Chidaine 2022 Montlouis "Clos du Breuil" Sec

The Chidaine Montlouis-sur-Loire "Clos du Breuil" is from a great parcel of 60 year-old Chenin Blanc vines, next to the Clos Habert, sloping to the northwest, on soils of clay with silex stones ("perruches") over the white limestone "tuffeau." Biodynamic farming. Always a dry and very crystalline Chenin, equal in quality to the "Les Bournais" but in a more austere, mineral style more typical of Montlouis. The 2022 is quite dense and earthy, very marked by the silex soils. The wine will need a few years to really open up, but is showing subtle aromas of stone, citrus, almond, lemon and ripe pear, with elegant white fruits on the silky, round palate with a slightly bitter, mineral character, with citrus zest and saline, earthy notes in the finish. Delicious now with cod, sole or flounder, but this will be interesting in ten to fifteen years. "Our 2022 vintage reveals a charming side without excess maturity, with delicacy and elegance. Phew! Finally nature rewards us for our hard work! - Francois Chidaine. (Beatifully balanced and bone-dry at 1.5 g/L RS, 13% alc, 3.25 g/l total acidity.)  David Lillie