Chidaine Brut Tradition Montlouis Sur Loire 2024

Domaine François Chidaine is a biodynamic wine estate located in Montlouis-sur-Loire in the Loire Valley. François Chidaine established the domaine in 1989 after working alongside his father, Yves, who managed four hectares of rented vineyards in the Montlouis appellation. François Chidaine developed contracts with vineyard owners that allowed him to purchase options when properties became available for sale.

The estate expanded significantly when François Chidaine purchased several parcels he had been renting in 2006. In 2002, François Chidaine and his cousin Nicolas Martin acquired Clos Baudoin in Vouvray, adding prestigious vineyards across the Loire River from Montlouis. Today, Domaine François Chidaine manages 30 hectares of vineyards, with many vines ranging from 40 to 80 years old.

François Chidaine converted to organic viticulture in the late 1990s and received biodynamic certification in 2003. The domaine now practices regenerative agriculture using no-till farming methods. This approach maintains permanent cover crops of indigenous and planted species alongside the vines, creating a complex ecosystem. The practice builds soil organic matter and sequesters carbon dioxide from the atmosphere into the ground.

Manuela Chidaine joined her husband in 1999 and established La Cave Insolite, a wine shop and tasting room in Montlouis-sur-Loire. The couple focuses exclusively on Chenin Blanc in their Montlouis and Vouvray vineyards, producing dry, off-dry, sweet, and sparkling wines from this single grape variety.

In the cellar, François Chidaine employs minimal intervention techniques. The domaine uses indigenous yeasts for fermentation and works with neutral 600-liter barrels and demi-muids. Fermentations proceed slowly through winter months in cold limestone cellars, developing complexity without temperature control. François Chidaine typically avoids malolactic fermentation and ages wines on lees for 12 months before bottling. The estate maintains yields around 35 hectoliters per hectare.

Domaine François Chidaine also produces Touraine appellation wines, including Sauvignon Blanc, rosé, and red wines from vineyards outside the Montlouis boundaries. These entry-level wines come from purchased grapes grown in nearby Touraine vineyards.

Montlouis-sur-Loire is a white wine appellation located in the Loire Valley in the Indre-et-Loire department of France. The appellation sits on the southern bank of the Loire River, directly east of Tours, bordered by the Loire to the north and the Cher River to the south. Montlouis-sur-Loire covers approximately 400 hectares across three communes: Montlouis-sur-Loire, Saint-Martin-le-Beau, and Lussault-sur-Loire.

The appellation received AOC status in 1938, marking its formal separation from Vouvray, which lies on the opposite bank of the Loire River. Prior to this designation, wines from Montlouis-sur-Loire were labeled and sold as Vouvray wines. The region has approximately 40 to 50 wine producers cultivating vineyards in this relatively compact area.

Chenin Blanc is the sole permitted grape variety in the Montlouis-sur-Loire appellation. Producers vinify Chenin Blanc in multiple styles including dry, off-dry, sweet, and sparkling wines using both traditional method and pétillant naturel techniques. This versatility demonstrates the adaptability of Chenin Blanc across different winemaking approaches.

The geological foundation of Montlouis-sur-Loire consists of tuffeau, a porous limestone formed during the Cretaceous period approximately 90 million years ago. This calcareous rock appears in two forms: tuffeau blanc, which is chalkier and firmer, and tuffeau jaune, which is softer and sandier. The porosity of tuffeau provides natural drainage while retaining sufficient moisture to protect vines from both waterlogging and drought conditions.

The topsoil composition varies across the appellation and includes clay, sand, and flint. Specific soil types have local names: Les Perruches refers to clay soils with flint stones, while Les Aubois designates clay-limestone soils. These diverse soil structures contribute distinct characteristics to wines from different parcels within the appellation.

The climate in Montlouis-sur-Loire falls between maritime and continental influences. The Atlantic Ocean lies 225 kilometers to the west, while the continental climate affects the region from the east. Local topography creates mesoclimatic variations, particularly on slopes and in dry valleys near the Cher River.

Prominent producers including François Chidaine, Jacky Blot of Domaine de la Taille aux Loups, and La Grange Tiphaine have raised the profile of Montlouis-sur-Loire since the 1980s and 1990s, bringing renewed attention to this historically overshadowed appellation.