2018 Bernard Baudry Chinon Le Clos Guillot

The Clos Guillot vineyard is situated on a southeast-facing slope in Chinon with soils of clay, chalk and yellow limestone known locally as tuffeau. Harvesting is by hand and yields never exceed 40 hl/ha. Fermentation takes place in large wooden fermenters with regular pigéage with the aim of providing gentle extraction of supple tannins. After maceration of about 20 days, the wine is pressed off and then matured for 12 months in oak barrels that have seen two or three vintages, followed by nine months in cement. Bottled without filtration.

Matthieu Baudry describes Le Clos Guillot as a “very pure expression of Chinon.” Pouring crimson/ruby red, this combines the richness and power of the year with the vineyard’s trademark purity. At its core are dark berry fruits, floral nuances and a hint of complexing bay leaf. And, while this saturates the palate, the energy of the wine is palpable—sophisticated, silky tannins and bright acidity round out a wine that is balanced enough to enjoy now but will also go the distance.

Other Reviews....
The 2018 Chinon Clos Guillot is a rich, focused powerhouse that's firm and direct, with dark blackberries and smoky notes. If we lived in an ideal world, this would be aged before releasing, as it's ripe yet tight and tannic, with the limestone soils providing grip along the sides of the mouth and a sense of direction. Lengthy, serious and complex, leaving the mouth full of dark berry fruit, spice and tea leaves. A baby. Drink 2024 - 2040.
97 points
Rebecca Gibb MW - Vinous

The 2018 Chinon Le Clos Guillot is another impressive Cabernet Franc from Bernard Baudry. The bouquet reveals a perfectly ripe, refined and elegant yet also intense dark fruit aroma reminiscent of blackberries and cherries intermixed with leather and some distinctive flinty aromas. Quite open from this bottle but highly attractive. Silky, round and with remarkable finesse and tension, this is a full-bodied, concentrated and quite tannic Chinon with a still astringent finish but with enough sweetness and intensity for good aging potential. The aftertaste is long and compact and once more represents the concentrated character of the berries when harvested. An impressive wine whose future is even more great than its current status. Tasted in June 2021. Drink 2025 - 2045.
93+ points
Stephan Reinhardt - Wine Advocate (Aug 2021)

Tasted from barrel with Matthieu, this will see out 12 months in barrel, then 12 months in cuve. It also displays an incredibly dense colour in the glass. The nose is smoky and expressive, wrapped in toasted elements from the barrels, with intertwined floral notes, violet and peony. A very tense and direct style on the palate, yet it remains supple and polished. Cool, with vibrant acidity, which seems to lift the fragrant floral elements, bringing to the fore scents of roses and violets. Behind this is the grip of the tannins, lush and long. This is incredible, so very complete, with silky harmony and such purity, but also depth and substance.
95-97 points
Chris Kissack - The Wine Doctor