Philippe Alliet, Chinon, Loire Valley 2022

• Winemaker: Philippe and Claude Alliet 
  
• Farming: Natural
• Variety: 100% Cabernet Franc
  
• Terroir: Alluvium Soil, Chalky Limestone, Clay
• Vinification: Concrete vat fermented; indigenous yeast fermented
• Aging: Large format barrel-aged
• Tasting notes: Made from young vines planted in sandy clay-based soil, this is classic Cabernet Franc. Fleshy, grape-y fruit backed up with smooth tannins that are never green. The gritty texture show some minerals and provide perfect seasoning for the up-front fruit.

Philippe Alliet and his wife, Claude, have farmed in Cravant-les-Coteaux, in the heart of the Chinon AOC since 1985. Inspired by the great wines of Bordeaux, they believe that wine should taste good whether it’s young or aged for ten years. They have made the some of the best quality wines of the appellation by avoiding chemical treatments, plowing the vineyards regularly, and by limiting the yields substantially to an incredibly low 28 hl/ha. 

After the harvest, the grapes are entirely de-stemmed, crushed and macerated. Alcoholic fermentation is a long process at chez Alliet, taking place over five weeks with punch-downs, and the new wine is bled off into barrels, where it undergoes malolactic fermentation. The wines age in both barrels and tanks, depending on the cuvee, for up to 18 months. Their ancient cellars are charmingly carved into the tuffeau hillsides, which are not only emblematic of the region but also serve a practical purpose by offering a naturally temperature-controlled environment that is ideal for the long élévages.  The wines are fined with egg whites before bottling. Displaying incredible depth and concentration, perfectly balanced fruit, good acidity, and tannins that are never drying, the finished wines are approachable in their youth but able to age indefinitely.