Attractive notes of truffle, red and black cherry and dark earth invite you to this Loire red. This medium weight wine gives fresh blackcurrant and some cranberry flavors with medium acidity and tannin. A classic Bourgueil with flavors of truffle, forest floor and cherry. This is a lovely food wine but also easy to drink.

WINE INFORMATION

Just outside of the village of Benais, in the heart of the Touraine, sits the lovely Domaine de la Chanteleuserie, founded in 1822. This “place where the larks sing,” as the name means, is perched on a limestone plateau in an idyllic landscape. Thierry Boucard, seventh generation winegrower, now shares the domaine with his wife, Christine.

This is the land of Cabernet Franc, better known locally as “Breton.” While some vignerons in the area add up to 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, the Boucards make pure varietal wines. Bourgueil is among the most age-worthy of the Loire Valley’s reds, and the wines from Domaine de la Chanteleuserie are no exception: their 1976 still drinks well today! Despite their structure, these wines have a suppleness and generosity of fruit that set them apart from most wines produced in the area today.

The Chanteleuserie vineyards enjoy full southern exposure on limestone and clay, with a subsoil of porous, chalky tuffeau that also provides cellars with naturally ideal aging conditions. Thierry keeps yields low and protects his harvest by bringing the grapes in quickly and keeping them cool during destemming. Cuvée Beauvais comes from a 4-hectare plot (10 acres) that is composed of sustainably-farmed vines planted in 1971. Temperature control continues during fermentation to preserve freshness and acidity, thereby avoiding the rude tannic bite found in some Bourgueils. There are punchdowns by foot once a day in oak tanks for about 6 days. The wines are later racked into foudres for additional roundness of texture and depth.

Charcuterie, Cheese, Chicken/Turkey, Duck, Ham, Hearty stew, Mushrooms, Pizza, Pork, Red Meat, Roasted Root Vegetables, Sausage, Wild Game