Olga Raffault

Les Picasses Chinon Cabernet Franc

9.368 ratings
9.426 pro ratings
Chinon, Touraine, Loire Valley, France
Cabernet Franc
Exotic Spices, Baking Spices, Hard Cheese, Blue Cheese, Chili & Hot Spicy, Pungent Cheese, Potato, White Rice, Herbs, Tomato-Based, Pasta, Mushrooms, Onion, Shallot, Garlic, Salami & Prosciutto, Beef, Soft Cheese, Chicken, Lamb, Turkey, Pork, Duck, Venison
Top Notes For
Matt

Thought this would be dead but the cork held up! About 30 minutes of pleasure than quickly faded and ox’ed in the glass. Oh well. Dried sour cherry, tobacco, graphite, potting soil, green peppercorn, porcini mushrooms, cigar ash, worn leather. Light, vibrant acid.

Thought this would be dead but the cork held up! About 30 minutes of pleasure than quickly faded and ox’ed in the glass. Oh well. Dried sour cherry, tobacco, graphite, potting soil, green peppercorn, porcini mushrooms, cigar ash, worn leather. Light, vibrant acid.

Jan 2nd, 2023
Joe Carroll

Owner/Wine Director Spuyten Duyvil, Fette Sau, St. Anselm & Gotham Artisanal Provisions

9.1

Drinking very well

Drinking very well

May 20th, 2021
Jeff Loo

Screaming good aged cab franc. Pristine btl off the list at Atera

Screaming good aged cab franc. Pristine btl off the list at Atera

Jul 7th, 2019
Seth Morgen Long

Broker • Arterberry Maresh / Winemaker • Morgen Long

9.4

Quite elegantly red fruited, a bit of musk and savory notes, but surprisingly primary. Compared to the ‘89, this is lighter in structure, almost airy, but with years of life left.

Quite elegantly red fruited, a bit of musk and savory notes, but surprisingly primary. Compared to the ‘89, this is lighter in structure, almost airy, but with years of life left.

Jul 21st, 2018
Carl Fischer

Renegade Wine dinner series at Rebelle NYC presented by sommelier Patrick Cappiello. Focus was on Cab Franc: 15 wines paired with 5 courses. Posting a few favorites.

This was WOTN for me. First thing I noticed - and could hardly believe - was how bright red the wine still was being 38 years old. There was some funk on the nose but a ton of fruit as well. The fruit stood out on the palate - and the wine had a brightness to it I couldn't believe. Flavors of raspberries and gravel and still had a great acidity. The somm did note that there is a lot of bottle variation. He opened the same vintage recently and it was all mushrooms and little fruit - so he felt his bottle was a little atypical. But that worked for me. Paired well with Comte.

Renegade Wine dinner series at Rebelle NYC presented by sommelier Patrick Cappiello. Focus was on Cab Franc: 15 wines paired with 5 courses. Posting a few favorites.

This was WOTN for me. First thing I noticed - and could hardly believe - was how bright red the wine still was being 38 years old. There was some funk on the nose but a ton of fruit as well. The fruit stood out on the palate - and the wine had a brightness to it I couldn't believe. Flavors of raspberries and gravel and still had a great acidity. The somm did note that there is a lot of bottle variation. He opened the same vintage recently and it was all mushrooms and little fruit - so he felt his bottle was a little atypical. But that worked for me. Paired well with Comte.

Aug 16th, 2017
jams jerfy

watermelon jolly rancher, cherry jolly rancher, cedar shingle and mushroom. if that sounds bad to you then you're missing the point.

watermelon jolly rancher, cherry jolly rancher, cedar shingle and mushroom. if that sounds bad to you then you're missing the point.

6 people found it helpfulDec 17th, 2015
Tom Kobylarz

Proof that one does NOT have to spend a lot of money to acquire wines that will age gracefully into a beautifully mature wine 36 years of age. The usual pepper note is there that tells you are with a Cabernet Franc from #chinon, but the real beauty unfurls with the elegant spices of tobacco leaf and old leather, notes of forest floor, subtle mint, dried red currant and cassis fruits. Simply beautiful and I will now go buy a case of 2010 and say goodbye to it in storage for at least ten years. $20-25 retail for the recent vintages. #1979 #smashingpumpkins #raffault

Proof that one does NOT have to spend a lot of money to acquire wines that will age gracefully into a beautifully mature wine 36 years of age. The usual pepper note is there that tells you are with a Cabernet Franc from #chinon, but the real beauty unfurls with the elegant spices of tobacco leaf and old leather, notes of forest floor, subtle mint, dried red currant and cassis fruits. Simply beautiful and I will now go buy a case of 2010 and say goodbye to it in storage for at least ten years. $20-25 retail for the recent vintages. #1979 #smashingpumpkins #raffault

4 people found it helpfulDec 17th, 2015
Andrew Tow

Founder The Withers Winery

9.2

Delicate and lovely. Still plenty of life.

Delicate and lovely. Still plenty of life.

1 person found it helpfulJul 13th, 2017
Justin Timsit, MS

Wine Director, The Rittenhouse

9.8

Exciting to see how well these wines age and how incredibly affordable they are.

Exciting to see how well these wines age and how incredibly affordable they are.

1 person found it helpfulDec 11th, 2015
Austin Hohnke

1979. Delicate. Nuanced. Sublime. Cedar and bell pepper tones. Just a hint of tannin. Soft mouthfeel. This wine begs you to examine and investigate.

1979. Delicate. Nuanced. Sublime. Cedar and bell pepper tones. Just a hint of tannin. Soft mouthfeel. This wine begs you to examine and investigate.

Apr 26th, 2017