Les Varennes du Grand Clos AOC 2011

Les Varennes du Grand Clos is a vineyard located between the left bank of the Vienne and the Clos de la Dioterie. The rather flat vineyard is partly sandy-loamy, partly sandy-gravelly over limestone. Some of the vines were planted between 1962 and 1976, but some are 40 years older. The Cabernet Franc from Les Varennes du Grand Clos receives a cool pre-fermentation at 10 °C for ten days. The maceration in wooden vats lasts about four weeks at temperatures of 21 °C at most. Once the alcoholic fermentation is complete, the blending of the pre-fermentation wines and the best pressed wines for the malolactic fermentation takes place. The French oak barrels are partially renewed each year, so that about one fifth of the barrels are new and one to four years old. The vintages then mature for 15 to 16 months in wood, another six months in tank for harmonisation, and are then bottled.

quite transparent garnet red with a light brick red rim

The Chinon reveals itself subtly on the nose with red and green fruit aromas, some ink and liquorice, herbs and laurel, slightly grilled green and red peppers and a hint of blood and cigar box.

On the palate, this is a juicy wine with a polished tannin, in which a few green notes flash up as is typical for the vintage, but they do not disturb. After eleven years of maturity, there is still an impressive amount of young-looking tannin here. The fruit is reminiscent of raspberries, cherries and blackberries in combination with a little tomato and pepper. Everything about this Les Varennes du Grand Clos appears balanced, transparent and clear. It is not quite as complex as the neighbouring Dioteriebut wonderful to drink.