Olga Raffault Chinon Les Picasses 2009

100 POINT CREE WINE SCORE - A MASTERPIECE TO DRINK NOW & FOR A DECADE OR MORE TO COME

“Medium ruby hue, still deep and deceivingly youthful in color, bursting from the glass with beautiful earth tinged, dried red fruits, cherry compote, leather, nutmeg, and dried flowers and herbs on the nose. Silky, complex, and oh-so pleasing on the palate. Red fruits blend with the spice, leather tobacco and earth tones of the wine’s amazing bouquet, its tannins are fine and quite integrated. Amazingly elegant and refined, yet with complexity and persistence into the long, very satisfying finish. From a warm, sunny, perfect vintage, this wine has captured the 2009s amazing character and improved on it over time. Wow, this easily earns its 100 Point Cree Wine Score!” Chris Cree, Master of Wine

From one of my favorite Loire Valley growers comes this outstanding library release from Olga Raffault. It has impeccable provenance, having aged and matured in their cool cellars until recently shipping to us in temperature controlled conditions, it is magnificent and in perfect condition. It is 100% Cabernet Franc from the Les Picasses vineyard, the most famous in Chinon, close to the village of Beaumont-En-Véron on the north bank of the Vienne River.

It is a slope with full southern exposure and chalky clay-limestone soils. Raffault's mid-slope vines are at least 50 years old and are worked organically and harvested by hand.

The fruit is destemmed with the berries left whole; they are fermented with indigenous yeasts in tank with a maceration of 25-30 days. The wine is aged for one to two years in 30-hectoliter oak and chestnut foudres; it is then aged in bottle for several years before release.