Les Pensées de Pallus Chinon 2006
Loire, France ($20)
Every now and then I come across a cabernet franc that reminds me of what I love about the grape. It’s these times when I drink a glass without fussing over aromas or finishes because these wines just wash away any motivation to intellectualize the experience.
This usually happens with well made Montepulcianos and Dolcettos. For some reason I associate it with mainly Italian wines but it can happen with good Chinons, Bourgiels, or even Cahors. I do appreciate the rest they offer my frequently over stimulated brain and allow my to just relax and sip away.
I picked this one up at a local wine shop that competes with most Manhattan stores I’ve been to in terms of boasting a thoughtful wine selection, City Wine Merchant in downtown Buffalo. There was only one Chinon there and I assumed it was decent, so I took home a bottle of this Domaine de Pallus Les Pensées de Pallus Chinon 2006.
Aromas of blackberry, dark cherry, olive and tobacco make this worth spending some time with your nose in the glass. The palate is ripe and has some flesh behind it, perfectly balanced and generous with its smooth tannins. It’s simply effortless in the mouth and finishes with a chalky rustic feel. Overall a cabernet franc that others should look to for an example of what makes this grape so seductive
Comments