Les Picasses Chinon Cabernet Franc

Just a little fruit left. Wine is in its twilight but charming in its own way

Wine 1, with rack of lamb. As my drinking history shows, Raffault is a perennial favorite. 2017 is easy access with medium weight, wild red berry fruit, tomato leaf, and earth. Drink over the next five years. Holding ‘09, ‘14, ‘15, and ‘18 with patience.

Broke out one of my cellared Raffaults for my homeboy who graced me with a home cooked Tuscan styled flank steak w rosemary & arugula, as well as Israeli cous cous w chickpeas, charred tomatoes, feta, & herbs. Light Cadmium red hued & strong color though ( good cork- not a guarantee w Raffault!); dense Hibiscus, fresh raspberry & some bramble on nose; on palate very clean & smooth mouthfeel, with the initial flavors repeated but a deeper blend of red fruits & a stronger presence of under brush. Super fresh & integrated. Elegant, & the Burgundy echo was hard to ignore. Not Uber complex but not monolithic either, which this line of Raffault can be in its youth ( or as it ages). Very impressive, & accessible now. Curious how my ‘02 & 07s will fare…

Cherry tobacco cedar bacon smoke baking spice

Another outstanding Picasses that is far more accessible in its youth. Open but with more muscle, austerity, and brooding fruit than the ‘14. Need to revise my other rating up rather than this down.

Worth a check in at 10 years. Always an outstanding nose. Needed hours of air and still pretty shy, fruit in particular is closed. Paired with NY strip tonight. Have half a case left of this vintage and will check in again in a couple years.

Cork taint. First bad bottle of these that I can recall. Too bad as it’s an all-timer of a vintage

One of the best vintages I’ve tried of this stuff

Drinking beautifully. Blackberry, strawberry, musky earth, pepper, anise. Should hold just fine

What a lovely wine! Lots of violet, forest floor, thyme, red cherry, black cherry, cassis, vanilla, clove, forest floor, dried rose, dried blackberry. The wine has an abundance of flavor but has a lot of finesse - it’s medium bodied with real elegance on the palate. Lovely tertiary qualities being to emerge - this is delightful.