The Loire is home to some of the best-kept secrets in unsung heroes of world class wine. And no Loire Hero is making greater wines than Bernard Baudry.

The magic starts with their vineyard holdings, which are typically very old vines on gravel and sandy soils with La Croix Boissee having a layer of white limestone subsoil that gives the wine that unique mineral backbone and structural depth that sets many of the world's greatest wines apart. Yup, great exposition and white soils is a sort of magical formula. Clos Rougeard's got it, so does Chablis's Grand Cru Slope and some of the best vineyards in Cote d'Or. The Baudrys farm organically, harvest by hand, and make their wine without manipulation (fermentation is with natural yeasts).

Despite the similarities to some of the world's most famous and allocated wines, Baudry remains remarkably affordable and easy to find. Why? Probably because Bernard started completely from scratch. And because he and his son, Matthieu, who has taken over most of the Domaine's operations, are humble farmers quite removed from the hype and glam of high-end wine.

What importer Bowler Wine has to say about this wine...

One of the most pleasurable red wines of the Loire Valley, the Baudry Chinon "Les Grézeaux" is from a unique parcel of sixty year-old vines near the bottom of the slope in Sonnay (near Cravant-les-Coteaux) on a bed of gravel over a base of clay, sand and limestone. The grapes are harvested by hand of course and fermented with wild yeasts with zero SO2 added during vinification. Beginning in 2017, the wine ages in large cement vats by Nico Velo, which are slightly porous. Les Grézeaux always has an elegant silky texture and wonderful freshness, making it delicious as a young wine, combined with the ability to age beautifully for 20 years and more in good vintages. Tasted in Cravant in February 2023, the 2022 “Les Grezeaux” showed a bright deep black/red color – “jus de viande” said Matthieu, with beautiful density of fruit, vibrant and mineral with fabulous sapid length. Intense and concentrated as a young wine, and with firm tannins, this will drink beautifully for at least 15 to 20 years – well worth buying by the case! Please decant or open the day before if drinking now.