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Jean-Maurice Raffault JM
Jean-Maurice Raffault and Rodolphe Raffault’s family began cultivating vines in Chinon 14 generations ago, when their ancestor, Mathurin Bottreau, bought his first parcel of vines in 1693. Today, Domaine Jean-Maurice Raffault owns 50 organically farmed hectares of vines in 7 communes. This certified organic cabernet franc is from the Les Picasses lieu dit, atop a plateau overlooking the Vienne, the windiness of the site reflected in the windmill on the label. Vines have been planted here since the 15th century. Soils here are stony limestone and clay. After destemming and a native ferment, with one month skin contact, this moves to barriques for MLF and aging 12 months on fine lees.
Super perfumed, with ample fragrant plums, wild blackberry, thorns, and crushed florals on a medium palate, gripped with ample firm, gritty tannins, and finishing with a lingering peppery note. Lovely lift and freshness, encouraging partnering this with food (think grilled sausages).
"This is a bright, firm and classic Chinon cabernet franc that could use another year or three, but is in shape to age well. The curious thing is that it is still so youthful still at six years of age. The nose offers ripe raspberry/pomegranate fruit with subtle oak, pepper, toast and fresh herbs. It is medium bodied, quite firm and tart-edged, with some alcohol warmth and mid-palate richness. Tannins are a bit stemmy and chewy, so set this aside until 2028-29. Could last well into the 2030s. The length is excellent. Tasted October 2026.” - 91 points, David Lawrason, WineAlign.com
“Exemplary as a cabernet franc for traditional Chinon, if surely pure, clean and pristine set in a modern era of Loire design. Crunchy and sweetly herbal, focused and unbridled with varietal energy. Great food wine, for whatever gastronomical pairing needs are needed. Personally the lead idea would be roast pork, char siu or XO sauce style. Drink 2026-2028. Tasted October 2026.” - 91 points, Michael Godel, WineAlign.com
“Perfumed and perfectly proportioned, still vibrant and vital, this Chinon is approachable now but will benefit from a year or two of further ageing. I like the colourful interplay of dried and fresh red fruit, herbs, violets, and flowers on display here. Gentle warmth lingers alongside all these flavours on the integrated finish. The medium bodied, agile palate is supported by lively acidity and drying tannins. Tasted October 2026.” - 91 points, Megha Jandhyala, WineAlign.com
“Full bottle 1,279 g. From a well-exposed plateau at the highest point between the Vienne and Loire rivers. Vines have been planted here since the 15th century. The name Picasses derives from the picks used to work on vines planted on stony soil. The soil in the Picasses vineyard is a blend of limestone and clay with small stones, which gives the wine its intensity and structure. J-M Raffault owns six hectares of Les Picasses, spread over 10 parcels of vines between 15 and 60 years old. The Picasses was fermented with a month's skin contact and is aged in three- to seven-year-old barrels for 12 months on fine lees with malo taking place in cask. Certified organic.
Much more structure and serious intent than the Galuches 2022 tasted alongside. But personally I do rather miss the pure Cabernet Franc fruit which is here rather disguised by the oak and extra extraction. It's at a rather awkward stage at the moment but may well age into something more pleasing. Finishes a little sort and drying. (JR) Drink 2025-2032.” - 16+ Jancis Robinson, MW, December 17, 2023.
Read more about Jean-Maurice Raffault here.
Vintage: 2020
Bottle Size: 750 mL
Bottles per Case: 12
Price per Bottle: $27
Style: Still
Region: Loire Valley
Appellation: Chinon AOC
Country: France
Grape: Cabernet Franc
Colour: Red
Vegan: No
Organic: Yes
Biodynamic: No
Natural: No
Low Intervention: Yes
Jean-Maurice Raffault JM
Jean-Maurice Raffault and Rodolphe Raffault’s family began cultivating vines in Chinon 14 generations ago, when their ancestor, Mathurin Bottreau, bought his first parcel of vines in 1693. Today, Domaine Jean-Maurice Raffault owns 50 organically farmed hectares of vines in 7 communes. This certified organic cabernet franc is from the Les Picasses lieu dit, atop a plateau overlooking the Vienne, the windiness of the site reflected in the windmill on the label. Vines have been planted here since the 15th century. Soils here are stony limestone and clay. After destemming and a native ferment, with one month skin contact, this moves to barriques for MLF and aging 12 months on fine lees.
