2024 Baudry - Chinon Les Granges (750ml)

Bernard Baudry founded his estate in the mid-1970s with just a couple of hectares, quickly earning a reputation throughout the Loire Valley for precise, terroir-driven interpretations of Chinon's signature Cabernet Franc. His son Matthieu joined the domaine in 2000 and led its conversion to organic farming, achieving certification in 2006 while expanding the estate's holdings to thirty two hectares across a diverse patchwork of gravel, limestone, and sandy soils in Chinon and neighboring Cravant-les-Coteaux. Today the Baudrys are counted among the appellation's most celebrated producers.

Les Granges comes from eight hectares of vines along the Vienne River in Cravant, planted on nearly pure sand and gravel with almost no clay, a warm, fast-draining site that favors early ripeness and avoids the leafy, vegetal notes Cabernet Franc can show on cooler ground. Grapes are hand harvested, destemmed without crushing, and moved by gravity into unlined cement vats, where fermentation proceeds spontaneously with native yeasts and no temperature control. The wine macerates for roughly two weeks before aging seven to ten months in concrete, then is bottled without filtration, with only minimal sulfur used throughout.

The glass shows a ruby red color with aromas of red plum, cherry, and floral perfume, layered with a touch of savory spice. The palate is light to medium bodied, bright and fresh, with smooth, powdery tannins and a clean, uncomplicated finish. Its lively character makes it an easy match for grilled sausages, roast chicken, or a simple charcuterie board.