Old-Vine Loire Valley Cabernet Franc. $18

Pastoral.  The Loire Valley is known as the “Garden of France.” Its lush rolling hillsides produce nearly every type of wine, from dry to sweet, light to dark, and white and red to sparkling and rosé. One of region’s most distinct styles is an unoaked, juicy Cabernet Franc from the central Loire Valley.

Our favorite source for this style is Chinon, a charming, ancient town that boasts a well preserved 12th century castle. The best reds from Chinon are pure and crisp, drink beautifully in their youth, and provide exceptional value. As WSJ wine writer Lettie Teague wrote recently, “Chinon and nearby towns… produce some of the best-valued wines in the Loire Valley—if not all of France.”

 

50-year-old vines.  Our winemaker in Chinon is the young Fabien Demois, a shy, entrepreneurial fellow who took over his family’s wine production a few years ago and has since gained journalistic praise and more than a few awards. Fabien makes his Chinon “Galets Ambrés” from Cabernet Franc planted in the 1960s. The wine is named for the amber-laden stones found in the vineyard. It’s unoaked, dense, and juicy — an unusually concentrated take on a Loire Valley red.

“Galets Ambrés” is delicious, showing notes of dark chocolate, cool ripe berries, graphite, and a hint of smokiness. The mouthfeel is lively, complex, and croquant (“crackling”), a testament to the increased freshness we often find in organically grown wines. This is refreshing enough to weather the heat waves of late summer, but dark and crisp enough to match a table of autumn cuisine.

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DEMOIS Chinon 2014
Ansonia Retail: $24
offer price: $18/bot

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AVAILABLE IN   6-    AND   12-  BOTTLE LOTS

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Email Tom to place an order.

or call Tom: (617) 249-3657

 

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Terms of sale. Ansonia Wines MA sells wine to individual consumers who are 21 or more years of age, for personal consumption and not for resale.  All sales are completed and title passes to purchasers in Massachusetts.  Ansonia Wines MA arranges for shipping on behalf of its customers upon request and where applicable laws permit.