Le Domaine Chinon Cabernet Franc

Presented double-blind at Tasting Group. The wine pours a deep ruby/purple color with medium viscosity and moderate staining of the tears. No signs of sediment. On the nose, the wine is developing with feral notes of violets and a pasture land: violets, black berries, horse stable, and a green herbal note. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acidity. Confirming the notes from the nose. I cannot over state the amount of violets in this wine. It’s almost as if there was addition to the fermentation. It’s wild, no pun intended. The finish is medium+ and the body comes across a bit thin. Initial conclusions: this could be Gamay, Syrah, Cabernet Franc, Malbec, Tempranillo or a Bordeaux-blend from France or Spain and that’s really about it. The cellar practices should be telling here. So I think there is some winemaking that’s a major part of this story. I exclude Malbec and Tempranillo because I can’t really think of producers that’s would be this…eccentric? I kinda like Syrah but I don’t really get any rotundone. So I’m leaning towards this being a natural producer of Beaujolais with some serious stem inclusion. Final conclusion: Gamay, from France, from Burgundy, from Beaujolias, Beaujolais-Villages 2021. Dammit…freaking Cabernet Franc from Baudry. I should have spent a little more time considering Chinon. Though, this is poopiest Baudry I can recall in some time. For the most part, I love this producer. Certainly a wine of character that tight ropes the line of Brettanomyces gone too far. Drink now.

Absolutely beautiful and crowd pleasing thanksgiving wine. Mouth watering acidity, bell pepper, black currant, blackberries, raspberries, herbs and forest floor.

Blackcurrant leaf, mousy characters, mint leaf, gin tonic, tomato leaf, forest floor, mushroom, lavender ash, rosemary, crushed bay leaves, Brett/game/animal/leather, steely metal minerality. 13%

Red flowers, allspice, sweet red berries, red currants, red currant flowers, juicy red cherry, vanilla beans (went away after 1 hour), tobacco, ash, very spicy. Grippy high tannins.

Just lovely. Great acid lift with accompanying green apple, honey and grassy note. Nice tart finish.

Cliff notes: Baudry rocks, kiss my ass.

Full review: 2021 was a notoriously difficult year in the Loire and this reflects that. This is delicious as a chilled red, charcuterie, wine, etc. It’s super light and peppy and delicious. Drinks like water with some cab franc in it. Light powdery tannins. But don’t come here looking for concentration.

If you’re looking for the perfect house wine, you can thank me. Wild and free, this is such a classic Chinon that hits every single one of the notes.

Herbs, herbs, and more herbs on the nose to start with. That beautiful barnyard we all know and love. Celery and green bell pepper for days, just so nice. Wet dirt with blue and black berries and the faintest hint of leather.

Very very young and still a bit primary, this has good bones and is still ready to love you now. Needs decanting but after some time and air it shows well. Fresh and alive on the palate, this sings a lovely song. Blueberries and strawberry jam. A little olive tapenade, more mushrooms, and black pepper. This is my kind of wine, my kind of Chinon.

#2 rank in a blind tasting. Luscious feel. More pyrezenes with air. Called right bank bdx.

<$30 desert island wine

Very nice, dryer than usual for Cab Franc