Montlouis les choisilles 2022 (Francois Chidaine)

Drink it now or cellar for up to 15 years. No need to decant, but best to open it half an hour before service. After years of working in the family winery, in 1989, François Chidaine decided to set up his own business and founded his estate in Montlouis-sur-Loire, in the heart of the Touraine. In 1992 he began converting his estate to organic practices and in 1999, he switched to biodynamic. Today the estate extends over 45 hectares, divided into numerous small plots, where Chenin Blanc is the most cultivated grape variety. The Chenin Blanc grapes (locally called Pineau de Loire) come from vines aged between 30 and 90 years, located in the Montlouis-sur-Loire appellation on calcareous-clayey soils, rich in silex and tuff. The harvest is manual and takes place in different phases to guarantee perfect maturation. The must ferments with indigenous yeasts in 620-liter demi-muids. The wine is then aged for 6-8 months on its lees. Francois Chidaine Montlouis Les Choisilles has a bright straw color. On the nose, it reveals a fruity aromatic profile with notes of white peach and flowers followed by some mineral hints. On the palate, it is elegant and delicate, fresh and balanced. The finish is pleasantly mineral. Try it as an aperitif, with baked sea bass, prawns, or goat cheese.