2011 Cabernet Franc@Château du Petit Thouars

Sébastien du Petit Thouars

A brief visit to Château du Petit Thouars on Wednesday to see the Cabernet Franc just before it was harvested yesterday. The grapes, which will be machine harvested, looked in good condition. Any rotten or poor grapes have been removed by the picking machine passes. Their vineyard at Saint Germain sur Vienne has a cooler climate than the nearby Chinon appellation, so the grapes ripen a little later. 

As well as looking forward to a good harvest in 2011, Sébastien is hopeful that the Chinonais will accept their request to be included in the Chinon appellation. The Chinonais are due to vote on the request next year but at the dinner during La Verticale du Chinon (15th September 2011) Jean-Max Manceaux, president if the syndicat, seemed to be positive about their application, which concerns only some 50 hectares with the same clay limestone soil as found in the appellation vineyards on the south bank of the Vienne.

This small area of AC Touraine vineyard is being orphaned by the jihadists of AC Touraine in the Cher Valley, who intend to outlaw 100% Cabernet Franc and 100% Chenin from the Touraine appellation.      

More 2011 Cabernet Franc

At the end of the Chinon vertical tasting on 16th September we were allowed to chose from spare bottles left over from the tasting. I chose the 1975 Gérard Spelty and the 1990 Domaine de la Noblaie, which I have enjoyed drinking. The 1975 still has quite substantial tannins and acidity, especially when tasted by itself. However, the aromas are powerful and complex – fruit and spice – and drinking it over a meal there is time to return to it and see it change and evolve. The 1975 still has sweet, evolved fruit and structure before its long vibrant finish. Unlikely to get better, this should still last a few years.

1990 Chinon, Domaine de la Noblaie

The 1990 from Domaine de la Noblaie has the sweet, voluptuous, feminine charm expected of a 1990. Lovely to drink it doesn't have the extra dimension of the 1989 Nobalie, also included in the tasting. This wine was made by François Billard, the father of Jérôme.

 Cabernet Franc arriving at Domaine de Noblaie (27th September) 

The fine, hot weather of the last week or so with the wind now from the east has made a big difference to the vintage. Yesterday in Chinon and Saumur it was like mid-summer with the temperature over 30C. Jérome Billard: "The last ten days has transformed the vintage from average to exceptional! We just started this morning picking the Cabernet Franc for our sparkling wine." 

Golden Chenin Blanc at Noblaie 

Cabernet Franc at Noblaie waiting to be picked and destined for red Chinon

Jérome on tractor