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"The 2018 Chinon Les Varennes du Grand Clos Franc de Pieds comes from the foot of a gravelly terrace in Sazilly (on the left bank of the Vienne River) that was partly formed by the erosion of the limestone hillside. The vineyard has a very special silica-clay and calcareous terroir and was planted between 1962 and 1976. Aged in new to four-year-old French barrels for 15/16 months and another six months in vat, the 2018 offers a deep, pure, intense and fine bouquet of dark fruits, crushed stones and lemons as well as raw meat. Silky fresh and elegant on the first palate, this is a concentrated, fleshy and firmly structured Cabernet Franc with an impressive bead of mineral acidity and ripe, crunchy tannins that give energy and tension and a long and intense finish. This is a great Chinon for cellaring even though it already tastes impressively. This is an absolutely juicy Cabernet Franc that I'd age for at least 5-10 years, just to be amazed. Tasted in June 2021." 93 Points, Stephen Reinhardt, Wine Advocate |