I'm not much of a white wine drinker but this was outstanding. Graet expression of tropical fruits and minerals but with enough acidity to keep it in balance and very fresh. All felt it had a beautiful sweetness that did not detract from the wine. When very well with soft cheeses and nuts. Loire Valley always amazes me wuith its diversity of wines and the great quality. Very overlooked except for a very few wines.
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Stunning chenin at its apex of maturity. Vibrant and focused, with caramel galore, minerality, textbook varietal flavours. Ripe peach and other stone fruits with ample bottle age character. Great complexity and a lingering finish. Really fine wine.
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Really, really great chenin. Full bodied, great light brown and/or baked apple. Great while fruits like peach, apricot, honey, light sweetness. Good acidity. This is a really good wine and would love it if I had more. Great pairing with a Blanquette de veau I made.
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Pretty rich Montlouis although it was dry. The vintage factor probably. Still drinks beautifully, the richness being balanced by enough acidity. Everyone around the table enjoyed it. I would not keep it for too long.
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Notes of honey and spring flowers on the nose, then a creamy, rich attack of honey and butterscotch before a pure, refreshingly dry finish. Excellent wine. In its youth, this was slightly stodgy and syrupy, but now...well my score is probably a little conservative.
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Tasting of the Utrecht Wine Society (Utrecht, NL): Mature colour, hint of gold; nose seems to have lost its fruit but opens up nicely in the glass, hint of aniseed, white flowers, chamomile; good intensity and weight on the palate, fresh and mineral but not acidic, hint of juicy fruit; good length. Well-aged Chenin Blanc.
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Not as "on fire" as my previous bottle, but really baller nonetheless. Acidity more prominent throughout, which was great w/Thanksgiving, and the profile was more mineral-pear-hay than the waxy-wooly-appley notes I picked up last time. Will wait a while longer on my last bottle to see where it goes.
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Honey, lime cordial, creamy Xmas pudding notes even, before evolving into a dryer, mineral finish. Not quite as good as the Champalou Vouvray 05 we had at the same time, but others felt differently.
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This bottle was much fresher and apparently unaged outside of the honey notes. Really beautiful with its lime, rich mouthfeel, and long, complex finish. Got a little marzipan on the finish. What's not to like about this bottle? Even red drinkers appreciated.
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Clear pale gold color, smell of wool and hay. Elegant, smooth, Chenin expression, with the perfect nerve. Well balanced and long finish. Superb wine. Complimented the Thai rice pretty well.
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Seemed as though it was getting a little aged. The hay components coming out more. Not scoring due to crazy tasting environment. Decent, but not great. Looking forward to evaluating second bottle. After a week in the fridge this wine seems to have settled down and become more compact delivering precise fruit, great cut, and a flavorful finish. What a transformation!
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Rich and tropical fruits in the bouquet. On the palate concentrated and complex, tropical fruits, tart lime and grapefruit. Beautiful acidity. Beautiful and rich wine. Ready now and for several years more.
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Absolutely brilliant stuff. The nose is fine, with classic chenin aromas dominated by the signature waxy, floral component, but it's on the palate that this wine shows its brilliance. Like a million tiny little pieces of crystalized red apples dancing in your mouth with each sip, but also a creaminess and a rocky mineral texture all rolled in together. A mesmerizing wine to remember.
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This wine was an eye opener. Hardly any experience with Chenin Blanc from the Loire, only other having been an off dry Pinon Vouvray Cuvee Tradition. Liked it too but this was a good substitute for chardonnay with crab (I'd seen that suggestion in CT notes). Hints of melon,lemon and honey. Seemed like a extremely well made wine in balance all the way thru. Seems like it can only get tastier with age. Great QPR.
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Deep and clear yellow Honney and tropic aromas Full-bodied. Perfect balance. Extreme honney and apricot on the palate. Excellent lengthwith a stonefruit ending
Wine of the day, and perfect for crabs
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This is a very big wine, much bigger than I was expecting. If it were a Chardonnay it could be from Santa Barbara County (not that this has the kind of oak on it that mars the Chardonnays). I think I sense the alcohol, but it's hard to tell because this wine is so powerful. In other vintages (well, 2002) this was a racy, snappy wine, but in 2005 there was clearly more ripeness. Not at all flabby, this is nice and acidic with telltale Chenin hay-honey-lanolin aromas. Lemon and melon on the palate; some residual sugar, too. Very nice if a bit surprising. (Just checked and the label says 14% alcohol, which seems very high for this part of the Loire but not, apparently, for this particular vintage.)
