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François Chidaine Uncorked by Vasyl Velykanskiy

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EN

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Boris Buliga

A cozy journey to the legend of Montlouis.


It seems that historically, Kyiv hasn't had a great abundance of truly outstanding wine from the Loire Valley—or so I thought until I started looking more closely. Thanks to various friends, I first discovered this region through the pleasant lens of Clos du Tue-Boeuf, and then I came to learn about and taste other producers like Domaine de la Taille Aux Loups (mind-blowing), Jean-Pierre Robinot, Stephane Bernaudeau, and Coulée de Serrant. Some wines I liked more, others less, but it's an exciting direction that always draws me back.

However, there was one person whose wines I really wanted to try, but never got around to it. Turns out, Bandol imports the legend of Montlouis - François Chidaine! Just before the upcoming tasting of Jacky Blot wines, Vasyl decided to hold a tasting featuring Chidaine's wines! This was a coincidence too good to miss.

What's the deal?

  1. Innovative Practices: Chidaine is renowned for his pioneering work in biodynamic and organic viticulture in the Loire Valley, setting a standard for sustainable winemaking that respects the terroir.
  2. Focus on Terroir: His wines are acclaimed for their expression of the terroir, showcasing the unique characteristics of the Montlouis region with clarity and precision. All his wines are made the same, the only difference is the terroir - he produces single-parcel wines.
  3. Diverse Portfolio: Chidaine offers a diverse range of wines, from sparkling to still, dry to sweet, showing various styles of local winemaking.
  4. Educational Impact: His approach and success serve as a benchmark and inspiration for other vintners in the region and beyond, influencing newer generations of winemakers interested in sustainable practices.
WinePlace
wavg
sdev
fav
price
QPR
🏅 5th3.88100.07150
1,220 UAH
1.6469
🏅 4th3.94290.02970
1,650 UAH
1.3351
🥇 1st4.20790.005110
1,650 UAH
1.9989
🥉 3rd4.00630.00930
1,290 UAH
1.8783
🥈 2nd4.13020.04561
1,490 UAH
1.9632

François Chidaine Méthode Traditionnelle Montlouis sur Loire 2020

Region
France » Loire » Montlouis AOC
Type
white sparkling, brut-nature
Vintage
2020
Disgorged
2022-07
On lees
12 months
Grapes
Chenin Blanc
Alcohol
12
Price
1220 UAH
François Chidaine Méthode Traditionnelle Montlouis sur Loire 2020

This wine secured the 🏅 5th place in our wine tasting lineup.

François Chidaine Les Grillonnières 2021

Region
France » Loire » Montlouis AOC
Type
white still, dry
Vintage
2021
Grapes
Chenin Blanc
Alcohol
13.5
Price
1650 UAH
François Chidaine Les Grillonnières 2021

This wine secured the 🏅 4th place in our wine tasting lineup.

François Chidaine Les Bournais 2021

Region
France » Loire » Montlouis AOC
Type
white still, dry
Vintage
2021
Grapes
Chenin Blanc
Alcohol
13
Price
1650 UAH
François Chidaine Les Bournais 2021

This wine secured the 🥇 1st place in our wine tasting lineup.

François Chidaine Les Argiles 2021

Region
France » Loire » Montlouis AOC
Type
white still, dry
Vintage
2021
Grapes
Chenin Blanc
Alcohol
14.5
Price
1290 UAH
François Chidaine Les Argiles 2021

This wine secured the 🥉 3rd place in our wine tasting lineup.

François Chidaine Moelleux 2016

Region
France » Vin de France
Type
white still, sweet
Vintage
2016
Grapes
Chenin Blanc
Alcohol
14
Price
1490 UAH
François Chidaine Moelleux 2016

This wine secured the 🥈 2nd place in our wine tasting lineup.

Raw scores

WineElvira KDmytro KhAndriiTaniaDariaKateryna ZJulia KNikitaDaria BBoris BVasyl V
3.903.904.004.003.903.903.803.003.803.903.95
3.903.903.803.403.904.103.953.803.903.904.05
4.204.204.204.204.204.204.204.004.104.204.30
4.003.904.104.004.104.104.003.804.103.904.05
4.204.304.203.504.004.003.904.204.204.104.20