Chidaine Vin de France Les Argiles 2018

92 points La Revue du Vin de France: “Since his debut in 1989, Francois Chidaine has become a major player in Loire whites, an outstanding stylist now revered by many other winegrowers. He is one of those who revealed Montlouis, his original stronghold… On the Vouvray side, Les Argiles asserts itself with energizing comfort, delivering the pure expression of clay-limestone plots. (2021)”

91 points Chris Kissack (Winedoctor): “The Vouvray equivalent to Les Choisilles, an assemblage from a number of parcels. This shows a character that seems typical of the 2018 vintage, with a very bold style to the nose, filled with dried citrus fruits with a lightly bitter edge. It shows the rich breadth of the vintage both here and on the palate, which is filled with creamed citrus fruits, sweet apricot and mirabelle, with a pithy weight but also a rather delicate sense of acidity. As with some other 2018s, the phenolic structure shines through at the end, with a light bitterness in the finish, but good length, all framed with that soft acidity. (Feb 2020)”

Producer notes: “Les Argiles comes from old Chenin Blanc vines in Vouvray, but due to arcane French bureaucratic law, you won’t find Vouvray anywhere on the label. This is a rich, powerful white wine yet dry, balanced and exquisite all the same. Drink with only a gentle chill. Serve with aging, soft goat cheese, salad with egg, or lightly spicy/sweet poultry dishes.”