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.

Professional Reviews

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

100% Cabernet Franc. Croix Boissée is in Cravant, near the winery, on a south-exposed slope overlooking the Vienne River. The Baudry parcels total 3.1 hectares of low-yielding vines, ranging from 15 to 40 years old, on clay soils rich in white tuffeau (soft limestone) and iron. The farming is certified-organic. All vineyard work, including harvest, is by hand. The fruit is destemmed without crushing and moved by gravity into unlined cement vats. Fermentation is spontaneous with native yeasts and without sulfur or temperature control; maceration lasts up to 3 weeks with occasional pumpovers and no punchdowns. The wine is then aged in 1-3-year-old barriques for 2 years and bottled without filtration. Sulfur usage is minimal.