Baudry, Bernard 2021 Chinon Le Clos Guillot

Le Clos Guillot is a beautiful south-east facing vineyard, just east of the town of Chinon, above the Clos de l'Olive and adjacent to Le Chene Vert. The upper slope of the parcel is clay over limestone (the lower part has sand and gravel over the rock, which permitted a tiny separate production from franc de pied vines, now mostly deceased) and the vines are young, planted from 1993 to 2000. Fermentation in wooden cuves, 12 months of aging in three to ten year-old barriques, 9 additional months in unlined cement vats. The Baudrys describe 2021 as a "late harvest vintage in the context of recent very warm years; the harvest ended on October 9 under excellent conditions. The wines are supple and fruit-forward with lovely colors. Though it may not compare to earlier vintages 2021 is a very well-balanced Loire-style vintage. The wines are generous and may probably be enjoyed before the more solar recent years." The 2021 shows a lighter, bright red/black color and aromas of traditional Chinon, fresh raspberry, red currant and cherry with earth and herbal notes, quite pretty. The palate shows bright, sappy red fruits with earthy acidity lifting the flavors and coating the palate with citrusy red fruits, saline minerals and wet stone. This lacks the density and dark fruit of the previous six vintages, but lovers of cool climate Chinon will enjoy this wine immensely. - David Lillie