2011 Chinon La Croix Boissee

Baudry’s 2011 Chinon La Croix Boissée is a vey spicy, currently slightly reluctant Cabernet Franc from 30-year-old vines on clay and limestone soils that presents itself more on the fresh and greenish site. Aged for 18 months in barrels, the flavors are rather earthy than fruity, reminding me of powdered rocks, a freshly sharpened pencil and green beans, whereas the aromatic fruit flavors are as discreet as delicate. On the palate this neither fined nor filtered red is a pure, mineral-structured, slightly Pinot-like wine of great finesse, freshness and elegance, quite young and still tart, but powerful and intense, with a beautifully astringent (refreshing!) yet long finish. This is the purest and most firmly structured – and obviously most potential – Chinon I tasted for this report. It calls for patience – which is not too bad for a great wine.