Cabernet Franc from Chinon AOC, Loire Valley, France; medium bodied and dry with notes of blackberry, black cherry, violets, roses, gravel, and black pepper, with dripping medium plus acidity, firm angular tannins, and a deep, long finish. Organic and Biodynamic

Unfiltered Wine Club December 2025 2022 vintage:

"On to the reds! We’re going to revisit the Loire Valley with our next wine, which hails from the Chinon AOC, east of Muscadet. The Lambert family farms organically and biodynamically and has long been a benchmark for honest, site-driven Cabernet Franc in the Loire. These guys work gently in both the vineyard and the cellar, letting Chinon’s limestone and clay soils shape wines that are expressive, structured, and built for food. Les Perruches is a classic expression of Chinon Cabernet Franc - medium-bodied and deep and dark in character, this wine kicks black pepper right out of the gate, followed by notes of blackberry, black cherry, and hints of violets, roses, and gravel dust. The tannins are firm and angular, giving the wine grip and seriousness, while the dripping medium-plus acidity keeps everything lifted, lively, and clean. The wine feels both polished and powerful. For holiday feasts, this wine will be excellent alongside beef tenderloin, prime rib, mushroom and lentil Wellington (which I recently cooked and am now obsessed with), roasted duck, or garlic-heavy green vegetables. It also pairs beautifully with farro or barley dishes, black rice, braised greens, anything finished with cracked pepper or herbs, and any meat that’s been kissed on a grill. This type of red anchors a winter table; it’s structured, savory, and deeply satisfying with or without food."