Domaine de Pallus “Messanges Rouge” Chinon '22

Bertrand Sourdais made a name for himself at a winery in Spain, Spain’s upstart Dominio de Atauta, before returning to his family estate in Cravant-les-Côteaux in the heart of the Chinon appelation. Before the age of 30, Bertrand Sourdais, originally from Chinon, in France, had already made an impressive name for himself at Spain’s Dominio de Atauta. By 2003, he decided to return to France and work with Cabernet Franc at his family estate, Domaine de Pallus, in Cravant-le-Côteaux, in the heart of the Chinon appellation. With vines averaging over 45 years of age, Pallus had the potential Bertrand sought. By 2010, he had begun converting the vineyards to biodynamic practices. In the cellar, he also implemented different winemaking practices, such as extended maceration of up to thirty days, longer than what is typical for Loire Valley Cabernet Franc, to better express Chinon. Elévage is also extended and gentle, carried out primarily in second-passage barrels from Bordeaux estates.
 
“Messanges” takes its name from the historic name for Cabernet Franc in the Loire Valley. Notes of wild strawberry, cranberry, and black cherry are balanced with notes of sage and tobacco, and a gravelly minerality, with fine-grained tannins on the palate. Pair it with charcuterie, a pepper-steak stir-fry, or a spinach and bacon quiche.