Les Quatre Piliers Touraine Grande Cuvée Cabernet Franc Au Dessus de Vitré 2020

Au Dessus de Vitré is Les Quatre Piliers' top Touraine red, from the domaine's oldest Cabernet Franc vines.

The vines here are around 70 years old and root through a blanket of red clay and limestone into Turonian limestone bedrock, the same tuffeau that underpins much of Touraine. It is a site that gives a deeper floral and mineral register than the domaine's Première Cuvée. The winemaking is adjusted to suit: maceration runs considerably longer at 22 days, so tannin and flavour are drawn slowly from the skins rather than extracted hard. Pressing is soft and slow, at just one bar of pressure, and the free-run juice is kept separate from the press wine. Ageing lasts 18 months in two- and three-year-old 228-litre barrels sourced from Château Mangot, and the wine, which may include a portion of press wine depending on the season, is bottled without fining or filtration.

Valentin Desloges suggests an hour in the decanter; serve at 16 to 18°C with roast lamb, duck or grilled vegetables.

*Every effort is made to ensure the current vintage is accurate; however, variations can occur. If you are after a specific vintage, please contact us prior to ordering.