Hi, We are off by car to Chinon for a week in July and I would welcome suggestions for reliable, not too expensive producers (around the £5-10 ($7-15) mark) in Chinon and the surrounding areas. Mainly interested in reds but suggestions for good value dessert wines also welcome.
Many thanks,
Gordon
How's your French? Domaine Bernard Baudry would be tops on my list and I know that the son speaks English. Other domaines whose wines I like are Charles Joguet, Olga Raffault and Les Roches (Jerome Lenoir), but I know nothing about whether they speak English.
Mark Lipton
In addition to what Mark suggested, There is a cooperative tasting room below the chateau in Amboise that was surprisingly good. Also I like the wines of Montlouis (Chenin Blanc) Many good again on the road to Chenonceau (though the Chateau at Chenonceau is not recommended for wine, tourism yes, wine no)
I'll second Baudry, although I think they're a little expensive perhaps. Honestly there's not a lot of good Chinon around at 5€ any more, entry level will be around 7-8. Yes, Matthieu Baudry speaks fine English. If you're in Cravant-les-Coteaux you could also try the somewhat less expensive Patrick Lambert and Jacques Spelty, both within a couple of hundred meters of Baudry.
Chinon is a large appellation, if you're in the other side of it (Ligré) I'd recommend Ch. de Ligré, the rose, rouge domaine and rouge Roche St. Paul are all very good.
-E
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