English Speaking Loire Winery Tours originating from Chinon
Let us take you to some of the best vineyards in the area - Chinon, Saumur, Bourgueil - and discover the amazing wines - whites, rosés, reds, and sparkling. Walk the v...
Profile
Structure
Drinking window
Latest scored vintage 2016: best 2026 to 2046.
vintage10 yrs30 yrs32 yrs
Critic scores
| Critic | Vintage | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Wine Advocate reviewed 2020 | 2014 | 92/100 |
| Vinous reviewed 2021 | 2016 | 92/100 |
Scores as published by each critic for the vintage shown.
In the glass
Aroma: dried red cherry, leather, forest floor, iron
Palate: red plum, tobacco, dried herb, savoury length
A clay-limestone single vineyard that has produced Raffault's library-aged flagship since the 1940s. Released only after long bottle age, it shows leather, dried fruit and tertiary forest-floor depth.
What it pairs with
- Roast partridge with bread sauce Mature game bird and the wine's tertiary leather and dried-fruit register are aligned.More wines for game →
- Beef bourguignon Long-cooked beef and a wine reduction echo the wine's forest-floor and dried-herb notes.More wines for beef and red meat →
- Aged Mimolette Hard cow's-milk cheese sharpens the wine's iron and savoury length.More wines for aged hard cheese →
- Wild mushroom and truffle tart Earthy fungi mirror the forest-floor evolution; truffle picks up the leather note.More wines for mushrooms and truffles →
With cheese
History
Olga Raffault founded the domaine in 1947 and her grand-daughter Sylvie now leads it. Les Picasses comes from clay-limestone parcels at Savigny-en-Veron, with library releases of 10 to 20 year-old wines unusually still on offer at the domaine.
- 1947Olga Raffault establishes the domaine
- 1995Sylvie Raffault joins her grandmother
Facts
- Producer
- Domaine Olga Raffault · visiting guide
- Grapes
- Cabernet Franc (100%)
- Classification
- Chinon AOC
- Oak
- 18 months in large old oak foudres, no new oak
- ABV
- 12.5%
- Price
- EUR 24 to 36 at retail
- Drinking window
- 10 to 30 from vintage
- First vintage
- 1947
Frequently asked about Les Picasses
What does Les Picasses taste like?
Dried red cherry, leather, forest floor and iron on the nose; red plum, tobacco, dried herb and savoury length on the palate. Medium-bodied with firm tannins and high acidity, long finish.
When should I drink Les Picasses?
Drink between 10 and 30 years from vintage. Released after extended bottle age; older library releases are best with 30 to 60 minutes of careful decanting for sediment.
What food pairs with Les Picasses?
Roast partridge with bread sauce, beef bourguignon, aged Mimolette, and wild mushroom and truffle tart are canonical pairings.
Where is Les Picasses made?
From a clay-limestone single vineyard at Savigny-en-Veron in the Chinon AOC, the historic flagship parcel of the Raffault domaine.
Tags
Taste it where it is made: tastings near Domaine Olga Raffault
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