Domaine François Chidaine Vin de France Pétillant 2019

Domaine François Chidaine Vin de France Pétillant is a gently sparkling Chenin Blanc made without any added sugar for its second fermentation.

Chidaine farms in Montlouis-sur-Loire and across the river in Vouvray, and the fruit for this wine now comes from his chalkier Vouvray sites. Because the appellation rules do not allow a Montlouis grower to label wine from Vouvray vines under either name, it is released as Vin de France. The method is the old Loire one: François arrests the primary fermentation while the wine still holds between fourteen and sixteen grams per litre of residual sugar, so no liqueur de tirage is needed for the fermentation in bottle. It finishes dry, with no dosage at disgorgement. Pressure is kept low at 2.5 bars, which is what makes it pétillant rather than fully sparkling, and the wine spends thirty-six months on lees before disgorgement. That is a long ageing for a wine at this price.

Ready now and worth three to four years. Serve at 8°C with oysters, fish and chips or a soft washed-rind 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.