Domaine François Chidaine : Les Grillonnières by Alice Chidaine 2023

Characteristics and tasting notes for the Montlouis-sur-Loire 2023 Domaine François Chidaine

Tasting notes

Nose
The aromatic bouquet reveals itself as complex, carried by scents of stone fruit such as white peach and pear, mingled with notes of citrus blossom and subtle herbaceous touches reminiscent of dried hay. With aeration, a marked minerality of chalk and flint emerges.

Palate
The attack is dry and guided by a beautifully refined acidity. On the palate, this French white wine offers a superb balance between generous substance and vibrant freshness. The finish, lively and saline, lingers on mineral notes of wet stone, enhanced by a delicate and noble bitterness.

Food and wine pairing

This wine pairs wonderfully with seafood such as oysters, clams or scallops. It also enhances white fish, whether grilled, poached or served raw as ceviche. On the cheese side, it goes ideally with fresh or aged goat cheeses. Finally, it pairs very well with poultry in a light cream sauce, asparagus or a summer salad.

Service and storage

Blessed with excellent potential, this Montlouis-sur-Loire 2023 can continue to evolve in the cellar and be enjoyed until around 2038.

Other characteristics

This wine has an alcohol content of 13.5% and retains around 4.7 grams per liter of residual sugar, placing it in the category of dry wines while giving it a pleasant textural sweetness.

The authentic expression of a white wine from Montlouis-sur-Loire

The estate

Founded in 1989 by François and Manuela Chidaine with just two hectares, Domaine François Chidaine is today an essential reference in the Loire Valley. Located in Montlouis-sur-Loire, the estate spans 37 hectares across several appellations. Still led by François Chidaine, now supported by his children Alice and Pierre, the domaine stands out for its pioneering commitment to biodynamic farming since 1999. Respect for living organisms, soil preservation and the meticulous enhancement of each plot lie at the heart of this iconic producer's philosophy.

The vineyard

The Montlouis-sur-Loire vineyard benefits from a privileged geographical location at the confluence of the Loire and the Cher rivers, offering ideal sunshine and a moderating oceanic influence. The vines root deeply into a subsoil of tuffeau, a limestone rock typical of the region, covered with clay-limestone soils rich in flint fragments known locally as choisilles. The estate practices soil conservation farming by encouraging natural grass cover and winter eco-grazing with Solognote sheep to boost biodiversity.

The vintage

The year 2023 was marked by particularly challenging climatic conditions in the region. Despite these environmental challenges, which limited yields, this vintage allowed the aromas of the grapes to concentrate, resulting in an undeniable success for the white wines, which stand out for their remarkable precision.

Winemaking and aging

The harvest is entirely manual, carried out through successive sortings to select berries at optimal ripeness. After a slow, gentle pneumatic pressing, fermentation of this Montlouis-sur-Loire 2023 begins naturally through indigenous yeasts in 620-liter wooden demi-muids. This process can last up to six months, with no malolactic fermentation sought. The wine is then aged on full lees in the same vessels for six to eight months, or even longer, to enrich its texture and complexity.

Grape variety

100% Chenin Blanc.