently guide these wines to bottle. A true master.
| Product Type | Wine White Chenin Blanc |
| Volume | 750ml |
| Country | France |
| Region | Languedoc |
| Sub Region | Limoux |
| Winemaking Practices | Minimal Intervention |
| Vineyard Practices | Organic/Biodynamic |