Chinon Les Temps des Cerises Rouge, Domaine de la Noblaie, Loire, France 2019

100% Cabernet Franc with around 8 months on the lees. Unoaked.

Its name is evocative of the plump black-cherry fruit in this healthy ripe vintage. Will develop in bottle but its bright fruit and well-managed tannins make it approachable now.

Jérôme Billard is a young grower who has taken over the reins of the family business in recent years. His grandparents bought the property for their retirement having migrated from the Corrèze department, and Jérôme’s father was professor of oenology at the agricultural college in Montreuil-Bellay. Jérôme trained with Moueix in Bordeaux and California, and later in New Zealand, and returned to the domaine with a fresh outlook but a great respect for the integrity of Chinon’s grapes, working sustainably since 2008.

The family now farms 21 hectares, 16 of which they own, around the hamlet of Le Vau Breton, a name which in the time of 15th-century poet and trencherman Rabelais meant ‘The Valley of Cabernet Franc’. 17 hectares are planted with cabernet franc and 4 with chenin blanc, and Jérôme vinifies parcels separately and by the age of the vines to retain their particular characteristics.

90 points Vinous Le Temps des Cerises (or "Cherry Time!" as Jérôme jokes) is Domaine de la Noblaie’s everyday Chinon and represents half of their Cabernet Franc production. Bright ruby. Classic fresh and savory Chinon nose, delivering lots of black pepper, tomato and olive. On the palate, thought, it’s plush and fruity, with fleshy plum and ripe cherry, balanced by chalk and more black pepper. Aged five months in stainless steel. (JR)(7/2020)

SIZE:

75cl

ABV:

12.5 %

CLOSURE:

Screwcap

DRINK:

Now to 2024

BOTTLED:

Winery

WINEMAKING:

Organic

WINEMAKING:

Vegan

VINTAGE:

2019

APPELLATION:

Chinon