In the glass
Aroma: raspberry, rose, wet pebble, tobacco leaf
Palate: red plum, red currant, graphite, mineral length
Gravel-terrace single vineyard along the Vienne, picked from vines averaging 50 years. Bright, lifted Cabernet Franc with rose, raspberry and pebble-mineral minerality.
What it pairs with
-
Roast duck with cherries
Bright red fruit meets the wine's raspberry-rose register. -
Lamb tagine with prunes
Sweet-savoury North African spice picks up the wine's tobacco-leaf depth. -
Pithivier of mushroom and chestnut
Earthy autumn flavours mirror the wine's pebble-and-graphite minerality.
History
Les Varennes du Grand Clos is the gravel-terrace single vineyard that anchors Joguet's house style. Cabernet Franc planted on alluvial gravels above the Vienne, farmed organically.
- 1978 — First vintage of Les Varennes du Grand Clos
Facts
- Producer
- Domaine Charles Joguet
- Grapes
- Cabernet Franc (100%)
- Classification
- Chinon AOC
- Oak
- 14 to 16 months in old oak demi-muids, no new oak
- ABV
- 13.0%
- Price
- EUR 28 to 40 at retail
- Drinking window
- 6 to 20 from vintage
- First vintage
- 1978
- Organic
- ORGANIC CERTIFIED
- Vegan
- Yes (no animal-derived fining)
Scores
- Wine Advocate 91 (2018 vintage, reviewed 2020)
Frequently asked about Les Varennes du Grand Clos
What does Les Varennes du Grand Clos taste like?
Raspberry, rose, wet pebble and tobacco leaf on the nose; red plum, red currant, graphite and a mineral length on the palate. Medium-bodied with firm tannins and high acidity.
When should I drink Les Varennes du Grand Clos?
Drink between 6 and 20 years from vintage. Decant 45 to 60 minutes for young vintages.
What food pairs with Les Varennes du Grand Clos?
Roast duck with cherries, lamb tagine with prunes, and a pithivier of mushroom and chestnut are all strong pairings.
Where is Les Varennes du Grand Clos made?
From a gravel-terrace single vineyard along the Vienne river in the Chinon AOC, with vines averaging 50 years old.