François Chidaine, Montlouis Sec, Les Choisilles, Montlouis-sur-Loire, Touraine, Loire, France, 2022

Producer Profile

François Chidaine is the producer who put Montlouis firmly back on the map of world class Chenin Blanc’s.

An early disciple of ‘Biodynamie’, he has succeeded in producing some of the most elegant Loire whites with consistently great balance between ripeness and structure.

Viticulture

Coming from single vineyard, ‘Les Choisilles’ is a selection of François’ oldest vines aged 30-90 years old selected from across Montlouis on Deep clay-calcareous and coarse flint soils called ‘Les Perruches’. Planting density: 6,600 vines per hectare. The subsoil is made from Tuffeau and soft limestone. Hand harvested in several ‘tris’ with low yields (43 hl/ht) and hand-sorted in the vineyards. The vineyard is managed using Biodynamics. No chemical phytosanitary products are used in the vineyard. The soils are grassed, and flowering and nematicidal plants are sown in the rows. The preparations used come solely from transformed plant, animal, and mineral materials. Clos Habert, Bournais, Clos du Breuil and Les Choisilles are all single vineyard wines.

Winemaking

After pressing in a pneumatic press, the fermentation is carried out by indigenous yeasts in demi-muids (600L oak barrels) for up to six months. The wine does not undergo malolactic fermentation. The wine is matured on the fine lees in the same 600L oak barrels for 11 months.

Tasting Note

A mineral-driven Chenin Blanc, showcasing a pale straw colour with subtle green hues. The nose is lively and pure, offering fresh aromas of green apple, white peach, quince, and a delicate floral touch of hawthorn blossom. Underlying these are intriguing notes of wet stone, crushed chalk, and a whisper of wild honey. The palate is crisp and focused, with bright acidity balancing a textured mid-palate and a lively saline minerality. Flavours of citrus peel, pear, and almond interplay gracefully, culminating in a long, clean, and refreshing finish. A beautifully precise and elegant expression of Montlouis terroir.

Food Matching

The wine’s zesty acidity and mineral backbone also complement oyster platters or light sushi and sashimi dishes.