2019 Montlouis les Bournais
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Tasting notes
From 21-year-old ungrafted vines on clay and limestone soils, the golden colored 2019 Montlouis sur Loire Les Bournais Franc de Pied opens with a deep, fine and even slightly flinty bouquet of tropical fruit (pineapple) aromas intertwined with delicate earthy notes. Intense and quite rich yet fresh, pure and salty on the palate, with lots of tension and some lactic features in its flavors and texture, this is a refined, very elegant and balanced Chenin with fine tannins and a long and intense yet still somewhat drying finish. Very young but with very good aging potential. Tasted in March 2021.
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Average Score
Stephan Reinhardt, Wine Advocate
Rebecca Gibb MW, Vinous
More reviews and scores
Planted in 1998, this is the youngest parcel that the domaine owns on argilo-calcaire soil, a little bit like Vouvray. There's a meter or so of top soil before hitting the limestone. The 2019 Bournais is ripe and fuller in style, offering welcoming peach fruit and cream-filled pastry characters. That slight creaminess is likely derived from the full spontaneous malo, which is not something Chidaine looks for. This cuvée is typically a little more expressive in youth compared with the Clos du Breuil and that's evident in 2019. You should expect a wine that focuses on texture and be welcomed with open arms. The wine elevates itself on the finish with a fine, almost saline tang and chalky note, offering texture and line.