François Chidaine - Montlouis sur Loire Les Choisilles 2022 (sec)

Bettane & Desseauve

About the estate:

François Chidaine, one of the leaders of the Montlouis wine revival, brings out all the nuances of each plot of land, from flinty clay to white Tuffeau chalk, using biodynamic farming methods. Reviving around ten hectares of Vouvray vineyards on the other bank, this winemaker, who is well supported by his wife Manuela, can now also count on his children Alice and Pierre, who have joined the estate. These great gastronomic wines improve with age.

Decanter

About wine:

The wine has a golden color and a citrus nose with a scent of lemon sorbet. The palate is rich and round, barely dry with 3 g/l of residual sugar and a sweetness reminiscent of pineapple for the vibrant fruit. It is clean and crisp, with a delicious freshness and chalky minerality. Wonderful balance and elegance, with the light texture that Chenin achieves in Montlouis. The finish is savory and salty. Very pleasant to drink. The wine undergoes a long fermentation in old 600-liter oak barrels before resting on the lees in the same containers for about six more months.

Robert Parker - Wine Advocate

About wine:

Vinified and aged for eight months in demi-muids, the Montlouis-sur-Loire Les Choisilles 2022 is particularly flamboyant in this vintage. It opens with a lively bouquet of exotic fruits, ripe pear, flowers, spices, and a subtle hint of reduction. Medium to full-bodied, it is concentrated and fleshy, framed by a delicate thread of gastronomic bitterness that gives it tension and complexity. The finish is long, deep, and layered. More structured and dense than the Clos du Breuil, its 2.6 grams of residual sugar contribute to its balance and promise a graceful evolution over the next 15 years.

RVF - La Revue du Vin de France / Guide des Meilleurs Vins de France

About wine:

With more fresh aromatic nuances, Les Choisilles reveals itself with finesse.

About the estate:

Since his beginnings in 1989, François Chidaine has become a major player in the Loire Valley white wine scene, an outstanding winemaker now revered by many other vintners. He is one of those who brought Montlouis, his original stronghold, to prominence. In the early 2000s, he expanded into Vouvray, notably taking over the Clos Baudoin estate from the Poniatowski family. With the help of his wife Manuela, François has continuously refined his winemaking and aging techniques, carrying out highly demanding work in the vineyards, which have been certified biodynamic since 1999. We cannot praise highly enough the level achieved by the wines of this exceptional winemaker. The vins de France are in fact Vouvrays which, as they are vinified outside their appellation zone, cannot claim this designation. The range consists of blends from different plots (Choisilles, Argiles, Tuffeaux, Moelleux) and unique lieux-dits (Clos du Breuil, Les Bournais, Clos Habert, Baudoin). The sparkling fruitiness of these wines requires a few years of cellaring to open up and reveal their full potential. This estate is a must for any lover of the great expressions of Chenin from the Loire Valley. The transition to his children Pierre and Alice is going smoothly.