The fruit for the rosé comes from several estate parcels on two different terroirs: the higher plateau with flinty clay soils and valley/river level with sandy gravel soils. The vines are on the younger side, averaging 20 years old, and are farmed organically. The grapes are harvested by hand, destemmed and gently pressed. Fermentation is long and slow, with native yeasts in unlined cement tank, taking anywhere from two weeks to two months to finish dry (always 2 grams RS or less). The wine remains in tank, goes through malolactic fermentation, receives minimal sulfur and is bottled in the spring following the harvest. Very small production.

Bernard Baudry is one of the newer stars of the Chinon scene. A graduate of the Lycée de Beaune, Baudry created his 25-hectare estate out of family parcels and purchased land. He quickly rose to prominence in the appellation for precise, textured Chinon. Baudry is now retired and his son Matthieu, who has been making wine with his father since 2000 (not to mention working in New-Zealand and California before making his way back home) has taken over as head vigneron.

Baudry’s style exemplifies rich, precise fruit picked at perfect ripeness levels and vinified cleanly using state-of-the-art equipment. The first release and most youthful wine is Les Granges. This is from young vines (25 years old) planted on alluvial soil and gravel near the riverbed. When the Vienne river floods in some springs, Baudry may be found pruning the vines from a boat. This is a wine that is supple and fruity with smoky cherry fruit and is meant to drink young. It is a perfect wine for simple foods and cheeses.