Baudry & Dutour 3 Coteaux Chenin Blanc 2024

This structured and 'crystalline' white wine originates from France, within the rare Chinon Blanc A.O.P. appellation of the central Loire Valley. While Chinon is universally famous for its Cabernet Franc reds, white wines account for less than 5% of the region's total production, making this a highly prized and distinctive find. Baudry & Dutour is a dynamic alliance of vigneron-partners operating under a philosophy of strict terroir expression and low-intervention viticulture. The "3 Coteaux" cuvée represents an intentional multi-terroir masterclass, carefully assembling fruit from three distinct, exceptional hillsides including the siliceous and clay-limestone slopes of Chénaies and Chenanceaux where the old Chenin Blanc vines naturally focus deep mineral power.

Wine Description

The 2024 Baudry & Dutour '3 Coteaux' Chinon Blanc presents a brilliant, pale straw-yellow appearance in the glass with light gold and youthful greenish highlights. Its sensory profile is incredibly elegant, precise, and high-toned, opening with a refined bouquet of white floral blossoms, crisp green apples, and ripe citrus fruits, beautifully layered with distinct undertones of honey, exotic white peach, and a light buttery complexity. On the palate, the wine is medium-bodied, racy, and beautifully focused, showcasing a chiseled core of lemon zest and crunchy stone fruits. It is characterized by its outstanding, laser-sharp mineral tension and a refreshing backbone of natural acidity. The mouthfeel is sleek yet texturally complex, developing a fine, creamy weight sur lies before driving into a lengthy, bone-dry finish defined by a tactile salinity and a flinty, stone-flecked edge.

This 100% Chenin Blanc wine reached a well-balanced alcohol content (ABV) of 12.0%. Adhering to a naturalistic, low-intervention approach in the cellar, the hand-harvested grapes underwent immediate direct pneumatic pressing followed by an exceptionally slow primary fermentation at cool temperatures inside stainless steel vats to protect the delicate fruit aromatics. Following the estate's strict signature protocol, the wine completely bypassed malolactic fermentation to lock in its raw varietal crispness, and was vinified without any added sulfites. It was matured for several months on its fine lees in stainless steel to develop mid-palate volume, entirely eliminating wood contact to protect its pristine mineral transparency. Reflected by the estate's strict environmental standards, the vineyard plots are certified under the High Environmental Value (HVE) sustainable development framework.