Bernard Baudry Chinon 'Les Clos Guillot' 2017

The Clos Guillot vineyard is situated on a southeast-facing slope in Chinon with soils of clay, chalk and 'yellow limestone' (known locally as Tuffeau). Harvesting is by hand and yields do not exceed 40 hl/ha. Fermentation takes place in large wooden fermenters with regular pigéage (with the aim of providing gentle extraction of supple tannins). After maceration of about 20 days, the wine is pressed off and then matured for 12 months in oak barrels that have seen two or three vintages, followed by nine months in cement. Bottled without filtration. Matthieu Baudry describes Le Clos Guillot as a "very pure expression of Chinon."

"This sample was tasted from cement cuve, the wine resting here after a period in barrel, before bottling. It has seen out a year in barrique, and will pass nine months in cement cuve before bottling. The colour here is nothing less than striking, shimmering yet opaque, and Matthieu and I migrated to the door of the cellar to better appreciate it in the bright Ligérian sunlight. The nose is no less convincing, in fact it is quite beautiful, with crushed black summer fruits, damsons steeped in cassis, with notes of smoke and chalk. The palate feels so supple but also precise, with chalk and limestone substance, underpinned by taut acidity and silky tannins. It has quite lovely grip in the finish. This feels very special, with a little saline-mineral feel threaded through it." 94-96 points, Chris Kissack, The Wine Doctor

Country: France
Region: Loire Valley
Sub Region: Chinon