Loire, France
Chinon AOC
The Domaine de la Marinière, situated in Panzoult on the eastern edge of Chinon, has been farmed by the Desbourdes family since 1965. The land here was initially used as a true, polycultural farm, raising animals and growing cereal grains in addition to grapes. Renaud Desbourdes returned to help his father in the 1980s, turning the focus to grape growing and winemaking and expanding the vineyard plantings, and eventually took full control of the domaine in 1999 when his father retired. Today, Renaud’s son, Boris, has joined his father full-time, and is helping to take this traditional family domaine into the next generation. Boris initially became passionate about organic farming after working with Vincent Laval in Champagne, and upon his return, he immediately transitioned his family’s vineyards to organics (certified in 2018).
Sourced from a selection of older plots of Cabernet Franc, this is a wonderful example of traditional Chinon meeting modern winemaking technique. Maceration of 1 month in concrete vats and then aged in old oak barrels for 15 months. This has volume and depth with intense dark fruit flavours brightened by pops of cherry and strawberry. It's wild and gamey, with earth, leather and spice mingling in the punch bowl of flavour. The tannins are fine-grained but omnipresent with a breath of freshness provided by much needed acidic lift. Like a wax-shaped moustache twirl, this shows sophistication and conveys a sense of great care and affection in achieving the result.
Pair with game meats like venison sausages or medallions or with something more simple like tourtière or shepherd's pie.