Domaine François Chidaine - Les Choisilles 2023
Domaine François Chidaine is a major reference on the banks of the Loire, with an artisanal approach that places the terroir at the center of every decision. Located in Montlouis sur Loire, the estate cultivates chenin using organic and biodynamic farming, with meticulous monitoring of each plot. The soils of flint, clay, and limestone are worked with respect to preserve microbial life and the depth of expression of the vintage. Yields are deliberately controlled to favor concentration over volume, in a constant quest for purity and precision. This patient and committed vision has elevated the estate to the ranks of the great names of the Loire, with wines sought after by both enthusiasts and sommeliers. The Les Choisilles 2023 cuvée fully embodies this style, between pronounced mineral energy and crystalline elegance.
Les Choisilles 2023 from Domaine François Chidaine comes from a selection of old chenin vines planted on terroirs strongly marked by flint, which bring that characteristic stony relief. The 2023 vintage, sunny but perfectly controlled, offers grapes of beautiful maturity while maintaining a straight acidity, essential for great dry white Loire wines. The harvest is done exclusively by hand, through successive sorting, to pick each cluster at its aromatic optimum. After gentle pressing, fermentation takes place slowly in large containers, under the influence of indigenous yeasts only, allowing the wine to faithfully express its origin. Aging on fine lees then extends this search for balance, bringing texture, complexity, and slight creaminess without ever weighing down the palate. Les Choisilles 2023 thus stands out by a very precise structure, both deep, taut, and with great terroir clarity.
On the palate, Les Choisilles 2023 offers an intense and refined nose, blending notes of ripe lemon, fresh apple, crunchy pear, and white flowers, enhanced by a smoky and stony touch. On the palate, the attack is straight and lively, supported by a chiseled acidic framework that stretches the wine and gives it great energy. The body unfolds gradually, with a texture both dense and clean, revealing flavors of white fruits, quince, citrus zest, and damp chalk. The finish is long, saline, and vibrant, marked by a beautiful noble bitterness and a flint minerality that lingers durably. This great dry white from the Loire will be an ideal companion for seafood, oysters, grilled fish, ceviche, or sushi, but also for farm-raised poultry with light cream. It also pairs wonderfully with aged goat cheeses, further revealing its mineral dimension and precision.
Grape variety: 100% Chenin Blanc
