Alain and Jérome Lenoir Les Roches Chinon 2006

Country: France

Region: Loire

Type: Red Wine

Grape: Cabernet Franc

* This is a one-time CELLAR RELEASE, when these bottles are sold the Lenoir is gone for good. All bottles are bought 'as is' and returns will not be offered on these wines.*

The Domaine des Roches is located in Beaumont-en-Veron in the Chinon appellation. Alain and Jérome Lenoir (father and son) inherited the 3.5 hectares from Jérome's great-grandfather. The Cabernet Franc vines are sixty+ years-old.

The harvest is manual and the grapes are destemmed before even returning to the cellar, which is then carried out very quickly to minimize the risk of oxidation. Cabernet Franc is transferred to very old (around 40 years), large wooden barrels where the bunches are punched down with a pestle. Fermentation takes place with indigenous yeasts and then ages for 3 to 6 years in barrels. Very minimal sulfur added.

Minerally and earthy, with a touch of barnyard funk on the nose, and notes of iron, red berries, red flowers, dried herbs and earth.