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 the older plots of Cabernet Franc the family planted in the 1980s, this is a wonderful example of traditional Chinon meeting modern winemaking technique. The depth and purity of the fruit are terrific, with marked tannins and lively acidity adding to the length in the mouth. This is juicy, easy to drink and delivers just the right amount of pleasing florality and minerality to lift the fruit.
Perfect with veggie stir-fries and tomato-based dishes.