Chinon "L'Epée", Ch. du Petit Thouars - 2018

Name: Chinon "L'Epée", Ch. du Petit Thouars
Brand: Ch. du Petit Thouars
SKU: 41026
Price: 21.96 USD
Availability: OutOfStock

Item # 41026 750mL

The L’Epée Chinon is produced from two-thirds free-run juice and one-third press juice and is made from the oldest Cabernet Franc vines on the property. Aged in old casks giving a classic yet structured profile for this Cabernet Franc. The Château itself was built in the 1500s in the town of Thouars. Sebastien du Petit Thouars is at the helm and marks the twelfth generation in his family to run the estate since they purchased the property in 1636.

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Color

Red

Vintage

2018

Country

France

Region

Loire

Sub-Region

Touraine

Appellation/Village

Chinon

Producer

Ch. du Petit Thouars

Grape Variety

Cabernet Franc

Production Methods

Organic

Certified Organic

Wine made from grapes grown without synthetic pesticides, fertilizers and herbicides in the vineyard. Certified in the country of origin.

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Staff Pick Notes

To say that Neal Rosenthal has good instincts is more than an understatement. A legend in the wine world, his portfolio has long showcased the many viticultural regions of France. There was one notable exception - Chinon. What he finally chose.. voila! Cabernet Franc is king here, thriving in the the varied soil and geography of the large appellation, in this case grown on a plateau of clay and limestone. My expectations were high and I was not disappointed. Smooth on the palate with silky tannins, layers of red fruit (cranberry, currant, bing cherry) mix with earthier notes (leaves and herbs) and a touch of ground pepper, making for diverse pairings from meat to heartier fish to veggies to cheese. I enjoyed mine with a gyro packed with lamb, onion, tomato and tzatziki. Unconventional, but I like to think Neal would approve.

- DY

Glossary

Loire

There’s a lot to remember when it comes to the Loire. Novices, take note: Cabernet Franc is a great alternative to Cabernet Sauvignon, Muscadet is unparalleled as a companion to shellfish, and Cour Cheverny is the best white wine appellation you’ve never heard of. As diverse as Loire wines are, one day soon you'll know your Melon de Bourgogne from your Romorantin.

Cabernet Franc

Relegated to moderate obscurity in modern times, Cabernet Franc is in fact the proud parent of the attention-hogging Cabernet Sauvignon (after an illicit affair with Sauvignon Blanc a hundred-odd years ago). Cabernet Franc has remained close to its roots in France, enjoying small pockets of popularity primarily in the Loire Valley (specifically in Chinon), where it is often bottled as a varietal wine, and in Bordeaux where it is still used in moderate percentages in the typical blends. In fact,...