Domaine François Chidaine 2022 Touraine Rouge

François Chidaine is one of the Loire Valley's true modern success stories, and one of its most quietly influential winemakers. He got his start in the mid-1980s working alongside his father, Yves, on just four rented hectares in Montlouis, and has since built a benchmark estate spanning holdings across both Montlouis and neighboring Vouvray, all farmed biodynamically with a focus on low yields and minimal intervention. Chidaine has earned a reputation as one of the finest craftsmen of Chenin Blanc working anywhere in the world today, producing everything from bone dry to off dry to sparkling expressions with remarkable precision and purity. In recent years, he's turned that same meticulous, hands off approach toward red wine, crafting vibrant, juicy Loire reds from estate grown Cabernet Franc, Cot, and Pineau d'Aunis that showcase the same commitment to freshness and terroir that made his whites famous. For customers who already love Chidaine's Chenin Blanc, or for anyone curious what happens when a Chenin master turns his attention to red wine, this is a producer worth getting to know.

The Domaine François Chidaine 2022 Touraine Rouge is a vibrant, biodynamically farmed red wine from the Loire Valley, France, crafted from an authentic blend of traditional regional varietals: Côt (the local name for Malbec), Cabernet Franc, and Pineau d’Aunis. On the nose, it offers a youthful, expressive bouquet of fresh raspberries, strawberries, and sour cherries, seamlessly intermingled with a distinctive cracked white pepper spice and a faint mineral undertone. The palate is wonderfully light to medium-bodied and bursts with concentrated, juicy red fruit balanced by fine-grained, approachable tannins and a ringing, laser-like acidity. This bright acidity and savory, peppery edge make it an exceptional, versatile food wine that effortlessly pairs with a broad array of dishes. It shines as a classic bistro-style wine alongside traditional French charcuterie boards, pork rillettes, and tangy goat cheese salads, yet has enough structural integrity and peppery character to complement richer pairings like fatty steaks, grilled sausages, or casual barbecued meats.