Tasting note
- Colour & Appearance
- The wine displays a dense purple colour with delicate violet reflections in the glass.
- Nose
- A tightly woven and fascinating aromatic profile: ethereal juniper, undergrowth and liquorice meet a complex berry fruit profile of cassis, blackberry and elderberry. Multilayered nuances of dark chocolate, aniseed and black pepper lend the fruit a powerful structure. A touch of rye sourdough, sweet cream butter and a subtle hint of warm leather round off the initial impression.
- Palate
- Right from the start, the wine coats the palate like fine silk – cool, full of finesse and with fresh vibrancy. The juicy berry aromatics are supported by a grippy acid and tannin structure, giving this red wine a fleshy, lively note. Savoury accents of lavender and violets provide floral highlights. For all its youthful accessibility, the structure reveals outstanding ageing potential.
- Finish
- On the finish, this Loire wine presents itself as remarkably balanced and stylish. Acidity and tannins fade out in perfect balance and with elegant calm.
- Terroir & Origin
- Located in Ambillou-Château in Anjou, the vines – aged up to 70 years – benefit from soils composed of clay-silty sandstone, red flint and calcareous tuffeau. Situated at an altitude of 90 metres, around 120 kilometres from the Atlantic, the vineyard enjoys cool nights and warm days, giving the wine its taut freshness.
- Grape Variety & Vinification
- This cuvée combines the two varieties Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon. Following hand-harvesting into small crates, the wine aged on the fine lees for twelve months in used Burgundian pièces, followed by a further six months in large wooden casks.
- Food Pairings
- Excellent with braised pork cheeks with root vegetables and mashed potato or a grilled rib-eye steak with Pimientos de Padrón and rosemary potatoes. Equally delightful as a vegetarian option alongside a beetroot carpaccio with fresh goat’s cheese & walnuts.
- Particularities
- The estate has been strictly certified biodynamic since the turn of the millennium. Once revived by Burgundy legend Anne-Claude Leflaive, the estate relies on old vines with extremely low yields, giving the wine its unadulterated terroir expression.
