Chateau de Coulaine Chinon / 2023 / 375mL

Description:

The Château de Coulaine Chinon 2023 is a bright, medium-bodied Cabernet Franc from Chinon in the Loire Valley, built on crunchy red fruit and leafy savouriness rather than depth of colour or weight. This is the half bottle, so you get the whole wine in a format that suits one person, or two glasses each over a weeknight dinner.

Raspberry and red currant lead, with the graphite and crushed-herb lift that marks good Chinon Cabernet Franc, plus a little violet and wet stone underneath. The fruit stays tart and juicy on the palate instead of sliding into sweetness, and the estate's organic, hand-picked, low-intervention approach shows in how direct it all tastes.

Tannins are fine and slightly chalky, framing rather than gripping, and the acidity keeps the middle taut. The finish is dry and gently peppery, leaving a savoury trace that makes the next mouthful inevitable.

Roast chicken with tarragon, charcuterie, lentils and pork sausage, or a goat's cheese salad all work well. A gentle chill, twenty minutes in the fridge, sharpens the fruit and suits warmer nights.

Drink the Chinon 2023 now and over the next three to four years. A 375mL bottle evolves faster than a 750mL, so treat this as the version to open sooner rather than the one to cellar.