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2020 Chinon
Bernard Baudry

Baudry’s cellar
Since Bernard Baudry launched his domaine in 1975, the name has been synonymous with classic, terroir-driven Chinon. Bernard has since increased the domaine’s holdings to thirty hectares and passed the torch to his son Matthieu, but the philosophy has not changed: organic viticulture and native yeast fermentations remain the norm, with each cuvée showcasing the diversity of soils that give rise to distinctive expressions of the Cabernet Franc grape.
The “Domaine” bottling is a blend of fruit from gravel and clay soils, giving a highly representative snapshot of the Chinon appellation. 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. A versatile wine with excellent typicity, this red represents a perfect introduction to the Baudry estate, to the wines of Chinon, and to Cabernet Franc in general.
—Anthony Lynch
PJ Blandori's Pick
Feels like we're in Paris when drinking this expression of Cabernet Franc. With the changing seasons ahead, cozy up to this peppery red and all your favorite fall meals.
Wine Type: | red |
Vintage: | 2020 |
Bottle Size: | 750mL |
Blend: | Cabernet Franc |
Appellation: | Chinon |
Country: | France |
Region: | Loire |
Producer: | Bernard Baudry |
Winemaker: | Matthieu & Bernard Baudry |
Vineyard: | 30 years |
Soil: | Gravel, Clay, Silica |
Aging: | Aged in cement and wood cuves for respectively nine and twelve months |
Farming: | Organic (practicing) |
Alcohol: | 13% |
More from this Producer or Region

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Sourced from 110+ year-old vines, this is hands-down one of the best Cab Francs being made in the Loire Valley today.

2020 Saumur Champigny “Clos de l’Échelier”
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Fine, with bright acid, sleek silkiness, and great length, it is the most elegant of all of Thierry’s red wines.

2021 Bourgueil “La Dilettante”
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A delicate, aromatic red in the “drink now!” vein.

2022 Chinon “Le Domaine”
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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.

2023 Chinon Rosé
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Matthieu Baudry captures both youthful fruit and energizing mineral textures with this rosé.

2021 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 “La Croix Boissée”
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This is the grandest bottling of Cabernet Franc from one of Chinon’s most outstanding producers.

2020 Vin de France Rosé Grolleau/Cabernet Franc “Les Arceaux”
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Intensely dry and mineral, the structured Les Arceaux is a bottle to pair with a meal rather than to drink as an apéritif.

2024 Sancerre
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Textbook Sancerre: bright and citrusy, with a clean, stony finish.

2022 Chinon Blanc
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Ultra fresh and brimming with citrus blossom and orchard fruit notes, it has a saline, mineral finish that leaves my palate begging for more.
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 Kimmeridgian 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
2024 Chardonnay
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2020 Saumur Champigny “Clos de l’Échelier”
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2022 Chinon “Le Domaine”
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2021 Chinon “Le Clos Guillot”
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2024 Jasnières
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2023 Chinon Rosé
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2020 Chinon “Clos du Chêne Vert”
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2022 Vouvray “Le Portail”
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2024 Chardonnay
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2024 Bourgueil Rosé “La Ritournelle”
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2020 Saumur Champigny “Clos de l’Échelier”
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2022 Chinon “Le Domaine”
Bernard Baudry France | Loire
2024 Vouvray “Les Fondraux”
Champalou France | Loire
2023 Chinon “Beaux Monts”
Catherine & Pierre Breton France | Loire
2021 Chinon “Le Clos Guillot”
Bernard Baudry France | Loire
2024 Jasnières
Pascal Janvier France | Loire
2023 Chinon Rosé
Bernard Baudry France | Loire
2018 Saumur Blanc “Le Clos du Moulin”
Thierry Germain France | Loire
2020 Chinon “Clos du Chêne Vert”
Charles Joguet France | Loire
2022 Vouvray “Le Portail”
Champalou France | Loire
Vintage Chart Mentality

Vintage Chart Mentality
Trust the great winemakers, trust the great vineyards. Your wine merchant might even be trustworthy. In the long run, that vintage strip may be the least important guide to quality on your bottle of wine.—Kermit Lynch