2024 Chinon, Château Coudray-Montpensier

• Style: Loire Cabernet Franc, garnet with purple glints
• Taste: Blackcurrant and liquorice with bright acidity and supple tannins
• Food: Roast dinners, stews, cured meats, game, beef
• Occasion: Weeknight drinking, food-focused
• Serve: 12–14°C, now through 2027

In the Glass — Tasting Notes

A garnet-coloured Chinon with purple glints that signals immediate drinkability. Blackcurrant and liquorice depth carry across the palate, while the tannins have a suppleness that comes from careful extraction during fermentation rather than heavy oak aging. At 12.5% ABV and bone-dry with just 0.5g/L residual sugar, this is savoury and alive — the sort of bottle you reach for when you want food-ready clarity in the glass, not a showpiece.

The Winery — Château Coudray-Montpensier

A 14th-century castle on the Loire's Touraine plateau, now restored and replanted by Dr Christian Feray following his acquisition in 2005. The estate's 34 hectares of vines average 11 years old—young enough for freshness but mature enough for concentration. The 2024 vintage presented an early budbreak and scattered June and July downpours, yet careful hand-harvesting and cold maceration on the skins extracted ripe fruit and soft tannins despite challenging weather. The wine was kept in stainless steel, allowing the bright Cabernet Franc character to dominate without oak interference, letting the pure voice of the Vienne's left-bank clay, limestone and sandy soils speak through.

At Your Table — Food Pairing & Serving

Cabernet Franc in the Loire Valley is known for its floral lift and brisk acidity, qualities that cut through richness and make these wines natural companions to roasted game, cured meats and strong cheeses. Duck, grilled lamb, charcuterie boards, beef and steak all find their match here. This is serious winemaking from a storied property—vegetarian-friendly, and ready to drink now. Explore our France collection to discover how varied and compelling Loire reds can be.