Domaine François Chidaine - Montlouis-sur-Loire Les Grillonnières 2023
A grand Chenin de Loire, between tension, depth and elegance
The Domaine François Chidaine Les Grillonnières 2023 is one of the most refined cuvées in the appellation Montlouis-sur-Loire. Made from very old Chenin Blanc vines grown using organic and biodynamic methods, this white wine precisely expresses all the nobility of the great Loire terroirs.
This parcel-based cuvée, now carried by Alice Chidaine, reveals a style that is at once taut, deep and delicately gourmand. It perfectly illustrates the domaine's philosophy: to produce precise, lively terroir wines capable of standing the test of time.
A historic terroir of Montlouis-sur-Loire
Les Grillonnières is a small parcel located on the clay-siliceous, flint-rich terroirs of Montlouis-sur-Loire. The southern exposure favors optimal ripening of the Chenin while retaining a natural freshness essential to the wine's balance.
The vines, which are around a hundred years old, plunge their roots deep into the soil, giving rise to particularly concentrated and complex grapes. This age brings:
- aromatic depth
- fuller texture
- greater length on the palate .
This terroir produces particularly precise and elegant Montlouis.
A benchmark in organic and biodynamic viticulture
The estate François Chidaine is a benchmark in the Loire for its organic and biodynamic approach. Organic farming has been practiced since the early 1990s, while biodynamic farming was gradually introduced from 1999.
Work in the vineyard is based on:
- the absence of synthetic chemical products
- respect for natural balances
- controlled yields
- manual harvesting
This requirement allows us to precisely reveal the identity of the terroir and the purity of Chenin Blanc.
Low-intervention winemaking
The winemaking at Les Grillonnières follows a logic of precision and respect for living things:
- fermentation with indigenous yeasts
- aging on fine lees
- minimal intervention
The aim is to preserve the natural expression of fruit and terroir without masking the finesse of Chenin.
This approach results in a particularly lively and nuanced wine.
A precise, mineral and luminous Chenin Blanc
Made exclusively from Chenin Blanc, Domaine François Chidaine Les Grillonnières 2023 develops a profile of great elegance.
Tasting notes:
- intense nose of yellow lemon, lime and white fruits
- delicate floral notes
- fine, precise minerality
- full, taut mouthfeel
- remarkable balance between richness and freshness
- long, saline finish
This cuvée stands out for its ability to combine greed, tension and finesse in a very Loire style.
A grand blanc de gastronomie
Les Grillonnières goes far beyond being simply a wine for immediate pleasure. Thanks to its structure and precision, this cuvée is the perfect accompaniment to refined cuisine.
It goes ideally with:
- noble fish
- crustaceans
- oysters
- creamed poultry
- gourmet cuisine
Its natural tension and texture also allow it to evolve very well at the table.
Excellent aging potential
Thanks to the quality of the old vines and the balance of the 2023 vintage, this Montlouis has excellent ageing potential.
With time, it will develop:
- honey and wax notes
- more complexity
- a more melted textureEstimated aging potential: 8 to 12 years.
A cuvée emblematic of the revival of the Loire's great Chenins
The Domaine François Chidaine is today considered one of the Loire's leading Chenin Blanc producers, regularly cited by connoisseurs and professionals alike as an unmissable benchmark.
Les Grillonnières 2023 perfectly illustrates this high standard with a wine:
- precise
- deep
- elegant
- capable of rivaling the greatest French whites
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