What is it about wine that fascinates us? I would suggest that there is an element of mystery and a thirst (literally) for knowledge. In a word: discovery. Wine is a life-long journey, which begins at the crossroads of culture, taste, and an inherent savoir vivre. It is not, however, a solitary journey. Wine is companionship. It is generosity. And on that note, I offer my gratitude to Arnaud (of the French la Terre vue du vin wine blog) and his wife for all their kindness and support, but also for sharing his secret Chinon with me over dinner last week. Wine people are good people. They look after you and warm the heart.
Clos Coquimbert Chinon (by Philipe Alliet)
And what better wine to celebrate camaraderie than a Loire valley red? These friendly Cabernet Franc wines offer the purest expression of conviviality. For the most part unassuming and relatively accessible, Chinon best embodies the bottle-for-two attitude. Although I tend to approach these wines with a certain skepticism, as there are many overly green releases, the Clos Coquimbert is a beautiful example of this AOC, and has renewed my interest in exploring it further!
Impression (++)
The little known Coquimbert estate is actually tended by Philippe Alliet, one of the most respected Chinon producers. The wine transcends the grape’s at times vegetal character, offering instead fresh, minty notes which back the absolutely gorgeous red fruit. A love potion!!
The precise acidity provides support to the smooth yet solid texture. And again that crisp fruit captures my palate, lingers on, and pleasure soon turns to obsession as I reach for the glass once again. One might almost forget to share!