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2020 Chinon
Bernard Baudry

One producer who is largely responsible for Chinon’s notoriety is Bernard Baudry, and his son Matthieu, who now manages the domaine. The Baudrys farm vineyards scattered across Chinon, from parcels that sit on clay-and-limestone slopes to those nestled along a gravel-and-sand riverbank. They accordingly produce many unique styles of wine even though they all fall within the appellation of Chinon. This cuvée comes from their highest vineyard, which rests on a plateau of gravel, sand, and limestone, and it is arguably their best entry point into the charm of Loire Valley Cabernet Franc, lithe and less dense than the bottlings from their clay-and-limestone terroirs. Spontaneous fermentation and unfiltered bottling lead to a delicate, peppery wine with notes of blackberries, currants, and leather. Matthieu Baudry says the reds of Chinon are best enjoyed with food, and this particular bottling is versatile enough to accompany a wide range of plats, from lentil soup to charcuterie to roast chicken.
—Tom Wolf
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

2019 Chinon “La Croix Boissée”
France | Loire
Drink Later: This is the grandest bottling of Cabernet Franc from one of Chinon’s most outstanding producers.

2021 Chinon Rosé
France | Loire
Matthieu Baudry captures both youthful fruit and energizing mineral textures with this rosé.

2021 Chinon Blanc
France | Loire
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 “Les Granges”
France | Loire
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.

2020 Vouvray “Pierres Rousses”
France | Loire
This wine is deep and textural, with serious presence on the palate and a dry, flinty finish.

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

2021 Chinon Rosé
France | Loire
One of the first rosés Kermit imported, this wine has been consistently delicious for four decades.

2019 Bourgeuil “Cuvée Beauvais”
France | Loire
Smooth and seductive on the palate, Cuvée Beauvais offers a resurgence of silky fruit and florals—like blackberries and roses, without the thorns.

Vouvray Brut “La Dilettante”
France | Loire
Dry Champagne-method sparkler that delivers tremendous value.
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
2020 Chinon “Les Petites Roches” Blanc
Charles Joguet France | Loire
2020 Saumur-Champigny “Les Mémoires”
Thierry Germain France | Loire
2016 Saumur Blanc “L’Échelier”
Thierry Germain France | Loire
2020 Vouvray “La Dilettante”
Catherine & Pierre Breton France | Loire
Vouvray Brut
Champalou France | Loire
2021 Saumur Champigny “Cuvée Domaine”
Thierry Germain France | Loire
2022 Sancerre Rosé “Le Colombier”
Domaine Roger Neveu France | Loire
Vouvray Brut “La Dilettante”
Catherine & Pierre Breton France | Loire
2021 Vin de France Rouge “Le Martray”
Grange Saint-Sauveur France | Loire
2018 Saumur Blanc “Le Clos du Moulin”
Thierry Germain France | Loire
2021 Sancerre
Daniel Chotard France | Loire
2020 Sancerre Rouge “Chant de l’Archet”
Daniel Chotard France | Loire
2020 Chinon “Les Petites Roches” Blanc
Charles Joguet France | Loire
2020 Saumur-Champigny “Les Mémoires”
Thierry Germain France | Loire
2016 Saumur Blanc “L’Échelier”
Thierry Germain France | Loire
2020 Vouvray “La Dilettante”
Catherine & Pierre Breton France | Loire
Vouvray Brut
Champalou France | Loire
2021 Saumur Champigny “Cuvée Domaine”
Thierry Germain France | Loire
2022 Sancerre Rosé “Le Colombier”
Domaine Roger Neveu France | Loire
Vouvray Brut “La Dilettante”
Catherine & Pierre Breton France | Loire
2021 Vin de France Rouge “Le Martray”
Grange Saint-Sauveur France | Loire
2018 Saumur Blanc “Le Clos du Moulin”
Thierry Germain France | Loire
2021 Sancerre
Daniel Chotard France | Loire
2020 Sancerre Rouge “Chant de l’Archet”
Daniel Chotard France | Loire
Kermit once said...

Kermit once said...
I want you to realize once and for all: Even the winemaker does not know what aging is going to do to a new vintage; Robert Parker does not know; I do not know. We all make educated (hopefully) guesses about what the future will bring, but guesses they are. And one of the pleasures of a wine cellar is the opportunity it provides for you to witness the evolution of your various selections. Living wines have ups and downs just as people do, periods of glory and dog days, too. If wine did not remind me of real life, I would not care about it so much.
Inspiring Thirst, page 171