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2013 Chinon “La Croix Boissée”
Bernard BaudryBernard Baudry, now joined by his son Matthieu, is a master of terroir-driven winemaking in the Loire Valley. Cabernet Franc is the common denominator here, but the Baudry vineyards span a range of soil types—sand, gravel, clay, limestone, chalk—yielding fascinatingly diverse expressions of the same grape. La Croix Boissée is among the domaine’s deepest, most complex, and longest-aging reds: sourced from a south-facing slope of clay over white tuffeau limestone, this cuvée demonstrates the grandeur and finesse Cabernet Franc is capable of achieving in the right site. Aged for two years in oak and bottled unfiltered, this high-caliber red could humiliate many a Bordeaux sold for ten times the price. Its trademark is a rich aroma of ripe black fruits, a mouthwatering acidity, and dense, chalky tannins that provide a clean, pure, refreshing finish. An excellent cellar candidate if you have ten or twenty years to spare, this Chinon can also be enjoyed today with rustic, earthy cuisine.
—Anthony Lynch
Wine Type: | red |
Vintage: | 2013 |
Bottle Size: | 750mL |
Blend: | Cabernet Franc |
Appellation: | Chinon |
Country: | France |
Region: | Loire |
Producer: | Bernard Baudry |
Farming: | Organic (practicing) |
Alcohol: | 12% |
More from this Producer or Region
2022 Chinon Blanc
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A rare Chenin Blanc from the land of Cabernet Franc. Ultra fresh and brimming with citrus blossom and orchard fruit notes, it has a saline, mineral finish that leaves my palate simultaneously satisfied and begging for more. Try it with fresh trout, grilled whole topped with chimichurri or smoked and tossed into a Niçoise salad.
2021 Chinon
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It is fresh and buoyant enough for casual fare yet has the stuffing to accompany heartier dishes, while its vivid raspberry fruit makes it extremely approachable today, notwithstanding its medium-term aging potential.
2020 Chinon “La Croix Boissée”
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This is the grandest bottling of Cabernet Franc from one of Chinon’s most outstanding producers.
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This downright Burgundian wine shows off the savory spine and weightless concentration imparted by this particular site.
2022 Grolleau “Franc de Pied”
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Brambly berries and lifted floral notes combine with an earthy coolness and touch of spice in this red whose low alcohol level makes it even easier to fervently slurp down.
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At first, it is streamlined, saline, and full of lemon. Then the granite terroir kicks in...
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Put a slight chill on it, pop the cork, and inhale its lively perfume: the floral fragrance and bright, juicy fruit—picture fresh-squeezed berries—are simply irresistible.
2022 Chinon Rosé
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Matthieu Baudry captures both youthful fruit and energizing mineral textures with this rosé.
2020 Chinon “Le Clos Guillot”
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Even though all of the wines hail from Chinon, the soil, elevation, and exposition all combine to make Le Clos Guillot their cuvée with the most finesse.
2021 Chinon “Les Grézeaux”
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A textbook Chinon like this merits simple, rustic cuisine such as roast game, baked potatoes, and sautéed porcini mushrooms.
About The Producer
Bernard Baudry
About The Region
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.
More from Loire or France
2021 Chinon “Cuvée Terroir”
Charles Joguet France | Loire
2021 Sancerre “Les Cris”
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2022 Sancerre
Domaine Hippolyte Reverdy France | Loire
2023 Cheverny
Domaine du Salvard France | Loire
2022 Coteaux du Loir Rouge “Cuvée du Rosier”
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2019 Chinon “Clos du Chêne Vert”
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2021 Vin de France Blanche
Domaine Michel Brégeon France | Loire
2020 Saumur Champigny “Outre Terre”
Thierry Germain France | Loire
2022 Cheverny
Domaine du Salvard France | Loire
2022 Chinon Blanc
Bernard Baudry France | Loire
2022 Savennières
Château d'Epiré France | Loire
2022 Muscadet “Le Clos de la Butte”
Eric Chevalier France | Loire
2021 Chinon “Cuvée Terroir”
Charles Joguet France | Loire
2021 Sancerre “Les Cris”
Daniel Chotard France | Loire
2022 Sancerre
Domaine Hippolyte Reverdy France | Loire
2023 Cheverny
Domaine du Salvard France | Loire
2022 Coteaux du Loir Rouge “Cuvée du Rosier”
Pascal Janvier France | Loire
2019 Chinon “Clos du Chêne Vert”
Charles Joguet France | Loire
2021 Vin de France Blanche
Domaine Michel Brégeon France | Loire
2020 Saumur Champigny “Outre Terre”
Thierry Germain France | Loire
2022 Cheverny
Domaine du Salvard France | Loire
2022 Chinon Blanc
Bernard Baudry France | Loire
2022 Savennières
Château d'Epiré France | Loire
2022 Muscadet “Le Clos de la Butte”
Eric Chevalier France | Loire
Kermit once said...
Kermit once said...
Great winemakers, great terroirs, there is never any hurry. And I no longer buy into this idea of “peak” maturity. Great winemakers, great terroirs, their wines offer different pleasures at different ages.
Inspiring Thirst, page 312