Loire, France
A wonderful entry into the portfolio of the ever-evolving Chinon appellation in the Loire region of France. Made purely from Cabernet Franc, this comes in a lighter, easier-to-approach style that's ideal for immediate enjoyment. While there are undoubtedly excellent wines from the region worthy of a wide variety of aging lengths, the "modern" approach emphasizes freshness, fruit character and accessibility. The red fruits are zingy, there's light smoke character alongside a hint of green and there's minor touches of black pepper in the mix too. Overall, the vibe is easy, breezy and not too dissimilar from a well-made cru Beaujolais.