François Chidaine - Montlouis Les Lys 2009 (liquoreux)

Bettane & Desseauve

About the wine:

A lovely sweet wine from a challenging vintage, with a nice balance between the acidity and the 130 grams of sugar.

About the estate:

François Chidaine, one of the leaders of the Montlouis wine revival, brings out all the nuances of each vineyard plot—from flinty clay to white Tuffeau chalk—using biodynamic farming methods. Revitalizing about ten hectares of Vouvray vineyards on the opposite bank, this winemaker—strongly supported by his wife Manuela—now also relies on his children Alice and Pierre, who have joined the estate. These fine wines for fine dining improve with age.

Guide des Vins Gault & Millau

About the wine:

Made from 100% Chenin Blanc grapes, this magnificent wine offers notes of candied fruit, honey, and herbal infusions, with a subtle hint of tartness. We also appreciated its sweetness, which is balanced by a lovely freshness that lingers on the palate. Perfect as an aperitif or with dessert.

Robert Parker - Wine Advocate

About the wine:

From several small harvests of botrytised fruit yielding five demi-muids, Chidaine has crafted this 2009 Montlouis-les-Lys, which offers floral aromas—of lily and linden—accompanied by candied grapefruit, pineapple, and quince jam. With a delicate, crystal-clear texture, it is a sweet treat that retains a wonderful freshness, given its maturity. This extraordinary elixir promises to be one of the highlights of its vintage and deserves to be cellared for at least a quarter of a century.

RVF - La Revue du Vin de France / Guide des Meilleurs Vins de France

About the wine:

The 2009 Lys is the epitome of a refined, full-bodied sweet wine, displaying remarkable harmony, elevated to new heights by a subtle, minty freshness.

About the estate:

Since his debut in 1989, François Chidaine has become a major player in the world of Loire whites, an unparalleled winemaker now revered by many other vintners. He is among those who put Montlouis, his home region, on the map. In the early 2000s, he expanded his operations in Vouvray, notably by acquiring Clos Baudoin from the Poniatowski family. With the help of his wife Manuéla, François has continuously refined his winemaking and aging techniques, carrying out meticulous work in vineyards 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 that, having been vinified outside their appellation zone, cannot claim the appellation. The range consists of blends from various 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 in the cellar to open up and reveal itself fully. An essential estate for any lover of the great Loire expressions of Chenin. The transition to his children, Pierre and Alice, is proceeding smoothly.