François Chidaine - Vin de France Les Argiles 2024 (Sec)
92/100
RVF
94/100
Decanter
"An iconic, expressive, and rich Chenin"
This cuvée elegantly expresses the full richness of a terroir with chalky and salty notes, complemented by delicate hints of citrus and white fruit. The Chenin’s liveliness unfolds with precision, enhanced by subtle herbaceous notes. The wine captivates with its harmonious balance and lingers on a taut, long finish—the hallmark of a great wine.
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Eye
Light and bright color
Nose
Elegant, with notes of flowers, citrus, and fresh fruit, and subtle herbal accents
Mouth
Purity and elegance, beautiful balance, tense and salty finish
Serve
Decant at 11-12°C
Open
1 hour before
Drink before
2033
Food and wine pairings
Enjoy with shellfish, mussels marinières, refined fish dishes, monkfish terrine, goat cheese, or simply as an aperitif.
Bettane & Desseauve
Rated estate (2026 guide) 4 stars (Producers of very high quality, those who are the pride of French vineyards)
About the estate:
François Chidaine, one of the leaders of the Montlouis wine revival, brings out all the nuances of each plot of land, from flinty clay to white Tuffeau chalk, using biodynamic farming methods. Reviving around ten hectares of Vouvray vineyards on the other bank, this winemaker, who is well supported by his wife Manuela, can now also count on his children Alice and Pierre, who have joined the estate. These great gastronomic wines improve with age.
Decanter
Wine rating (2025 guide) 94/100 (2023 vintage)
Robert Parker - Wine Advocate
Rated Recommended (Wine producer recommended by Robert Parker - The Wine Advocate)
RVF - La Revue du Vin de France / Guide des Meilleurs Vins de France
Wine rating (2026 guide) 92/100 (2023 vintage)
Rated estate (2026 guide) 3 stars (These represent the excellence of French vineyards. The best terroirs cultivated by the greatest winemakers. Tasting their wine is always a magical moment.)
About the estate:
Since his beginnings in 1989, François Chidaine has become a major player in the Loire Valley white wine scene, an outstanding winemaker now revered by many other vintners. He is one of those who brought Montlouis, his original stronghold, to prominence. In the early 2000s, he expanded into Vouvray, notably taking over the Clos Baudoin estate from the Poniatowski family. With the help of his wife Manuela, François has continuously refined his winemaking and aging techniques, carrying out highly demanding work in the vineyards, which have been certified biodynamic since 1999. We cannot praise highly enough the level achieved by the wines of this exceptional winemaker. The vins de France are in fact Vouvrays which, as they are vinified outside their appellation zone, cannot claim this designation. The range consists of blends from different plots (Choisilles, Argiles, Tuffeaux, Moelleux) and unique lieux-dits (Clos du Breuil, Les Bournais, Clos Habert, Baudoin). The sparkling fruitiness of these wines requires a few years of cellaring to open up and reveal their full potential. This estate is a must for any lover of the great expressions of Chenin from the Loire Valley. The transition to his children Pierre and Alice is going smoothly.
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