Château de Coulaine Chinon Blanc 'Sinople' 2022

100% Chenin Blanc from the tiny 'Clos de Coulaine' plot of 30 year-old vines just opposite the Château. Planted in silty-clay over tuffeau limestone, the vines enjoy a full south exposure. Fermented with indigenous yeast and matured on fine lees in barrel (20% new) for 11 months and then in tank for 6-8 months. Shows great intensity of fruit and wonderful freshness from the superb ripe 2022 vintage. Has a thoroughly Burgundian feel to the wine with 100% malolactic with a little texture from a small amount of lees stirring. Just 300 dozen bottles produced. Bone dry and 13.5% alc/vol.

Château de Coulaine is a family-owned estate rich in viticultural tradition which has been operating continuously since 1300!  In the 19th century the estate came to be one of the most notable in Chinon before phylloxera reduced the holdings to just over 1 hectare of Clos de Turpenay. Since 1988, Etienne de Bonnaventure took over the farming of that 1 hectare assuming all viticulture and winemaking responsibilities and has grown the estate to its current 18 hectares, all situated on Chinon's plateaux. Planted mostly to Cabernet Franc (with a little Chenin blanc making both Chinon blanc and Touraine blanc) particular care is taken to re-plant using selection massale as they have done for generations.

The  vineyards are organically farmed since 1997, being the first in the appellation to be certified organic, all grapes are hand-harvested and vinification follows a non-interventionalist path.  Coulaine's low yields result in deeply concentrated, savoury and succulent expressions of Cabernet Franc with ripe and polished tannins - a harmonious balance between the traditional and modern worlds. We adore Cabernet Franc and it is easy to see that Etienne has made every effort in the vineyard and the cellars to ensure that these are simply some of the purest and most deliciously approachable examples you will ever come across!