Bernard Baudry Chinon Les Granges 2023

Domaine Bernard Baudry is one of Chinon's most celebrated and respected family estates, founded by Bernard Baudry in the 1970s and today guided by his son Matthieu with the same passion and precision that built the domaine's reputation. The estate farms its vineyards biodynamically across several distinct soil types in the Chinon appellation — from the sandy, gravelly soils of the valley floor to the tuffeau limestone slopes that produce the most structured and age-worthy expressions of Cabernet Franc. Baudry is widely regarded as one of the Loire Valley's finest producers, and his wines are consistently among the most compelling expressions of Chinon at every level of the range.

Les Granges is the domaine's entry-level Chinon — sourced from younger vines on the sandy, gravelly soils of the Vienne River valley, designed to highlight the fresh, aromatic character of Cabernet Franc in an approachable, earlier-drinking style. The 2023 vintage in the Loire was warm and precise, producing wines of excellent fruit intensity and aromatic definition. Bright ruby in the glass, the nose is fragrant and inviting: fresh red cherry, raspberry, and violet layered with the signature pencil shavings and dried herb notes that are the hallmark of great Chinon Cabernet Franc. On the palate, the wine is light-to-medium-bodied with fine tannins, lively acidity, and a clean, mineral finish that makes it one of the Loire's most food-friendly and versatile reds.

The Bernard Baudry Chinon Les Granges 2023 is exceptional alongside roasted chicken, grilled salmon, mushroom dishes, or a classic Loire charcuterie board — a natural wine of genuine character and one of Chinon's finest introductory expressions.