The 2019 Montlouis ‘Clos du Breuil’ from François Chidaine is a superb young wine. This is done in its customary sweetness level of Sec, though it does not appear on the front label. The wine offers up a deep and complex nose of apple, sweet quince, a hint of passion fruit, chalky soil tones, a touch of lanolin, orange zest and a topnote of white flowers. On the palate the wine is deep, full-bodied, focused and complex, with a fine core of fruit, excellent soil undertow, bright, bouncy acids and excellent backend lift on the very long, well-balanced finish. This is already drinking beautifully, though it may close down for a short hibernation a few years down the road.
93+ points, John Gilman, View From The Cellar (Jun 2021)
The 2019 Montlouis sur Loire Clos du Breuil is from a three-hectare vineyard composed of clay and coarse flint elements topping the tuff mother rock. The bouquet is precise, crystalline and deep, pairing lemony, tropical fruit and chalky aromas with flint stone, iodine and red paprika or pimiento notes. The palate is seamless, crystalline, fresh, very elegant and salty-piquant, almost like a limestone Riesling, with ripe pear flavors, fine tannins and a long and dense, if not juicy finish. The acidity is remarkably fine, and the wine indicates great aging potential, even though it is already an excellent Chenin that could be served even as aperitif (despite its 14% alcohol). Vinified in demi-muids for 11 months, then bottled in August 2020. Tasted in March 2021.
92 points, Stephan Reinhardt, Wine Advocate (Aug 2021)