One of the very best places for Cabernet Franc is the commune of Chinon, situated in the Touraine region of the central Loire Valley of France.  The problem here though, can be the diversity of styles found, which can range from lighter bodied, simple Beaujolais-like wines, all the way to deeply coloured and full-bodied, but overly herbaceous and astringently tannic.  One of the region’s most famous producers, Bernard Baudry hits the all the right notes with Les Grezeaux which comes from a 65+ year old organically farmed 3 hectare vineyard grown on gravel substrata. 

This wine is fermented in cement tank for up to 20 days, and then transferred to age 12 months in neutral barrels, then bottled unfiltered.  Extremely complex with savory aromas of dark ripe plum and currants, black and green olive tapenade, crushed green Madagascar peppercorns, and cigar box spice.  Intense and flavourful with the telltale minerality of silty-crushed river stone.