Super perfumed, with ample fragrant plums, wild blackberry, thorns, and crushed florals on a medium palate, gripped with ample firm, gritty tannins, and finishing with a lingering peppery note. Lovely lift and freshness, encouraging partnering this with food (think grilled sausages).
"This is a bright, firm and classic Chinon cabernet franc that could use another year or three, but is in shape to age well. The curious thing is that it is still so youthful still at six years of age. The nose offers ripe raspberry/pomegranate fruit with subtle oak, pepper, toast and fresh herbs. It is medium bodied, quite firm and tart-edged, with some alcohol warmth and mid-palate richness. Tannins are a bit stemmy and chewy, so set this aside until 2028-29. Could last well into the 2030s. The length is excellent. Tasted October 2026.” - 91 points, David Lawrason, WineAlign.com
“Exemplary as a cabernet franc for traditional Chinon, if surely pure, clean and pristine set in a modern era of Loire design. Crunchy and sweetly herbal, focused and unbridled with varietal energy. Great food wine, for whatever gastronomical pairing needs are needed. Personally the lead idea would be roast pork, char siu or XO sauce style. Drink 2026-2028. Tasted October 2026.” - 91 points, Michael Godel, WineAlign.com
“Perfumed and perfectly proportioned, still vibrant and vital, this Chinon is approachable now but will benefit from a year or two of further ageing. I like the colourful interplay of dried and fresh red fruit, herbs, violets, and flowers on display here. Gentle warmth lingers alongside all these flavours on the integrated finish. The medium bodied, agile palate is supported by lively acidity and drying tannins. Tasted October 2026.” - 91 points, Megha Jandhyala, WineAlign.com
“Full bottle 1,279 g. From a well-exposed plateau at the highest point between the Vienne and Loire rivers. Vines have been planted here since the 15th century. The name Picasses derives from the picks used to work on vines planted on stony soil. The soil in the Picasses vineyard is a blend of limestone and clay with small stones, which gives the wine its intensity and structure. J-M Raffault owns six hectares of Les Picasses, spread over 10 parcels of vines between 15 and 60 years old. The Picasses was fermented with a month's skin contact and is aged in three- to seven-year-old barrels for 12 months on fine lees with malo taking place in cask. Certified organic.
Much more structure and serious intent than the Galuches 2022 tasted alongside. But personally I do rather miss the pure Cabernet Franc fruit which is here rather disguised by the oak and extra extraction. It's at a rather awkward stage at the moment but may well age into something more pleasing. Finishes a little sort and drying. (JR) Drink 2025-2032.” - 16+ Jancis Robinson, MW, December 17, 2023.
Read more about Jean-Maurice Raffault here.
Vintage: 2020
Bottle Size: 750 mL
Bottles per Case: 12
Price per Bottle: $27
Style: Still
Region: Loire Valley
Appellation: Chinon AOC
Country: France
Grape: Cabernet Franc
Colour: Red
Vegan: No
Organic: Yes
Biodynamic: No
Natural: No
Low Intervention: Yes
Alexana Winery
Though named Terroir Series, this is a Willamette-wide blend of various soils and clones. The wine is a selection of barrels from the dry farmed younger blocks of the Revana vineyard in Dundee Hills, along with vineyards in Yamhill-Carlton, Eola-Amity, Chehalem Mountains, and McMinnville, and clones Pommard, 115, 777, Wadenswil, 667, La Tache, 943, 114, 828, Coury, and 113. Each lot is separately native fermented whole berry before aging 11 months in French oak (23% new). Forest, wild cherry, fresh moss, and pretty florals rule the silken palate, sided with fine, long tannins and finishing with a gently warming baking spice note. Quite polished and fresh, this medium bodied wine is drinking ideal now with any kind of mushroom / duck dishes.
