Bernard Baudry and son Matthieu are making the best wines in Chinon these days, my opinion, from the best terroirs in the appellation in Cravant-les-Coteaux. That's saying something considering that they didn't even own vines 40 years ago. Baudry's Chinons present themselves in a, dare I say it, Burgundian style, not easy to do with Cabernet Franc,  mostly due to their special terroirs but also to diligent farming practices and careful work in the cellar.

Farming here has been fully organic since 2006, another difficult feat considering this continental climate with its humidity and otherwise unpredictable weather. The domaine consists of various parcels planted on diverse soils around Cravant from pure limestone at the top of the slope facing the Vienne river to alluvial deposits near the bottom. Everything is done by hand here from pruning and picking to bottling.

The Clos Guillot has as always been my favorite Chinon bottling from any producer here. From a parcel on a south-east facing hillside near the town of Chinon with clay and limestone making for much more serious structure though this is about as  perfectly balanced in my mind as great Chinon can be. The tannins are there but perfectly integrated, rather elegant actually. Deep, almost opaque ruby in the glass. Generous nose of violet and both red and black fruits, Richly textured, even silky on the palate with plenty of tension from firm acidity, mineral and of course the tannins. Impressively long, savory finish. A joy to drink now but should age for decades.