Chinon

Loire · France · Wine Auction Prices

Chinon, centred on the medieval fortress town of the same name where the Vienne meets the Loire, produces the Loire's most complete red wine appellation from Cabernet Franc on three distinct soil types: sand and gravel near the river (light, early-drinking), clay-limestone hillsides (mid-weight), and tuffeau limestone cliffs (structured, age-worthy). Charles Joguet, who died in 2020, was the appellation's pioneer of single-vineyard Chinon: his Clos de la Dioterie (tuffeau, planted 1940s) and Clos du Chêne Vert established that Chinon could produce wines of 20+ year longevity. Bernard Baudry's Croix Boissée, Philippe Alliet's Vieilles Vignes, and Domaine Olga Raffault's Les Picasses are the serious second tier. Domaine Grasset and La Noblaie represent emerging quality. Chinon Blanc from Chenin Blanc is a small, underrated sub-category. At auction, old-vintage Joguet Dioterie (1989, 1990, 1995) and Baudry Croix Boissée represent tremendous value: wines of Burgundy-like complexity available for a fraction of the price.