Francois Chidaine Montlouis Sur Loire 'Les Choisilles' Chenin Blanc 2023

This dry single-cuvée Chenin Blanc originates from France, within the Montlouis-sur-Loire appellation of the Touraine region in the Loire Valley. Named after the local dialect word for the flint stones (choisilles) scattered throughout the vineyards, this bottling is an homage to the unique soil profile of the area. Domaine François Chidaine, led by master vigneron François Chidaine and his wife Manuela, is globally celebrated for pushing biodynamic viticulture to its absolute peak. Les Choisilles is crafted from a selection of old vines (30 to 90 years old) grown across multiple flint-and-clay over limestone (tuffeau) parcels, resulting in a bone-dry white wine renowned for its chiseled minerality, tension, and aromatic complexity.

Wine Description

In the glass, the 2023 Les Choisilles presents a luminous straw-yellow color with shimmering green undertones. The nose is striking and deeply expressive, opening with vibrant aromas of yellow apple, crunchy white peach, lemon verbena, and white flowers, accented by notes of wet stone, gunflint, honeycomb, and subtle chamomile. On the palate, the wine is dry, focused, and beautifully textured, showing a rich mid-palate weight that is seamlessly balanced by a razor-sharp beam of minerality and high natural acidity. Crafted from 100% Chenin Blanc, the hand-harvested grapes are gently whole-cluster pressed and fermented naturally with indigenous yeasts in 600-liter French oak demi-muids. No malolactic fermentation occurs, preserving the pristine acidity. The wine is aged on its fine lees in neutral oak for roughly 12 to 14 months before bottling, yielding a persistent, saline finish with an impressive echo of crushed flint. The alcohol by volume sits at 13.5%.

Food Pairing

The intense mineral tension, textural depth, and energetic drive of this dry Loire Chenin Blanc make it an exceptional partner for high-end seafood and poultry. Ideal culinary pairings include seared sea scallops with lemon-herb butter, wild turbot or pike perch in beurre blanc, grilled langoustines, and crab cakes. It also excels alongside roasted pork loin with caramelized apples, roasted guinea fowl, and traditional goat milk cheeses from the Loire Valley, such as Sainte-Maure de Touraine, Selles-sur-Cher, or Crottin de Chavignol.

Vintage Quality

The 2023 vintage in Montlouis-sur-Loire offered a harmonious return to classic Loire proportions after the hotter 2022 season. Generous spring rainfall restored water reserves, followed by warm, dry conditions in late summer that allowed for steady, full ripening while preserving vivid acidity. The 2023 Les Choisilles highlights pristine fruit clarity and a precise mineral backbone. While showing immediate charm, vibrancy, and palate length upon release, this wine possesses the depth and structure to cellar gracefully, expanding in complexity over 10 to 15+ years.