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This is just awesome. Off-dry, but just (especially given the vintage). You can't believe how quickly you chase to the bottom of the bottle. Or how sad you are to get there. This may not have the power of Les Tuffeaux. Or the beautiful complexity of Clos Habert. And I would agree those have more intellectual interest, but this is the hedonist's choice of the vintage.
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Upon opening, a nose of sweet hay, apple pomace, fresh sweet creamery butter, hints of tropical fruits. Thick and soft in the mouth, with flavors of honey, white peach, candied lemon rind. Very ripe and thick, and lacking cut. The acidity is likely buried in baby fat; certainly far from assertive currently, but hopefully with time it will reappear. Flavors linger quite a long time on the palate. Perplexingly, this is potentially great, but could clearly also go in a very flabby direction. It's really hard to say at this point.
After tasting over three nights, i think it's the real deal. Aromas are more generous, although they haven't evolved significantly, and some of that baby fat has integrated. The wine is snappier on the palate, with decent, if not yet impressive cut. Most importantly, it's starting to taste like something i would recognize as Loire chenin blanc, if a rather dense, concentrated interpretation. I'm encouraged, as all of Chidaine's 05s have tasted a little thick and lethargic to me. Hopefully like this one, they just need time.
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A special wine, and all the more impressive for the fact that it is understated. Crystalline straw in color, with aromas of citrus, apple, wet stone, and chamomile. Palate of soft apple, fresh-mown hay, and more stone. Beautifully made, beautifully balanced, and very pleasing.
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This is the second time in several months that I have enjoyed this wine. Again, I found it to be harmonious with soft fruit, acidity and mineral elements in lovely balance. This time around I particularly admired the wonderful pure appearance of this wine in the glass - and I found this same refreshing purity expressed from the nose through the finish. Excellent.
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My goal here is to convince that person reading this, who may be on the fence about purchasing this wine, is to convince them to not just buy one bottle, but perhaps three or four! This wine is absolutely beautiful with a gorgeous nose of pears, tangerines, and a hint of smoke. This chenin blanc on the palate is rich, not in the way a viognier or chardonnay is, but fills your mouth with so many flavors; liquid fruit, minerality, and a very refreshing tang, its all totally enveloping. Just out of the fridge the wine was far too cold but reached the perfect temp at about 58 degrees. Awesome with peaches and goat cheese. With Doug at his beautiful house in Carmel.
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This wine has a lovely rainwater purity about it and a nice balance between well delineated fruit and assertive acidity and minerality. It was pale gold in the glass with lemon, quince, sweet honeyed flowers and chalky minerality on the nose. The palate featured the same fruit flavors along with flavors and the mouth feel of delicate white peaches or perfectly ripe pears. The finish was persistent with lemon, minerals and acidity. Excellent.
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I do like this wine. 2005 is just impressive. Although the nose is muted, this wine shows in a perfect balance a ripe, lovely fruity side and an aggressive minerality and acidity, all in harmony . will evolve.
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This is sec level, paler in color compared with the demi sec tried recently. Somewhat tight, opens up considerably on day 2. Vibrandt aromas of hard lemon candy, a little quince underneath. Nervy and energetic in the mouth, lots of minerals, chalk, and powder. Really good, but needs time for everything to come together.
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8/9/2022 - repoper wrote: 93 Points
I'm not much of a white wine drinker but this was outstanding. Graet expression of tropical fruits and minerals but with enough acidity to keep it in balance and very fresh. All felt it had a beautiful sweetness that did not detract from the wine. When very well with soft cheeses and nuts. Loire Valley always amazes me wuith its diversity of wines and the great quality. Very overlooked except for a very few wines.
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5/8/2021 - Marc wrote: 94 Points
Stunning chenin at its apex of maturity. Vibrant and focused, with caramel galore, minerality, textbook varietal flavours. Ripe peach and other stone fruits with ample bottle age character. Great complexity and a lingering finish. Really fine wine.
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12/28/2020 - ericindc Likes this wine: 94 Points
Really, really great chenin. Full bodied, great light brown and/or baked apple. Great while fruits like peach, apricot, honey, light sweetness. Good acidity. This is a really good wine and would love it if I had more. Great pairing with a Blanquette de veau I made.
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4/7/2019 - Julian Marshall Does not like this wine:
Sadly, this has gone OTT since the last bottle in 2016. Oxidized and dead.
