In the glass
Aroma: blackcurrant, violet, wet pebble, fresh tobacco
Palate: cassis, graphite, iron, saline length
Single-vineyard Cabernet Franc from clay-flint soils above the Vienne. Sappy cassis-and-graphite fruit framed by fine-grained tannins, named for the small dog-shaped rocks that flank the parcel.
What it pairs with
-
Roast leg of lamb with rosemary
Herbal lamb meets the wine's violet-and-tobacco register; tannins frame the meat. -
Magret de canard with blackcurrant
Cassis on the palate echoes a blackcurrant jus on duck breast. -
Sainte-Maure de Touraine
Ash-rolled goat cheese sharpens the wine's saline mineral length. -
Mushroom and chestnut wellington
Earthy fungi mirror the iron and forest-floor depth.
History
Jerome Billard returned to the family domaine in 2003 and bottled Les Chiens-Chiens as a single-vineyard cuvee from clay-flint parcels on the plateau. The estate became fully organic by 2013.
- 2003 — Jerome Billard takes over and bottles Les Chiens-Chiens as a single-vineyard cuvee
- 2013 — Full organic certification
Facts
- Producer
- Domaine de la Noblaie
- Grapes
- Cabernet Franc (100%)
- Classification
- Chinon AOC
- Oak
- 16 to 18 months in 500L oak demi-muids, around 20 percent new
- ABV
- 13.5%
- Price
- EUR 22 to 32 at retail
- Drinking window
- 6 to 18 from vintage
- First vintage
- 2003
- Organic
- ORGANIC CERTIFIED
- Vegan
- Yes (no animal-derived fining)
Scores
- Wine Advocate 91 (2018 vintage, reviewed 2020)
- Vinous 91 (2019 vintage, reviewed 2021)
Frequently asked about Les Chiens-Chiens
What does Les Chiens-Chiens taste like?
Blackcurrant, violet, wet pebble and fresh tobacco on the nose; cassis, graphite, iron and a saline length on the palate. Medium-bodied with firm tannins and high acidity, long finish.
When should I drink Les Chiens-Chiens?
Drink between 6 and 18 years from vintage. Decant 45 to 60 minutes for younger vintages.
What food pairs with Les Chiens-Chiens?
Roast leg of lamb with rosemary is canonical; magret de canard with blackcurrant and Sainte-Maure de Touraine goat cheese also pair well.
Where is Les Chiens-Chiens made?
From a single clay-flint parcel on the plateau above the Vienne in the Chinon AOC, farmed organically at Domaine de la Noblaie.