This has been open for a few days. Reminds me why I keep buying Chidaine. Paid 23 bucks for this a few years ago, I love these wines. While I have turned into much more of a Chidaine sec drinker (Breuil, Choisilles, etc), I do still find the itch for the demi cuvées, as long as the acidity is charged into the wine. This Tuffeaux has it, baby.
2010 François Chidaine Montlouis-sur-Loire Les Tuffeaux- France, Loire Valley, Touraine, Montlouis-sur-Loire (12/16/2015)
Opened this to, gulp, let my wife use for cooking. Heresy, I know. It was only a glass but it did make a great sauce. As to the wine, 2 days later I poured a glass to drink! This drinks like the bottle we had in 2014, with a good zing of acid against pear, yellow Apple, honey and nectarine skin. The acidity is the key here, as it really jazzes up the fruit with a long finish. No rush on these, plenty of refreshing acidity here.
Thanks Frank. A wine you know you can just reach for without thinking, and get an enjoyable bottle. Sadly, a good fraction of my 08s are gone, starting to work through 10s, but after a few tough years, 14 looks like another winner, so those should be nicely in the queue in a couple years.
I served two bottles of the 2010 Tuffeaux to my non-geek guests at a Christmas dinner party on Saturday, and they were a big hit. I also opened two bottles of a 2010 Chassagne Montrachet and had 1 3/4 of those bottles left at the end of the night.
It’s a lovely wine, as are all the Chidaines I’ve tried. One great thing about the good Loire chenins (maybe excluding the boniest and least fruited ones) is that they appeal equally well to your wine geek friends and to civilians. Civilians seem to generally know nothing about them and not be very interested, but then like them a great deal if you can get them to try.
Counselor, before I hit the craft beer, tonight, I grabbed a small glass of the '10 Tuffeaux again. My god, I forgot how good this wine is tasting. Between the texture and the acidity, I can see why it hit with your crowd. Good choice for your guests.
Thanks for the note Frank. I have one bottle of 2008 left, and like Alan am working through the 10’s. I picked up a mixed bunch of 14’s but none of the Tuffeaux for some reason. I may have to fix that.
Jeff, I need to get out there and have a dinner with you. I may be your way in Q1. I will give you a holler if I can make it work.
I picked up the rest of my 2014s today from Envoyer–Choisilles and Breuil. I have a nice selection now of 4 cases of Chenin, spanning back to 2005. I suspect if Steve Nordhoff sees that I have wine THIS OLD that he will cry without control, and I hope if that occurs he is not in court!
Frank, let me know when your in town. Maybe I’ll bring an 05 Foreau Demi-sec to compare with the Tuffeaux. I’ve never had a Breuil but I did pick up a couple of the 14’s to try. Chidain’s wines are delicious and great values.
Just had an '08 Tuffeaux last night. Great bottle, gorgeous, with no signs of age or oxidative notes. Best wine $23 can buy (or at least tied with some of my Muscadet).
2010 François Chidaine Montlouis-sur-Loire Les Tuffeaux- France, Loire Valley, Touraine, Montlouis-sur-Loire (5/15/2016)
Drinking exceptionally well after one hour plus with air. What I liked most was that the sugar was just barely noticeable. Typical Chenin flavors without a sweet blast. Enjoy it now, enjoy it in 10 years. Exceptional juice and not just because the price is so right. (93 pts.)
Found this in my locker, figured time to try one again. This bottle was definitely at or past its peak:
2010 François Chidaine Montlouis-sur-Loire Les Tuffeaux- France, Loire Valley, Touraine, Montlouis-sur-Loire (3/5/2017)
Showing a bit of color, slight hint of apple juice on the nose; there’s a definite hint of oxidation on the palate, but it is background enough that this is still quite enjoyable, with nice intensity, decent acidity, not overly sweet or lush. Very pleasant, but I’d say drink up. (87 pts.)
I need a moment as well…Frank has a wine that is almost 12 years old??? Tell me it’s not true. The next thing we will learn is Frank prefers French wine over CA.
The next thing we will learn is Frank prefers French wine over CA.