Les Varennes du Grand Clos AOC 2016

Wine Description for Les Varennes du Grand Clos AOC 2016 by Charles Joguet

Colour & Appearance

Luminous garnet red with a fine hint of brick red at the rim – a classic sight for a matured Loire Cabernet Franc that has not quite shed its youth.

Nose

Elegant and multi-layered, this Chinon presents itself with dark, juicy fruit that remarkably fresh in character. Fresh leafy notes and subtle pyrazine notes – that typical green spice of Cabernet Franc – meld with nuances of ink, liquorice and crushed limestone, which underscores the mineral signature of the terroir.

Palate

On the palate, a juicy, vibrant wine unfolds with lively acidity and impressively present tannins that, after eleven years of maturation, appear remarkably youthful yet already refined and approachable. The fruit palette shifts between raspberries, cherries and blackberries, accompanied by subtle notes of tomato and paprika – vintage-typical green accents that lend character without dominating. The texture is transparent and powerful at once, everything laid clearly on the table.

Terroir & Origin

The vineyard Les Varennes du Grand Clos lies between the left bank of the Vienne and the Clos de la Dioterie on relatively flat terrain with sandy-loamy to sandy-gravelly soils over limestone. The vines stem from plantings between 1962 and 1976, some even over 80 years old – a guarantee of depth and complexity.

Grape Variety & Vinification

Pure Cabernet Franc, vinified according to traditional method: ten days cool pre-fermentation at 10 °C, followed by four weeks of maceration in wooden vats at a maximum of 21 °C. Ageing takes place for 15-16 months in French oak barrels (one fifth renewed annually), plus a further six months in tank for harmonisation.

Food Pairing Suggestions

This powerful yet elegant Chinon calls for hearty companions: herb-crusted lamb rack, duck breast roasted pink, beef steak with pepper sauce or aged goat’s cheese from the Loire region.

Special Features

A remarkable vintage that masterfully demonstrates the balance between maturity and freshness – a Chinon with ageing potential that already provides great drinking pleasure.