Francois Chidaine Clos de Baudoin 2024 (13.5%)

A dry single-vineyard Chenin Blanc from the Loire Valley, made by Domaine François Chidaine in Montlouis-sur-Loire. The 2024 vintage comes from the historic Clos de Baudoin site, with deep flinty clay soils over tuffeau chalk, and is made from 100% Chenin Blanc from 30- to 90-year-old vines. The fruit is hand-harvested, whole-cluster pressed and fermented with indigenous yeasts in 600-litre oak barrels, with no malolactic fermentation, then aged on fine lees in neutral oak for about 11 to 12 months. The wine is organic and biodynamic. It shows fresh quince, green apple, white peach and lemon oil, with flinty smoke, wet wool, honeycomb and crushed chalk. The palate is medium-bodied, with dense fruit texture and crystalline acidity.