Nested between Saumur and Tours in the Loire Valley, Chinon is a wine appellation that perfectly embodies the elegance and diversity of the wines of its magnificent region.
Mainly known for its red wines made from the grape variety Cabernet Franc , Chinon is however much more diverse than it seems, whether from the point of view of grape varieties, terroirs or winemaking styles.
In order to better understand it, The Illuminated Cellar offers you a complete immersion in this iconic Loire appellation. At the end of this reading, you will know everything about Chinon !
The AOC Chinon, between Saumur and Tours, crossed by the Vienne
History of the AOC Chinon
Chinon's wine history dates back to the Gallo-Roman era . It is indeed assumed that the Vineyards were already present in these lands from the 2nd century of our era. During this period, the production However, it only meets local needs.
In the 12th and 13th centuries , viticulture allowed the town of Chinon to develop significantly. Local wines were then served at the court of Henry II Plantagenet (King of England) and Philip II Augustus (King of France), making Chinon a royal wine .
At 16th century , the region's wines enter the literary pantheon thanks to Francois Rabelais and its famous Gargantua . " — O Lacryma Christi ! — It’s wine from La Devinière, it’s pineau ! — Ah, the nice white wine ! On my soul, it's taffeta ! " This famous situation quotes here "La Devinière", a hamlet of the village of Seuilly, located a few cables from Chinon. The "pineau" mentioned here is our current Chenin. Because yes, unlike today, White wine was once the majority wine in the Chinon vineyard!
At 18th century , local wines were exported with great success thanks to Dutch merchants. They then introduced Chinon wine to a wealthy foreign clientele, particularly English and Dutch.
Finally, In 1937, the AOC Chinon was finally created and allows to protect the authenticity and quality of the wines produced in the region.
Today, the appellation covers approximately 2,400 hectares distributed on 26 villages and has more than 200 producers Wines are mostly consumed in France while 10% of production is intended for export.
The villages of the AOC Chinon
Climate and soils of Chinon
The climate of Chinon is of the type temperate oceanic , with continental influences. The winters are mild and the summers moderately warm, which allows for a slow and regular ripening of the grapes. Chinon also knows the mildest climate in Touraine !
THE precipitation are rather moderate and well distributed throughout the year, thus avoiding excessive water stress.Finally, the vineyard experiences, depending on the vintage, the influence of east winds fresh and dry but also of West winds warmer and more humid.
There diversity of terroirs is also one of the major assets of the appellation. The vineyard is based on a tuffeau basement (chalk) formed 90 million years ago. It is also this same tuffeau which, for many centuries, was used to build houses and cellars.
On this chalk base, we then identify three main types of soil:
- Clay-limestone soils : located on the hillsides, these soils are ideal for the production of high-quality red wines, offering fine tannins and a beautiful minerality.
- Sandy and gravelly soils : located in the valleys and plains along the Vienne, these soils generally produce lighter and fruitier wines, to be drunk young.
- Tuffeau soils : characteristic of the Chinon region, these chalky soils are perfect for white wines, bringing freshness and minerality.
Be careful of shortcuts though establishing a definitive causal link between soil types and wines...we can sometimes be very surprised when tasting!
The wines of the AOC Chinon
Counting for 90% of local production, red wines are the spearhead of the appellation. With more than 13 million bottles, Chinon is also the leading appellation producing red wine in Loire !
Made from the Cabernet Franc grape variety, Locally called "Breton", the reds here have aromas of fresh red and black fruits (blackcurrant, blackberry, strawberry, raspberry, etc.), associated with a certain minerality as well as slight vegetal and spicy nuances (pepper in particular). Depending on the terroir and the winemaking style, the tannins can be more or less marked and the material more or less dense. Some reds are drunk young and others can be kept for 10 years or more!
Please note that the Cabernet Sauvignon can also be used as an accessory variety, up to a maximum of 10%. However, in practice, few winegrowers use it.
These same grape varieties also allow the production of wines rosés , counting for 8% of local production . These latter offer gourmet notes of fleshy red fruits such as cherry, strawberry or raspberry and have a lovely texture on the palate.
Finally, the white wines , which represented the bulk of production a few centuries ago, are now very much in the minority (although delicious), accounting for only 2% of production. They are dry, made from only Chenin grape variety and offer the taster liveliness, minerality, fruity (citrus, quince, peach, pear, apricot) and floral notes. Most are intended to be drunk within the first five years following their vintage.
Cabernet Franc vines on the AOC Chinon
That eat with a Chinon ?
Such a palette of colors and wines obviously allows you to imagine many culinary pairings with the vintages of the appellation! Here are some examples to ideally pair your vintages.
- Cold cuts : Chinon red wines pair wonderfully with charcuterie. Sausage, country ham and pork rillettes are a hit with the light and delicious reds of the appellation.
- White meats : a roast chicken, poultry in sauce or a vegetable risotto are enhanced by the floral and fruity aromas of Chenins de Chinon. However, fleshy rosés and light reds can also do the trick depending on your desires!
- Red meats : a rack of lamb, a fillet of beef or a duck breast go perfectly with the the most structured red wines of the appellation. Don't hesitate to opt for the most powerful and tannic vintages here.
- Cheeses : the region's goat cheeses, such as Sainte-Maure-de-Touraine, find an ideal companion in white Chinons, thus compensating for their creamy texture with a welcome liveliness.
- Fish and seafood : the dry white wines of Chinon pair perfectly with oysters, grilled fish or shellfish, thanks to their freshness and minerality.
As you will have understood, there are many dishes can therefore ideally match at least one of the colours local!
What are the best Chinon wines? ?
Among the emblematic producers of the Chinon appellation, the Fabrice Gasnier domain certainly stands out. Based in Cravant-les-Côteaux, the vineyard here is cultivated in biodynamics and covers 35 hectares distributed across the different soil types of the appellation. The family's wines are renowned for their purity and their depth of fruit, making them a very safe bet. We therefore recommend their range who does not suffer from any defect!
From pleasure wine to serious and complex vintages, you will certainly find what you are looking for with them! And if you need advice, do not hesitate to call on The Illuminated Cellar ...
See you soon for new discoveries!
The entire Gasnier family
