2018 Domaine Gouron Chinon Rouge

2018 Domaine Gouron Chinon Rouge


Vintage: 2018
Region: Chinon, Loire Valley, France
Winery: Domaine Gouron
Varieties: Cabernet Franc
Price: $17 (found at Kroger in Rio Hill for my CVille Peeps)
Rating: 90 Points
My Rating: 90 Points

The Review: Happy Fall! With the most recent blast of cold air, I think we can comfortably say the chill is officially here to stay. That being said, it's time to break out some nice reds for the cooler weather! The 2018 Domaine Gouron Chinon Rouge is the perfect Fall wine and is a great wine because it is a very pure expression of Cabernet Franc, a grape many of us in Virginia are familiar with.

The Cabernet Franc variety originated in Southwestern France but made its name as a blending grape in Bordeaux (and as the parent grape of Cabernet Sauvignon). It can make up a large percentage of the blends of Right Bank Bordeaux wines, which are Merlot dominant. In the Loire Valley, however, Cabernet Franc takes center stage and is used to make single-varietal expressions of the grape. Loire Valley Cabernet Francs are agile, spiced, and really quite pleasant. They show great balance and lots of subtly, and the grape reflects the environmental characteristics of the region beautifully. There are bright red fruits, minerally tones, and the most famous note in Cabernet Franc- bell pepper (you either love it or hate it). California Cab Francs, on the other hand, are jammy and round, usually with a lot of oak. I mention this so I can take a second to mention why Virginia Cabernet Francs are so interesting. VA Cab Francs are thought to be the bridge between the "Old World" French styles of Cabernet Franc and the "New World" California style. They're a little riper and jammier, but they still show that French balance and finesse.

The 2018 Domaine Gouron Chinon is a Cabernet Franc from the Chinon sub-region of the Loire Valley AOC that exhibits all of the characteristics of the region for a great price. The aromas consist of spiced red fruits like cherry and currant and a little bit of greenery and olive. The taste is a bit more concentrated than the aromas and shows some darker fruits like currant, dark cherry, and blackberry. There are a bit of lighter red fruit notes that lift the palate up. There are light vegetal tones and some brown sugar that drives home the finish.

In general, the Loire Valley is overlooked as a region. There are some ridiculous values, and both incredible reds and whites. Next time you're in the store and you see "Chinon" or "Bourgueil," (another sub-region that does Cabernet Franc) grab a bottle! I might even recommend doing a side-by-side comparison of this wine and a Virginia Cabernet Franc that you love to see the differences and similarities.


drink what you like,
db

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