Domaine du Pallus 2017 Chinon 'Messanges'
Winemaker Bertrand Sourdais has quite the pedigree with a winemaking career that includes stints at Mouton-Rothschild in Bordeaux, Santa Rita in Chile, and Palacios in Priorat. Upon the 2003 retirement of his father, Sourdais returned to helm the family estate in France’s Loire Valley.
Domaine du Pallus is at the heart of Chinon - Cravant-les-Côteaux. Sourdais embraces traditional biodynamic viticulture in these stony, silica-laced soils, but in the cellar he becomes a revolutionary.
He uses extended maceration, sometimes up to thirty days, and a long-slow elevage in Bordeaux barrels to reveal “the true personality of Chinon.” These wines are handled less and bottled later that most others in that region.
The ‘Messanges’ bottling is made from younger Cabernet Franc vines and is perfect for recreating a French-bistro dinner at home.
The wine is mouthwateringly fresh with high-toned red currant and bitter cherry. It is vibrantly floral with tiny hints of tobacco spice.