Domaine François Chidaine Le Chenin d’Ici 2023

It’s so good to see this great-value wine become a regular starter in the Chidaine portfolio. This label was first created in 2021, when, having lost 60% of his yields, François reached out to his contacts to secure small parcels of Chenin Blanc from across Touraine. The ‘Chenin from here’ ends up roughly a 50/50 blend of estate and purchased fruit and includes grapes from many of the domaine’s exceptional parcels across Vouvray and Montlouis. Made in the same way as his estate cuvées, the resulting wine is popping with Chidaine magic. In short, it’s a deliciously fleshy, salty, mineral-rich wine with a silky core oozing texture and snaking stone-fruited length. All class.