Charming, alluring… nothing more enticing than the phrase "Les Charmes." A French expression that conjures beauty, harmony, and an irresistible sense of pleasure. In the wine world, this name is often reserved for plots or cuvées of special character, those that manage to capture the purest essence of a place. It is no coincidence, then, that Charles Joguet, one of the great figures of the Loire, has christened one of his most expressive creations thus, a true reflection of the spirit of Chinon and the soul of cabernet franc.
A pivotal figure in the history of wine in the Loire Valley, Charles Joguet expertly combined his family's viticultural heritage with a modern and artistic vision. In the mid-20th century, when the common practice was to blend grapes from various origins, Joguet decided to vinify each plot separately, convinced that each vineyard had its own voice. This idea—now so commonplace in the great wine regions of the world—was at the time a genuine revolution, placing Chinon on the map of the great French wines.
Les Charmes Rouge originates from the left bank of the Vienne River, in the gentle elevations of Anché. There, a 35-year-old cabernet franc vineyard stretches over north-facing clay-limestone soils. This cooler exposure allows for a slow and balanced ripening, resulting in grapes of exceptional aromatic delicacy. Vinification occurs in wooden vats, with a cold maceration of the skins for 5 days to preserve the purity of the fruit. The wine then ferments for over 15 days at controlled temperatures, before undergoing malolactic fermentation in used French oak barrels, where it rests for 6 to 8 months.
Les Charmes Rouge is a direct, fresh, and fruit-laden wine, with the elegance that distinguishes the great cabernet franc of the Loire. A gem within the Chinon appellation that combines tradition and modern sensibility.