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2018 Chinon Blanc “La Croix Boissée”
Bernard BaudryA 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
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% |
More from this Producer or Region
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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.
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2021 Bourgueil “Franc de Pied”
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2020 Chinon “Les Petites Roches”
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2022 Coteaux du Loir Blanc
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2021 Bourgueil “La Dilettante”
Catherine & Pierre Breton France | Loire
2022 Saumur Champigny “Cuvée Domaine”
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2021 Val de Loire Blanc “Cirrus”
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2022 Muscadet “Le Clos de la Butte”
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2022 Vin de France Rouge “Le Martray”
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2020 Saumur Champigny “Outre Terre”
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Kermit once said...
Kermit once said...
When buying red Burgundy, I think we should remember:
1. Big wines do not age better than light wine.
2. A so-called great vintage at the outset does not guarantee a great vintage for the duration.
3. A so-called off vintage at the outset does not mean the wines do not have a brilliant future ahead of them.
4. Red Burgundy should not taste like Guigal Côte-Rôtie, even if most wine writers wish it would.
5. Don’t follow leaders; watch yer parking meters.
Inspiring Thirst, page 174