Les Quatre Piliers Touraine Grande Cuvée Cabernet Franc Au Dessus de Vitré 2021

Les Quatre Piliers Touraine Grande Cuvée Cabernet Franc Au Dessus de Vitré comes from the estate's oldest Cabernet Franc, planted around 70 years ago.

Touraine covers the middle Loire around Tours, and while it is best known for Sauvignon Blanc, its limestone slopes also grow serious Cabernet Franc. Au dessus de Vitré is a single site where the vines push through a blanket of red clay and limestone into the Turonian limestone bedrock beneath, a terroir that gives a deeper floral and mineral register than the domaine's Première Cuvée. The winemaking changes to suit: maceration ran to 22 days, so the juice drew colour and gentle tannin slowly from the skins, and the pressing was soft and slow, Valentin Desloges working at just one bar of pressure, with the free-run juice kept apart from the press wine. Ageing lasted 18 months in two- and three-year-old 228-litre barrels from Château Mangot, and the wine was bottled without fining or filtration.

Decant for an hour if drinking young; it will develop over five to eight years. Serve at 16-18°C with roast pork belly, grilled tuna or a goat's cheese tart.

*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.