Chinon

The wine

On the banks of the Vienne river, Chinon has grown cabernet franc since the Middle Ages with particular finesse. The majority-red production offers three profiles: Loire-side sands give light, fruity wines for early drinking; hillside gravels add structure; tuffeau (limestone from the heights) produces the deepest, most age-worthy bottles (fifteen to thirty years). Typical aromas: red fruit, bell pepper, graphite, violet. Small volumes of chenin whites and rosés complete the range. Chinon pairs with herb-roasted poultry, white meats, rillettes and goat cheeses — including the nearby Sainte-Maure-de-Touraine.