The 2023 Domaine Bernard Baudry Chinon Les Grézeaux is a beautifully structured and terroir-driven Cabernet Franc from one of Chinon’s benchmark estates in the Loire Valley. Produced from old vines planted in gravel and sandy soils over limestone near the village of Cravant-les-Côteaux, the wine reflects the Baudry family’s precise and restrained approach, balancing purity of fruit with savoury complexity and mineral freshness. The nose reveals black cherry, wild raspberry and plum layered alongside violet, graphite, dried herbs and subtle earthy spice, giving the wine impressive depth and refinement.
On the palate, it is medium-bodied with fine-grained tannins, vibrant natural acidity and a tightly focused mineral core. Layers of dark berry fruit, gentle herbal complexity and savoury spice are balanced by freshness and chalky tension, finishing long, poised and beautifully persistent with excellent structure and ageing potential. Fermentation in concrete and élevage in large older oak barrels preserve the wine’s transparency and freshness while adding subtle texture and depth.
Ben’s Recommendation:
The 2023 Domaine Bernard Baudry Chinon Les Grézeaux is a superb Loire Cabernet Franc — savoury, mineral and beautifully composed with impressive depth and precision. Perfect with roast lamb, duck, mushroom dishes, charcuterie or slow-cooked French bistro dishes. Enjoy now with decanting or cellar gracefully through 2038+.
