Alliet Chinon 2019

91+ points John Gilman (View From the Cellar): “The 2019 regular bottling of Chinon from Philippe Alliet and his son Pierre is made from parcels the family has on sandy and gravel soils closer to the Vienne River in Cravant-lèsCoteaux. The vines are more than forty-five years of age, the Alliets ferment it with indigenous yeasts and raise it in cement vats. The 2019 version is excellent, offering up a deep and classic bouquet of black cherries, sweet dark berries, tobacco leaf, a lovely base of soil, just a hint of tree bark and a smoky topnote. On the palate the wine is bright, full-bodied, focused and plush at the core, with good soil signature, buried, moderate tannins and a long, tangy and complex finish. This is made to be drunk young and it is already quite a lovely drink, but it also has the balance to age nicely and it would not be a crime to tuck it away in the cellar and forget about it for a decade, as it will be even better with bottle age! Fine, fine juice for the entry level bottling from this top level domaine. 2021-2050. (May/Jun 2021)”

An opulent and polished expression of Cabernet Franc from the Loire Valley. Perfume and purity present in red Burgundy but with notes of purple flowers, black currant and huckleberry.