Description
About Domaine François Chidaine
How else can we praise this inspiring Loire Valley grower? We’ve exhausted our thesaurus of superlatives. Instead, let’s hear from the experts: “Chidaine is one of the world’s finest craftsmen in the medium of white wine” (David Schildknecht); “The Pope of Montlouis and Vouvray—just a sublimely great producer” (Rajat Parr and Jordan Mackay); “There are times when I can imagine drinking only his wines for the rest of my life” (Peter Liem); and “The modern ascendence of Montlouis essentially wouldn’t have happened were it not for François and Manuela Chidaine” (Jon Bonné). You get the picture.
In other news from the domaine, François and Manuela’s daughter, Alice Chidaine, has taken on a key role in the cellar. Before returning to Montlouis, Alice apprenticed with Clos Rougeard and Dagueneau in the Loire Valley and worked vintage with Chris Alheit in Swartland, gaining a first-class education. Alice’s younger brother Pierre is also making his mark in viticulture. Both siblings are crafting their own wines within the portfolio—Alice with Les Grillonnières and Pierre with the domaine’s newest single-site cuvée, Les Epinays. These wines are featured below. If we were François, we might be a little nervous; the kids are doing a fantastic job! Additionally, the family continues to invest in the trendy Wineglobes, with François appreciating the extended fermentations and precision these glass vessels allow.
Today, we feature wines from two contrasting vintages. After several warm seasons, 2021 marked a return to the chiselled and racy Chidaine style of 2010 and 2014, with a touch more ripeness. Late last year, François expressed his love for the ‘coiled’ style of the year and believes these wines will come into their own with a few years of aging—though we think they’re already quite appealing. In contrast, 2022 was sunnier with an earlier harvest. Well-timed rains and cooler nights later in the season have imbued Chidaine’s ’22s with terrific freshness and vibrancy. Expect luminous yet beautifully structured dry Chenins with excellent density, ripe acidity, and a hint of phenolic tension.
If you’re a wine enthusiast looking for exceptional bottles to add to your collection, these offerings from Chidaine are not to be missed. Experience the exquisite craftsmanship and distinct terroir of the Loire Valley in every sip. Cheers!
