2008 Francois Chidaine Method Traditonnelle Brut Nature, Montlouis sur Loire

I don't have enough superlatives to describe this Iconic Loire Valley producer.  Not only was he a trailblazer when it came to first Organic, then Biodynamic, and now Regenerative farming, but he was also among the first to recognize the quality and potential of Montlouis-Sur-Loire as a distinctive terror in the early 90's. Beyond all that he happens to make wines that are at times freakishly delicious. This wine is one of the most unique and certainly one of the most delicious I have seen from Chidaine. This is a sparkling wine made in the traditional method (the same technique as Champagne) from estate grown, Biodynamically farmed Chenin Blanc.  Finding technical details online has been tough but from a sensory perspective I can say its seriously delicious. Honeyed and fruity with deep savory, yeasty tones this is dry and full bodied sparkling wine that is to die for. - Andy Paynter

François Chidaine worked alongside his father Yves for many years before setting out on his own in 1989. Convinced of the potential of the terroirs of Montlouis and Vouvray, he purchased assorted parcels and expanded the estate to today's total of 30 hectares of Chenin Blanc, many of which are dominated by old vines of 40 to 80 years of age. During these years of growth, Chidaine earned a reputation as a leading natural viticulturalistin the region. Today, he is devoted to what is referred to in the U.S. as "regenerative agrcitulture", which involves implementing practices that are known to improve the rate at which CO2 is removed from the atmosphere and converted into plant material and soil organic matter (squestering CO2 in the soils). At the heart of this approach is a practice of "no-till" farming. While plowing is an integral part of natural viticulture for many farmers and producers, this disruption of the soil is thought to interfere with the complex mycorrhizal network (funghi network) that actually connects individual plants together and transfers water, carbon, nitrogen and other nutrients and minerals between them. After years of working his soils, François developed a belief that by plowing he was sabotaging these important communication networks which help to give the vines what they need to flourish. An essential aspect of regenerative farming is the establishment of permanent cover crops between vine rows. Francois encourages biodiversity by embracing the growth of indigenous plants and sowing over 25 additional species among the vines. By mimicking nature, the vines find their place in a complex ecosystem, allowing them to better express their place of origin. Polaner Selections

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