WTN: Fine value in Chinon

Betsy was in the city for some Sufi meeting, I make chili con carne for dinner and waited for her return. Since I wanted wine, I only used one jalapeno, along with a couple of dried (ancho and passila). I wanted a wine that could handle the spices, but obviously not something to break the bank on. Chose the 2007 Bernard Baudry Chinon (just the straight estate bottling, no designation). Lovely juicy/sappy base, red and dark fruits, a little bit of leaf, gravelly notes on finish. Good acids, nice length, fine bottle, I think I prefer to the Les Granges. B+

Grade disclaimer: I'm a very easy grader, basically A is an excellent wine, B a good wine, C mediocre. Anything below C means I wouldn't drink at a party where it was only choice. Furthermore, I offer no promises of objectivity, accuracy, and certainly not of consistency.  
 

Baudry appreciation month here! Supplies on shelf here have dried up, but will be there soon!

[Jenise]

Didn't realize Baudry bottled a straight Chinon; I thought the Les Granges was their entry level. Have obviously never seen it, and have just been grateful that a local wine guy loves the Les Granges so much he keeps it on the shelf.

Didn't realize Baudry bottled a straight Chinon; I thought the Les Granges was their entry level..

Les Granges is the entry level wine.

Dale's wine (also known as 'Le Domaine') comes from slightly older vines, different soils, elevage, etc.

Here's a rundown on the different bottlings:

http://www.chinon.com/vignoble/Bernard- ... _vins.aspx

Rahsaan, how did you find that Chinon website? Wondering who else is on that site?

Rahsaan, how did you find that Chinon website? Wondering who else is on that site?

Google!

Baudry used to have a different site but I couldn't find it.

LOL.

http://www.thewinedoctor.com/loire/baudry.shtml

I love this wine. It ages well too. 35 year old vines. Its a steal for $17.

Enjoyed this in April, should get more...

2007 Bernard Baudry Chinon Cuvee Domaine 12.0%
From 35 year-old vines on both gravel and clay/limestone soils. Less aromatically charming than the Les Granges we had a few days ago, showing sour cherry, bramble and green twigs. Good acidity, puckers the sides of the tongue like salt water, with a slightly sweet edge that was absent from the Granges. While the latter reminded me of bourgogne, this is unmistakably cabernet franc, with that green streak that can be offputting in less capable hands, but which here harmonizes very pleasantly with everything else. With food and air, the aromas become lovelier and lovelier until critical faculties retire and drinking becomes pure pleasure, like meditation, unhampered by thoughts.

Rahsaan, I found the website via Jim Budd`s blog.

http://www.chinon.com/default_fr.aspx

Nice wine. Baudry did well in 2007, this was a difficult vintage for red wines from Anjou-Saumur and Touraine, his were some of the best that I tasted. He prefers his 07s to his 06s, the former having in his words more elegance and finesse.