We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website.
Items not labeled as Rapid Ship or Pre-arrival may require a transfer from the warehouse to our shipping facility before shipping, which can take 4–6 business days. Learn more on the Shipping Info page.
In-store Only Items
These items are available at our location to purchase in-store, or to choose in-store pickup at checkout.
Long-term Pre-arrival Items
Long Term Pre-arrival Definition: Ordering wine directly through us from our supplier partners in Europe in advance of the item’s physical arrival in the US.
Long Term Pre-arrival sales ensure you’re getting the best possible price and that you have also secured the product before it hits the normal retail supply chain. The lead time for Pre-arrival goods is generally 4–8 months, sometimes longer based on supply chain and the logistics of transporting goods overseas. The expectation, from our team, is to communicate to the customer the location of their purchase every step of the way.
This product is offered as a full case purchase option, minimum order quantities may be applicable. When available, multiple case options will be presented. If you are purchasing a Pre-Arrival item you must order a solid case.
Rapid Ship
Items listed as "rapid ship" are in stock and available for immediate pickup or shipment. Those that do not have the "rapid ship" icon are housed with our supplier and must be transferred to our warehouse before they can be picked up or shipped. This requires 4-6 business days but usually occurs sooner. Some products will list both options of availability as there will be a certain number in stock, with the option to order additional bottles to be transferred from the supplier.
We offer FREE ground shipping and discounted upgraded shipping on orders with multiples of 12 qualifying bottles. Solid cases or mix-and-match, look for the yellow 12 FREE badge and save!
Sample image only.Please see Item description for product Information. When ordering, the item shipped will match the product listing if there are any discrepancies. Do not order solely on the label if you feel it does not match product description.
SKU 964015
Out of stock
Want to be notified when this product is back in stock?
The 2018 Les Picasses offers ripeness alongside finesse and elegance. Sourced from a 35-year-old vineyard on clay-limestone, it offers a gently creamy mid-palate while remaining delicate in texture. Ripe strawberry fruit flavors meet wild herbs and the very merest note of pepper on the palate. Certainly now entering a drinking window, there is plenty of room in terms of both flavor development and its finely woven texture to allow this to develop over the coming decade.
Cabernet Franc is not simply an important grape varietal for the fact that it is one of the most widely grown strains of vine in the world, but also because it is a vital grape in the production of many of the finest wines the world has ever seen. For centuries in its native France, it has been a varietal synonymous with elegance and high quality, and has become a key fruit in the production of the Bordeaux and Bordeaux-style blended wines which have gone down in history thanks to their magnificent flavors, aromas and levels of aged complexity. However, Cabernet Franc is also a wine grape varietal for use in single variety, unblended wines, and has plenty to offer on its own. Most commonly, it is renowned for its wide bouquet, which often includes fascinating notes of tobacco, violets or bell pepper over a beautifully pale and decadent liquid.
France, often regarded as the heart of the wine world, boasts a rich history, diverse terroirs, and a captivating variety of grape varietals. From the renowned vineyards of Bordeaux to the picturesque landscapes of Burgundy, France offers a wine lover’s dream journey. Whether you’re new to the world of wine or a seasoned enthusiast looking […]
Within France, the one region most closely associated with fine white and rosé wines is surely the Loire Valley. With over eight controlled appellations, and a relatively large expanse of land covering this wide valley, the Loire Valley is an ideal location for wineries wishing to produce large quantities of excellent quality vines for their wine production. Indeed, this region has been associated with excellent white wines for over a thousand years, with it once being the favorite wine region for the crowned heads of England, France and beyond. Today, it produces a wide range of white wines, and several rosé and red varieties also. It is also widely celebrated for being home to some of France's most lively and fruity sparkling crémant wines, which more than match those produced in nearby Champagne.
Appellation
Chinon
Chinon is an appellation in the Loire Valley of France, known for its red wines made primarily from Cabernet Franc, with some rosé and white wines produced as well. Established as an AOC (Appellation d’Origine Contrôlée) in 1937, Chinon’s vineyards thrive along the Vienne River, benefiting from a temperate climate and diverse soils ranging from limestone to gravel.
Chinon reds are celebrated for their versatility, offering both light, fruity styles and more structured, age-worthy expressions. The wines often display aromas of red berries, violets, and earthy notes, with soft tannins and a refreshing acidity. A hallmark of Chinon is its ability to balance freshness with complexity, making it a great choice for pairing with a variety of dishes, especially roasted meats, mushrooms, and soft cheeses. White Chinon, made from Chenin Blanc, offers crisp acidity and flavors of citrus and green apple, though it is much less common.
VM90pts
Vinous Media
The 2018 Les Picasses offers ripeness alongside finesse and elegance. Sourced from a 35-year-old vineyard on clay-limestone, it offers a gently creamy mid-palate while remaining delicate in texture. Ripe strawberry fruit flavors meet wild herbs and the very merest note of pepper on the palate. Certainly now entering a drinking window, there is plenty of room in terms of both flavor development and its finely woven texture to allow this to develop over the coming decade.
Winery Notes
100% Cabernet Franc. Les Picasses is the most famous Chinon lieu-dit, close to the village of Beaumont-En-Véron on the north bank of the Vienne River. It is a slope with full southern exposure and chalky clay-limestone soils. Raffault's mid-slope vines are at least 50 years old and are worked organically and harvested by hand. The fruit is destemmed with the berries left whole; they are fermented with indigenous yeasts in tank with a maceration of 25-30 days. The wine is aged for one to two years in 30-hectoliter oak and chestnut foudres; it is then aged in bottle for several years before release.
375ml
