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SKU 957449
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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.