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10/11/2018 - NickNYC wrote: 90 Points
Pretty rich Montlouis although it was dry. The vintage factor probably. Still drinks beautifully, the richness being balanced by enough acidity. Everyone around the table enjoyed it. I would not keep it for too long.
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3/11/2017 - AudunG wrote: 92 Points
Lovely fruity aromas with lemon and honey. Powerful and concentrated, with plenty of dry matters. Still young. Impressive!
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5/28/2016 - Julian Marshall Likes this wine: 92 Points
Notes of honey and spring flowers on the nose, then a creamy, rich attack of honey and butterscotch before a pure, refreshingly dry finish. Excellent wine. In its youth, this was slightly stodgy and syrupy, but now...well my score is probably a little conservative.
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4/10/2014 - Zweder wrote: 90 Points
The bouquet is not very expressive. On the palate soft yellow fruits, anise, oxidized apple. Beautiful wine, but shows more mature than expected.
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4/10/2014 - Xavier Auerbach wrote: 91 Points
Tasting of the Utrecht Wine Society (Utrecht, NL): Mature colour, hint of gold; nose seems to have lost its fruit but opens up nicely in the glass, hint of aniseed, white flowers, chamomile; good intensity and weight on the palate, fresh and mineral but not acidic, hint of juicy fruit; good length. Well-aged Chenin Blanc.
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11/22/2012 - Billigan wrote: 92 Points
Not as "on fire" as my previous bottle, but really baller nonetheless. Acidity more prominent throughout, which was great w/Thanksgiving, and the profile was more mineral-pear-hay than the waxy-wooly-appley notes I picked up last time. Will wait a while longer on my last bottle to see where it goes.
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9/30/2012 - Julian Marshall wrote:
Honey, lime cordial, creamy Xmas pudding notes even, before evolving into a dryer, mineral finish. Not quite as good as the Champalou Vouvray 05 we had at the same time, but others felt differently.
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9/17/2012 - Rezy13 wrote: 92 Points
This bottle was much fresher and apparently unaged outside of the honey notes. Really beautiful with its lime, rich mouthfeel, and long, complex finish. Got a little marzipan on the finish. What's not to like about this bottle? Even red drinkers appreciated.
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9/12/2012 - redwhiteandrich wrote: 87 Points
second bottle, unsure if this was kept in bad conditions but seemed a bit flat. Warm vintage and lacked some acidity.
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5/18/2012 - Pierre-Yves wrote: 91 Points
Clear pale gold color, smell of wool and hay. Elegant, smooth, Chenin expression, with the perfect nerve. Well balanced and long finish. Superb wine. Complimented the Thai rice pretty well.
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5/11/2012 - redwhiteandrich wrote: 86 Points
kinda hot. drank over 2 days.
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4/25/2012 - Rezy13 wrote: 90 Points
Seemed as though it was getting a little aged. The hay components coming out more. Not scoring due to crazy tasting environment. Decent, but not great. Looking forward to evaluating second bottle.
After a week in the fridge this wine seems to have settled down and become more compact delivering precise fruit, great cut, and a flavorful finish. What a transformation!
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4/13/2012 - Zweder wrote: 91 Points
Rich and tropical fruits in the bouquet. On the palate concentrated and complex, tropical fruits, tart lime and grapefruit. Beautiful acidity. Beautiful and rich wine. Ready now and for several years more.
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12/10/2011 - Billigan wrote: 94 Points
Absolutely brilliant stuff. The nose is fine, with classic chenin aromas dominated by the signature waxy, floral component, but it's on the palate that this wine shows its brilliance. Like a million tiny little pieces of crystalized red apples dancing in your mouth with each sip, but also a creaminess and a rocky mineral texture all rolled in together. A mesmerizing wine to remember.
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2/9/2011 - Dr_Bob wrote:
youwza!
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4/20/2010 - pismo45 wrote: 91 Points
This wine was an eye opener. Hardly any experience with Chenin Blanc from the Loire, only other having been an off dry Pinon Vouvray Cuvee Tradition. Liked it too but this was a good substitute for chardonnay with crab (I'd seen that suggestion in CT notes). Hints of melon,lemon and honey. Seemed like a extremely well made wine in balance all the way thru. Seems like it can only get tastier with age. Great QPR.
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9/27/2009 - admid wrote: 92 Points
Deep and clear yellow
Honney and tropic aromas
Full-bodied. Perfect balance. Extreme honney and apricot on the palate.
