Chinon is a village that was once a country retreat for French royalty. South of the Loire River, east of Saumur, west of Tours with slopes of tufa (chalk) soil that shelter the best vineyards.
Chinon is a delicate, medium bodied red that is nevertheless dark in the glass, silky and yet somehow weighty with acidity and edges of tannin to hold a grip and show an elegant/earthy finish. Cabernet Franc is the grape, all on its own. OK, maybe 10% Cabernet Sauvignon. It is bone dry, not heavy and not too alcoholic. A fine companion to good cooking.
Next door neighbor, across the river to the north, Bourgueil is also Cab Franc with that 10% of Cabernet being more commonly included. Darker and more in need of some time in the bottle. Maybe more appealing to some but I prefer the elegant reserve of a well made Chinon. Try something from Couly-Dutheil. Don't be afraid of some age, these wines mature into truly intriguing and sensuous red wines.
Comments