Wines
J.M. Raffault
Loire (Chinon)
Chinon Rouge Les Picasses 2006
Varietal: Cabernet Franc 100%
Soil type: Tuffeau (clay, chalk)
Maturation: 12 months in 7 year old oak, on lees with racking
Alcohol: 12.5%
Best drinking: Now - 2010
Suggested food: Rabbit stew; light, creamy cheeses
This vineyard is situated on soil composed mainly of clay and chalk, locally referred to as tuffeau (Touraine’s local stone). It is out of this stone that Raffault’s underground wine cellars were dug during Roman times. Light, bright and slightly vegetative in their youth, these wines reveal their fullness after 5 - 10 years of cellaring.
Reviews: "Firm and focused, with a chalky spine adding definition to the core of black cherry and blackberry fruit. Additional olive, tobacco and spice notes fill out the finish. Well-integrated, with solid depth. Drink now through 2010." – J.M. 90 pts, Wine Spectator
$19.95 per bottle