In this Saturday’s VINTAGES release, we have a fantastic wine to share with you – the 2011 Jean-Maurice Raffault “Les Picasses” Chinon Rouge. When the 2010 vintage came through VINTAGES last May, it sold out in just a few weeks. In anticipation of similar success, the LCBO bought more than double that quantity of the 2011! Needless to say, this doesn’t happen very often, so we can assume the LCBO is expecting strong sales again.
Wine Spectator featured Rodolphe Raffault, owner and winemaker of the winery in a two page article, and has rated this wine 90 points calling it “solid” (review below).
John Szabo, Master Sommelier and critic on WineAlign.com rated this vintage 89 points, and wrote that this wine “…strikes a fine balance, one of the better Les Picasses from Raffault in recent memory.” Full review below.
Coincidentally, I leave on Saturday to France for a nine day business trip; first to attend Millésime Bio, the world’s largest organic wine show, and then to Angers in the Loire Valley for another show. It is in Angers where I will be having dinner with Rodolphe Raffault, to catch up and taste some of his new wines. Please visit our pages listed in my signature for updates.
For under $20, this wine is a great value red to be enjoyed now, or, if you were to buy a few extra bottles, know that it should evolve gracefully over the next 3-5 years in your cellar.
Sincerely,
Le Sommelier
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TASTING NOTES
Jean-Maurice Raffault ‘Les Picasses’ Chinon 2011
Review: “A gutsy version, with charcoal, dark olive, tobacco, black currant and blackberry notes all rolled together. The charcoal edge lends the finish cut and length. Solid. Drink now through 2018.” Score: 90 (James Molesworth, WineSpectator.com, Aug. 2014)
Review: “A fine and gravelly, firm and authentic Loire Valley cabernet franc here, complete with some elevated, lightly volatile notes of dried flowers and apple peel, neither green and herbaceous nor overripe – it hits the juste milieu. This strikes a fine balance, one of the better Les Picasses from Raffault in recent memory. Savoury and succulent. Drink or hold mid-term – this has the acid and stuffing to gain interest in time. Tasted January 2015. Value Rating: **1/2” Score: 89 (John Szabo, MS, WineAlign.com, January 2015)
Varietal: 100% Cabernet Franc
Region: Loire, France
Price: $19.95 (per bottle)
LCBO#: 367011
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