Winemaker Notes
The Grand Cru site of Clos Baudoin is gifted in its 60+ year old vines. The small amount of wine that Chidaine makes from this historic site is sleek and fine, with more depth and dimension than his other Vouvrays. Chidaine feels this site expresses itself well as a sec wine, therefore the fruit from this site is always vinified dry.
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
From 15-year-old vines on clays and white chalk, the 2019 Vin de France Baudoin has to be marketed as such because it is cultivated and harvested in Vouvray yet bottled in Montlouis (welcome to the 21st century). Bright, intensely aromatic yet refined and with delicate yellow-fleshed fruit aromas on the limestone-grounded nose, this is a delicate, pure and fresh, highly tensioned but also lush and perfectly balanced and juicy Chenin Blanc with fine tannin grip, sustainable salinity and remarkable finesse. This is too young to be served today, but this is a highly promising Chenin with the concentration that a wine needs for long aging capacity. Tasted in March 2021.
Unquestionably one of the most diverse grape varieties, Chenin Blanc can do it all. It shines in every style from bone dry to unctuously sweet, oaked or unoaked, still or sparkling and even as the base for fortified wines and spirits. Perhaps Chenin Blanc’s greatest asset is its ever-present acidity, maintained even under warm growing conditions. Somm Secret—Landing in South Africa in the mid 1800s, today the country has double the acreage of Chenin Blanc planted compared to France. There is also a new wave of dedicated producers committed to restoring old Chenin vines.
A small category representing the wines that either fall outside of appellation lines or don’t subscribe to the law and traditions set forth by the French government within certain classified appellations, “Vin De France” is a catch-all that includes some of the most basic French wines as well as those of superior quality. The category includes large production, value-driven wines. It also includes some that were made with a great deal of creativity, diligence and talent by those who desire to make wine outside of governmental restrictions. These used to be called Vin de Table (table wine) but were renamed to compete with other European countries' wines of similar quality.