Olga Raffault Chinon Les Peuilles 2020 750ml

100% Cabernet Franc. Like the more renowned Les Picasses, Les Peuilles is a lieu-dit close to the village of Beaumont-En-Véron, but it is to the south of town, closer to the Vienne river. It is a plateau rather than a hillside and features soils of clay and flint rather than limestone. The fruit is organically farmed and hand-harvested and destemmed without crushing. The whole berries are fermented with indigenous yeasts in stainless steel tank, with a shorter maceration compared to that of Picasses. Aging takes place in 70-hectoliter oak and chestnut foudres for 6-12 months, with another year or two in bottle before release.

• Country: France
• Region: Loire Valley
• Appellation: Chinon
• Size: 750ml
• Color: Red

Varietal

Cabernet Franc

Cabernet Franc is not simply an important grape varietal for the fact that it is one of the most widely grown strains of vine in the world, but also because it is a vital grape in the production of many of the finest wines the world has ever seen. For centuries in its native France, it has been a varietal synonymous with elegance and high quality, and has become a key fruit in the production of the Bordeaux and Bordeaux-style blended wines which have gone down in history thanks to their magnificent flavors, aromas and levels of aged complexity. However, Cabernet Franc is also a wine grape varietal for use in single variety, unblended wines, and has plenty to offer on its own. Most commonly, it is renowned for its wide bouquet, which often includes fascinating notes of tobacco, violets or bell pepper over a beautifully pale and decadent liquid.