2023 Baudry - Chinon Domaine (750ml)

Bernard Baudry is widely regarded as one of Chinon's finest producers, prized both for his consistency vintage after vintage and for vineyard holdings that showcase the full range of soils found across the appellation. After completing his viticultural studies in Beaune, Bernard returned to the Loire and purchased his first two hectares in Cravant-les-Coteaux in 1975, a village responsible for nearly half of all Chinon produced. The estate has since grown to roughly thirty hectares, with son Matthieu now working alongside his father while holding firmly to the family's traditionalist approach.

Le Domaine draws mainly from a parcel near Les Mollières in Saint-Louans, where thin sand and clay sit over limestone, rounded out by fruit from the lower reaches of Clos Guillot on similar soils. Farmed organically and made entirely from Cabernet Franc, the wine ferments with native yeasts before resting for fifteen months in wooden vats and cement, aged with almost no added sulfur. This slow, hands-off process lets the distinct character of each parcel come through clearly in the finished wine.

The 2023 offers elegant aromas of berry, wet stone, and herbs, with supple, fresh red fruit and mineral flavors carrying through the palate. It drinks well now but has the structure to reward another five to ten years in the cellar. Pair it with game, roasted duck, or a plate of wild mushrooms.