2020 François Chidaine, Montlouis Brut Nature, Loire Valley, France

François Chidaine is celebrated as one of Loire Valley’s finest wine makers, and his reputation is well deserved. His wines showcase an exceptional approach to winemaking, with biodynamically managed vineyards, minimal intervention, and ultra-low yields. Known for crafting Chenin Blanc wines with remarkable depth and complexity, Chidaine’s work is often likened to Didier Dagueneau’s mastery of Sauvignon Blanc (another Loire Valley legend). Chidaine’s vineyards are in Montlouis, a neighbouring region to Vouvray, located just across the Loire River in northern France.  Why do we like it? The sparkling wines of Montlouis and Vouvray (where Francois Chidaine is from) is the closest competition to Champagne in France (even though, they are still far away in terms of numbers). But you will understand why with this is a delicious bottle. The texture is round and full with lots of yellow apple, fresh lemon, and a bone-dry finish.  Grape            Chenin Blanc Country        France                                       Region          Loire Valley Vintage         2020