Vieilles Vignes

In the glass

Aroma: red plum, black cherry, graphite, fresh tobacco

Palate: dark berry, iron, savoury herb, fine tannin

Bordeaux-trained Philippe Alliet's old-vine Chinon, picked from gravel terraces along the Vienne. Mid-weight, structured Cabernet Franc with dark fruit and iron-mineral spine.

What it pairs with

• Rack of lamb with garlic and rosemary
  The wine's tobacco and savoury herb meet rosemary-crusted lamb head-on.
• Duck confit with cherry chutney
  Cherry on the palate echoes the chutney; rich duck is framed by tannins.
• Aged Comte 18 months
  Nutty hard cheese sharpens the iron-mineral length.

History

Philippe Alliet trained in Bordeaux before returning to Chinon to apply Left-Bank barrique techniques to Cabernet Franc. The Vieilles Vignes cuvee draws from his oldest gravel-terrace parcels.

1. 1978: Philippe Alliet founds the domaine after training in Bordeaux
2. 1985: First Vieilles Vignes cuvee bottled

Facts

Producer

Domaine Philippe Alliet · visiting guide

Grapes

Cabernet Franc (100%)

Classification

Chinon AOC

Oak

14 to 16 months in oak barriques, around 20 percent new

ABV

13.0%

Price

EUR 18 to 28 at retail

Drinking window

5 to 15 from vintage

First vintage

1985

Organic

ORGANIC CERTIFIED

Vegan

Yes (no animal-derived fining)

Frequently asked about Vieilles Vignes

Tags