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2018 Chinon Blanc “La Croix Boissée”

Bernard Baudry
Discount Eligible $48.00
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A mere three percent of vineyard land in the Chinon appellation is dedicated to Chenin Blanc, the star cépage in the rare, precious Chinon blanc. As it turns out, Chenin is just as well adapted to Chinon’s great tuffeau sites as is Cabernet Franc, the AOC’s dominant grape. These white limestone soils yield the most profound and structured wines in both colors, and Baudry’s Croix Boissée is among the very finest. The broad-shouldered and intensely chalky 2018 will benefit from a good decanting or, better yet, a long slumber in a cool place.

Anthony Lynch


Technical Information
Wine Type: white
Vintage: 2018
Bottle Size: 750mL
Blend: Chenin Blanc
Appellation: Chinon
Country: France
Region: Loire
Producer: Bernard Baudry
Vineyard: .5 ha, Planted between 1994 and 2004
Soil: Clay, Sand, White Limestone
Farming: Organic (practicing)
Alcohol: 13.5%

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About The Region

Loire

map of Loire

The defining feature of the Loire Valley, not surprisingly, is the Loire River. As the longest river in France, spanning more than 600 miles, this river connects seemingly disparate wine regions. Why else would Sancerre, with its Kimmeridgian limestone terroir be connected to Muscadet, an appellation that is 250 miles away?

Secondary in relevance to the historical, climatic, environmental, and cultural importance of the river are the wines and châteaux of the Jardin de la France. The kings and nobility of France built many hundreds of châteaux in the Loire but wine preceded the arrival of the noblesse and has since out-lived them as well.

Diversity abounds in the Loire. The aforementioned Kimmderidgian limestone of Sancerre is also found in Chablis. Chinon, Bourgueil, and Saumur boast the presence of tuffeau, a type of limestone unique to the Loire that has a yellowish tinge and a chalky texture. Savennières has schist, while Muscadet has volcanic, granite, and serpentinite based soils. In addition to geologic diversity, many, grape varieties are grown there too: Cabernet Franc, Chenin Blanc, Sauvignon Blanc, and Melon de Bourgogne are most prevalent, but (to name a few) Pinot Gris, Grolleau, Pinot Noir, Pineau d’Aunis, and Folle Blanche are also planted. These myriad of viticultural influences leads to the high quality production of every type of wine: red, white, rosé, sparkling, and dessert.

Like the Rhône and Provence, some of Kermit’s first imports came from the Loire, most notably the wines of Charles Joguet and Château d’Epiré—two producers who are featured in Kermit’s book Adventures on the Wine Route and with whom we still work today.

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Old wine bottles

Let the brett nerds retire into protective bubbles, and whenever they thirst for wine it can be passed in to them through a sterile filter. Those of us on the outside can continue to enjoy complex, natural, living wines.

Inspiring Thirst, page 236