Despite not having drunk a tonne, I’d previously written off Loire reds as not to my taste. What I’d previously had seemed to me a bit stilted and lacking in complexity. I decided however to give Loire cabernet franc another try.
And well, I’m glad I did. Olga Raffault is a name that I’d hear a bit in relation to clean, precise, low intervention wines from Chinon.
Les Barnabés pours a transparent ruby, that appears almost neon red in the light. The nose opens at first a bit shy, but with red fruits, cranberry and redcurrant. These fruit characteristics are accompanied by a pleasant herbal lift, reminiscent of sticking your head into a fruit bush whose fruit hasn’t quite reached ripeness.
Undergirding the fruit is a characteristic graphite-rich earthiness—pencil shavings, graphite-rich soil, slight petrichor. No oak on this wine, so no spiciness, just beautiful precise fruit with a developed herbal and mineral edge.
This wine has changed my mind about the Loire’s red wines. I will definitely dive in more extensively now!
by Messorem223
6 Comments
Coming from this region, I’m obviously biased but I love the Loire reds (mostly Chinon tbh, Saumur less so).
Try reds from the Loir valley (without the E) if you have a chance. Pineau d’Aunis is a very unique varietal.
Olga Raffault blows my mind. If you can find the aged releases such as [this one](https://shrinetothevine.co.uk/products/olga-raffault-chinon-les-picasses-2008?_pos=2&_sid=c08de099f&_ss=r) I can’t recommend it enough, it’s expensive, yet it’s not crazy expensive, but it is crazy good.
Try Marc Bredif’s Chinon Rouge. Absolute banger Cab Franc for $20.
Ssssh Loire reds are shit – keep telling people that🤫! We don’t want people finding out!!
No but honestly, Chinon and Saumur Champigny reds can be genuinely exciting!
You’ve got a good nose, that’s a great write up on this wine. Cab Franc is usually a little too heavy for me, so I go for Loire Gamay or Pineau d’Aunis, especially now that Beaujolais has gotten so expensive.
Obsessed with Chinon. Get your hands on some Bernard Baudry before I drink him dry 🤣