“L’Amiral”, Touraine Rouge

Made only in exceptional vintages, “L’Amiral” (The Admiral) is an homage to the uncompromising, rugged, old-school Chinon of ages past. It is produced exclusively from the press juice of Cabernet Franc from their oldest and finest parcels and aged in used 225-L barrels for 2 to 4 years to tame the press. While remaining broad and intensely tannic, the fresh and lively red fruits typical of Chinon do manage to emerge from its smoky and bramble riddled fruit. This is a rare find in today’s offerings from the Loire Valley: one that sacrifices early drinkability to reward those with the patience to wait for years, if not decades before opening a bottle. It is a testament to the estate’s commitment to classicism that they produce such a bold, full-throttle wine as this.