“Vivacious and expressive, with sleek raspberry and cherry flavors laced with rose petal, orange peel and hints of forest floor as this sails on the long, supple finish. Drink now through 2030. 6,490 cases made.” - 93 points, Tim Fish, Wine Spectator
Read more about Alexana Winery here.
Vintage: 2021
Bottle Size: 750 mL
Bottles per Case: 6
Price per Bottle: $65
Style: Still
Region: Oregon
Appellation: Willamette Valley AVA
Country: USA
Grape: Pinot Noir
Colour: Red
Vegan: No
Organic: No
Biodynamic: No
Natural: No
Low Intervention: No
Minimus
Minimus
Chardonnay Dijon Free
No Dijon clones were harmed in the making of this wine. Though Dijon clones are prevalent throughout the Willamette, they wanted to create a wine using only heirloom clones. This used Calera, Old Wenté, Musqué, Mt. Eden, Mendoza, and spent 16 months in 30% new French oak. Showing beautiful evolution, but still shining, with shimmery lemon and a buzzy undercurrent livening yellow and green apple, pear skin, subtle toast on a layered palate. Polished and impressive, reflective of the striking potential for Willamette Chardonnay.
"Beautiful chardonnay, as rich, sumptuous and unctuous as one could want from the Willamette, but also this stony and flinty subtlety running through the wine's interior like a hidden treasure of a message. So graceful and gracious, clearly exulting a sense of vineyard pace and place coaxed graciously by the people who work to make this fruit so real and proper. Excellence incarnate for a "Dijon-free" clonal iteration of the standard variety, opted for and exulted instead by that which is truly local. Drink 2023-2027. Tasted November 2023.” - 94 points, Michael Godel, WineAlign.com
"The first chardonnay I have seen promoted as Dijon-free, a reference to the invasion of French Dijon clones in recent years. It uses more 'native' clonal stock instead - Calera, Wente, Musque and others - and signals a reversion to American chardonnay of old. Indeed the very ripe banana, floral and buttery/custardy notes, complete with oodles of clove/nutmeg barrel spice - does recall the 80s. It is full bodied, off-dry warm and very rich. The texture is quite silky and the heat is on, yet the acidity holds. All kinds of complexity and power here, with excellent to outstanding length. The name of the wine is given a signal to the style but it is oblique. Tasted November 2023" - 93 points, David Lawrason, WineAlign.com
"Work past the creepy front label, and the tongue-in-cheek "Dijon free" mention on the back label (a reference to the proliferation of the so-called Dijon clones of chardonnay, whose arrival and spread in the early 1990s signalled the beginning of serious quality chardonnay in Oregon), and get on to the serious wine contained within, one with marked barrel influence and rancid butter flavours in a classical style. The palate is fullish and intensely flavoured, with resinous oak notes and lemon curd, creme brulée flavours. One can't argue with the flavour intensity and concentration - off-the-charts high, and the superb length, bold, dense and powerful. Similar quality from Napa would command a far higher price. Drink or hold short term - I'd capture with the remaining fruit intact, even though it's anything but a fruity wine. Tasted November 2023.” - 93 points, John Szabo, MS, WineAlign.com
"Cheekily labelled as a "Dijon Free Chardonnay", this assemblage is made from only heirloom clones such as Calera, Old Wenté, Musqué, Mt. Eden and Mendoza that have matured for 16 months in 30% new French oak. Despite the fact that the oak is quite prevalent on the palate, the wine is not heavy and exhibits a great deal of lift from acidity. Aging gracefully, there is very little oxidation noted and the fruit is still generous on the palate. A pleasant degree of nuttiness has surfaced adding to the overall complexity. Showing a notable stamp of place and a low-intervention cleanliness. The label is a bit dark and enigmatic in contrast with the wine. Best now to 2027. Tasted November 2023." - 93 points, Sarah d'Amato, WineAlign.com
Vintage: 2017
Bottle Size: 750 mL
Bottles per Case: 12
Price per Bottle: $55
Style: Still
Region: Oregon
Appellation: Willamette Valley AVA
Country: USA
Grape: Chardonnay
Colour: White
Vegan: No
Organic: No
Biodynamic: No
Natural: No
Low Intervention: Yes