Mix&Match Challenge
ESSENTIAL
Wine and spirits
Chinon PDO
The Chinon protected designation of origin within the Loire Valley primarily includes reds but can also include the occasional white or rosé. These wines are highly reputable and can be either light and delicate or powerful and robust.
Production area :
Center - Loire Valley
In partnership with
What you need to know
Chinon was visited by a number of kings and queens up until the Richelieu era. It was also the birthplace of Rabelais. The climate of the Chinon protected designation of origin is oceanic to the west and particularly continental to the east. Depending on the soil type, the region is used to produce “gravel wine” (sandy and pebbly soil) and “tuff wine” (clay and limestone soil on the plateaus and hillsides). Tuff soil warms up gradually in the spring, producing robust wines that can be stored for longer periods of time, especially with respect to the red wines. Gravel wines have a fruity and less pronounced flavor when they are young but become more refined as they age. The very few white wines produced in the Chinon protected designation of origin are made from chenin grapes, while the reds and rosés are made from cabernet franc. Cabernet sauvignon grapes are also allowed, but can make up no more than 10% of the composition. The region features a unique microclimate that is especially well suited to cabernet franc. The hillsides receive abundant sun, and the influence of the ocean extends into the wide confluence of the Loire and Vienne Rivers.
Characteristics
Look The reds have an intense color, varying from bright cherry red to purple. They take on a brown tint with purple highlights as they age. The rosés are light ruby and the whites are light straw yellow.
Smell The whites have citrus aromas, evoking honey and quince. The reds and rosés have a dominant of red and black fruits (blackcurrant, raspberry, cherry, blackberry and currant), and spices.
Taste The whites are silky and mineral. The rosés are fruity, structured, with floral aromas. The reds are light and delicate, with aromas of red fruits, or full-bodied and structured with complex aromas of black fruits, spices and game.
How to use
Depending on the type, red wines from the Chinon protected destination of origin can be kept for 2 to 5 years or for 10 to 20 years.
Young wines from the Chinon protected destination of origin should be served at 14-15°C.
The oldest vintages should be served at 16-17°C.
Pair with
Rosés wines from the Chinon protected designation of origin: Charcuterie.
White wines from the Chinon protected designation of origin: Fish.
Red wines from the Chinon protected designation of origin: Grilled food and white meat pair best with young, fruity wines. Stew, meat served with a sauce, and game pair well with bolder wines with broader aromas.
