A serious, shy man, Philippe Alliet is the proprietor of this small domaine in Cravant-les-Côteaux, location of some of the best Cabernet Franc vineyards in the Loire Valley. Considered by many to be one of the finest producers in Chinon, Alliet is part of a new generation of Loire winemakers dedicated to low yields, optimally ripe fruit, and fastidious vineyard management. Inspired by the greatest wines of Bordeaux – a region he visits several times a year – he aims to create wines of similar structure and power. From his 12-hectare domaine, Philippe produces a stunning lineup of 100% Cabernet Franc wines: a basic Chinon of great purity and balance; "Vieilles Vignes" a gravel-grown cuvée from 50 year-old vines that is aged in 5 year-old barriques; and "Côteau de Noire" aged in new barriques and grown on a superbly situated hillside vineyard. For all his cuvées, the grapes are totally de-stemmed in an effort to reduce the vegetal characteristics often associated with Loire Valley reds. A five week maceration period produces a wine with great extract, which is then egg-white fined.
Farming Practice:Practicing Organic
Wine Spectator 90 "Fresh, with sleek, focused black cherry and cassis flavors laced gently with bay leaf and violet accents. Vibrant finish.” Wine Information: The entry-level Chinon from
The Wine 60+ year old vines on average A selection of the finest fruit from his oldest vines Low yields of 28 hl/ha 100% destemmed Vinified and aged in 100%
Wine Spectator 91 Top 100 # 90 "Black cherry and violet notes course along, flecked with olive and white pepper hints that drive through the pure finish.
Wine Spectator 92 "Energetic, with a brambly note underscoring the core of plum and black cherry fruit, while hints of bay leaf, anise and violet fill
Wine Spectator 91 WSTOP 100 2016 Rank 92 "Lovely cherry pit, damson plum and violet notes stream through, picking up light savory and olive details along the
Wine Spectator 93 "This has good grip, with singed juniper and dark olive notes framing the core of red and black currant and bitter plum fruit.
Wine Spectator 92 "Very fresh, with violet, cassis and bay leaf notes streaming through, allied to sleek acidity and ne chalky structure, backed by alluring
Wine Spectator 90 "Fresh and pure, with a beam of crushed cherry and damson plum fruit lined with light tobacco and olive hints. The fresh finish
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