Chinon La Singuliere, Olga Raffault 2014 (Loire Valley, France)

Description

100% Cabernet Franc. La Singulire comes from Raffault’s oldest vines in the famous Les Picasses lieu-dit, where Raffault farms organically and harvests by hand. Vinification starts like that for Les Picasses–the bunches are destemmed but the berries left whole and fermented with indigenous yeasts–but departs down a unique path for “La Singulire” from here. The fermentation is in foudre rather than tank, and the maceration is the longest of any of their wines, at a month minimum. La Singulire is the only Raffault wine to see a barrique-sized barrel or new wood in any size: it spends two to three years in new barrique, followed by several years in bottle before release. Cherry and blackberry, with bell pepper, barnyard, mushroom, anise, leather and clay. Juicy acidity, round tannins, lengthy finish.