The Magnificent Wines of Olga Raffault - Ready to Drink Chinon Direct from the Cellars: Pre-Arrival Sale on 1985, 1989, 1990, and 2002! The Loire Valley is certainly celebrated for its crisp, refreshing white wines, but far fewer wine drinkers are aware of the delicious, elegant cool climate reds that are made mainly from the Cabernet Franc grape in the Central Loire regions of Bourgueil, Saumur Champigny and in this case, Chinon. And while I love the whites, the reds from Olga Raffault (and Rougeard and Breton) are some of my favorite red wines made anywhere in the world! Here in the north western edge of France, the Cabernet Franc grape matures much differently than it does in the warmer climes of Bordeaux and the new world. In cooler years, the reds can have bright acidity and freshness, a cool cedar herbal tone that is a signature of Cabernet Franc, moderate to firm tannin and excellent focus, even seeming a bit tart to palates accustomed to the riper, richer fruit of the new world. In warmer and riper years the reds display a deeper middle component of earth, mocha, espresso and dark fruit, while often maintaining their lively acidity and structure. Thus creating the best of both worlds where fruit intersects with acidity to make amazing wines with depth, richness, freshness and detail. Almost Burgundian in weight, the wines of Chinon capture the elements of the terroir where they are grown - earthy, mineral and even stony to some degree, and from some of the best producers, an incredible ability to age and improve over decades. Olga Raffault's style is decidedly old-world - not quite rustic but heading there, full of earth tones, dried fruits and elegance rather than power, ripeness and extraction. With bottle age they take on complex dried fruits, leather, mushroom and autumn leaf notes that are truly enticing. They are perfect accompaniments to game birds like quail, pheasant, guinea hen, squab, duck breast, roasted chicken, pork or veal, or a classic bistro steak and frites. For wines of this complexity, age and polish, they are an incredible value! 25 to 30 year old wines well under $100? Ten year old wines under $30? Perfectly stored and shipped direct from the winery. Cheers! Chris Cree, MW - 56 Degree Wine Chinon Les Picasses 2002 $29.99 on sale (reg $37) To Order: Click on the links below to order online, call us at 908.953.0900 or reply to this email. Please include credit card for billing and pickup/shipping information. This is a pre-arrival offer. Payment due with order.Wines arrive April 2014. Wines are limited - All orders subject to confirmation. About Olga Raffault "The esteemed winemaker Olga Raffault died a few years ago, but the estate continues with the next generation - Olga’ s grand-daughter Sylvie and her husband, Eric de la Vigerie who is now the winemaker. The estate has terrific plots of land in the Savigny-en-Véron district hard by the Vienne riverbanks. The ‘les Picasses’ vineyard stands out from the rest: old vines of 50-ish years on a fairly steep slope from the riverbank that is alluvial clay with a chalk limestone base. The fruit is particularly expressive of dark fruits, cassis and dark cherries with a terrific mineral content and good acidity for structure. The winemaking is most traditional at this estate. The grapes are, of course, handpicked and fermented in stainless-steel. The wines are then aged in larger, neutral oak and sometimes chestnut - a traditional barrel wood in the region. The ‘Picasses’ spends two to three years in oak, to reduce the wine and soften the tannins, and is usually released about 4 years after the vintage. Raffault’s ‘les Picasses’ often has a light garnet color belying the depth of fruit flavor and complexity. Its style is rustic, quite earthy, with hints of orange zest and deep, dark cherry flavor. The tannins are soft, but present, and the mineral complexity in the finish is superb." Louis/Dressner Selections Like us? Want to keep up with everything at 56? Follow us! |
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