Domaine François Chidaine

The Chidaine family’s fantastic cellars, cut into the cliff face, lie across the river from Vouvray in Montlouis. It’s still François’ name above the door but he’s today accompanied at the tiller by daughter Alice and son Pierre. This is a reasonably sizeable domaine, totalling 37 hectares, including 20 in Montlouis, 10 in Vouvray and 7 in Touraine.

It went organic in 1992 and biodynamic seven years later in 1999. The wines have an absolute harmony, both texturally and in their acid/fruit balance. This contributes to their complexity and length and helps give them energy, which makes them both incredibly satisfying and mouth-watering at the same time. Recent vintages have been virtually non-existent due to frost and hail, which means we currently have very little to offer.

Stylistically, these wines are quite different from those of Philippe Foreau. The 20 hectares of Montlouis is divided up into a remarkable 30 different parcels, with lots of different soil types, including silex noir (black flint), which is known locally as Choisilles!

We have recently begun listing two excellent “everyday” wines, Chenin d’Ici and Touraine Rouge (a mouth-watering blend of Gamay, Malbec and Pinot d’Aunis) made at the estate from bought-in fruit.