Excellent lengthwith a stonefruit ending
Wine of the day, and perfect for crabs
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8/4/2009 - slanum wrote:
This is a very big wine, much bigger than I was expecting. If it were a Chardonnay it could be from Santa Barbara County (not that this has the kind of oak on it that mars the Chardonnays). I think I sense the alcohol, but it's hard to tell because this wine is so powerful. In other vintages (well, 2002) this was a racy, snappy wine, but in 2005 there was clearly more ripeness. Not at all flabby, this is nice and acidic with telltale Chenin hay-honey-lanolin aromas. Lemon and melon on the palate; some residual sugar, too. Very nice if a bit surprising. (Just checked and the label says 14% alcohol, which seems very high for this part of the Loire but not, apparently, for this particular vintage.)
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2/20/2009 - RationalDenial wrote: 93 Points
This is just awesome. Off-dry, but just (especially given the vintage). You can't believe how quickly you chase to the bottom of the bottle. Or how sad you are to get there. This may not have the power of Les Tuffeaux. Or the beautiful complexity of Clos Habert. And I would agree those have more intellectual interest, but this is the hedonist's choice of the vintage.
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6/4/2008 - Spencer wrote: 90 Points
Not one of the best '05 Chidaines, but still a delicious, balanced, elegant chenin. Very floral and extremely stony. Should age very well.
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1/29/2008 - 5laton wrote: 91 Points
Upon opening, a nose of sweet hay, apple pomace, fresh sweet creamery butter, hints of tropical fruits. Thick and soft in the mouth, with flavors of honey, white peach, candied lemon rind. Very ripe and thick, and lacking cut. The acidity is likely buried in baby fat; certainly far from assertive currently, but hopefully with time it will reappear. Flavors linger quite a long time on the palate. Perplexingly, this is potentially great, but could clearly also go in a very flabby direction. It's really hard to say at this point.
After tasting over three nights, i think it's the real deal. Aromas are more generous, although they haven't evolved significantly, and some of that baby fat has integrated. The wine is snappier on the palate, with decent, if not yet impressive cut. Most importantly, it's starting to taste like something i would recognize as Loire chenin blanc, if a rather dense, concentrated interpretation. I'm encouraged, as all of Chidaine's 05s have tasted a little thick and lethargic to me. Hopefully like this one, they just need time.
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12/26/2007 - drdebs wrote: 92 Points
A special wine, and all the more impressive for the fact that it is understated. Crystalline straw in color, with aromas of citrus, apple, wet stone, and chamomile. Palate of soft apple, fresh-mown hay, and more stone. Beautifully made, beautifully balanced, and very pleasing.
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12/8/2007 - greenblanket wrote:
This is the second time in several months that I have enjoyed this wine. Again, I found it to be harmonious with soft fruit, acidity and mineral elements in lovely balance. This time around I particularly admired the wonderful pure appearance of this wine in the glass - and I found this same refreshing purity expressed from the nose through the finish. Excellent.
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11/3/2007 - therussian wrote: 92 Points
My goal here is to convince that person reading this, who may be on the fence about purchasing this wine, is to convince them to not just buy one bottle, but perhaps three or four! This wine is absolutely beautiful with a gorgeous nose of pears, tangerines, and a hint of smoke. This chenin blanc on the palate is rich, not in the way a viognier or chardonnay is, but fills your mouth with so many flavors; liquid fruit, minerality, and a very refreshing tang, its all totally enveloping. Just out of the fridge the wine was far too cold but reached the perfect temp at about 58 degrees. Awesome with peaches and goat cheese. With Doug at his beautiful house in Carmel.
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10/6/2007 - greenblanket wrote:
This wine has a lovely rainwater purity about it and a nice balance between well delineated fruit and assertive acidity and minerality. It was pale gold in the glass with lemon, quince, sweet honeyed flowers and chalky minerality on the nose. The palate featured the same fruit flavors along with flavors and the mouth feel of delicate white peaches or perfectly ripe pears. The finish was persistent with lemon, minerals and acidity. Excellent.
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9/2/2007 - ejca wrote:
great wine, love chenin blancs.
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6/4/2007 - blue wrote:
I do like this wine. 2005 is just impressive. Although the nose is muted, this wine shows in a perfect balance a ripe, lovely fruity side and an aggressive minerality and acidity, all in harmony . will evolve.
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2/10/2007 - marc d wrote:
This is sec level, paler in color compared with the demi sec tried recently. Somewhat tight, opens up considerably on day 2. Vibrandt aromas of hard lemon candy, a little quince underneath. Nervy and energetic in the mouth, lots of minerals, chalk, and powder. Really good, but needs time for everything to come together.
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