Domaine François Chidaine Montlouis Les Bournais Franc de Pied 2022

Domaine François Chidaine Montlouis Les Bournais Franc de Pied comes from a 0.2-hectare plot of ungrafted vines at the edge of the cliff.

Montlouis-sur-Loire lies on the left bank between the Loire and the Cher, opposite Vouvray, and works exclusively with Chenin Blanc on clay and flint over tuffeau limestone. François Chidaine is the grower most associated with the appellation's revival, and Les Bournais is among his best-known sites. This cuvée is made from own-rooted vines planted at the same time as those behind the standard bottling, which makes the pair unusually instructive to taste side by side: the franc de pied is typically deeper, finer and longer, more tightly wound and more mineral, and Chidaine often finds a bitters-like edge in it that the grafted cuvée does not show. It is raised in a second-fill 1200-litre Taransaud foudre rather than the smaller wood used for the classic wine.

Worth three to five years to open out and good for well over a decade. Serve at 10-12°C with roast pork, turbot or a mature goat's cheese.

*Every effort is made to ensure the current vintage is accurate; however, variations can occur. If you are after a specific vintage, please contact us prior to ordering.