September 27, 2019 - Gravel over clay, matured for 12 months in old oak barrels. This has thrown a modest amount of fine sediment. Dark colour, still quite dense. Expressive cabernet franc nose. Drinking very well – lovely in fact. Rounded, balanced, quite structured with the tannins still in evidence though not obtrusive. Comes in at 13.5% abv and is certainly a serious wine with significant presence. For me this is likely to improve further.
May 31, 2015 - My final bottle of this. Still youthful with deep red fruits and Cab Franc polish and freshness.
February 27, 2014 - Really wonderful, nuanced, complex (at an unbelievably good price point). Complex bouquet and palate, with stewed fruit, cigar box, herbaceous notes and a hint of wood on the finish. (And for those who like hating on Cab Franc, very little grassy quality. You have to strain to detect that.) The tannins are still not completely resolved. They make an appearance on the finish. I'll wait three or four more years before drinking my other bottle. Extremely impressive.
August 28, 2012 - Good, but not as good as a bottle drunk last year. Classic Chinon, lean and leafy but in a ripe vintage. Cassis nose, raspberry flavours, needs a couple of hours in the decanter. Some tannin showing still. Should improve for 5+ more years when I'd expect it to reach maturity.
August 28, 2011 - Really impressive now - really developed and deepened. Big, juicy cab franc cassis with some real meaty depth. Superb.
April 17, 2011 - Truly outstanding bottle of wine. Depth of Cab Franc fruit is very impressive, without being heavy. This needs another two years to be at it's best.
July 25, 2010 - Ripe, classic Cabernet Franc. Blackcurrant leaf and tobacco on the nose, ripe plummy crushed fruit, gentle tannins and fine acidity. Still youthful but more classic that when drunk last year. At present best to pop and pour.
June 29, 2010 - As always - Chinon is best with cheese. This does not break the rule.
September 30, 2009 - Quite an impressive wine. With decanting time of about an hour it develops a really nice meaty, gamey, savoury nose with good red fruits there too. Similarly intersting savoury flavour with lean fruit a bit of tobacco and still plenty of tannin. The ripeness of the vintage shows through. Excellent stuff that should develop for a few years.
December 31, 2008 - Color is dark, nose of mint, vegtables and dark fruit. Earth, smoke, meat and wonderful dark fruit. Integrated tannins lead to a long rich finish.