Chinon

This well-structured French wine is created from Cabernet Franc grapes and is produced in the middle Loire region. The region is made up of a variety of soil types, which has an impact on the wine's ultimate taste. The ones made from vines cultivated on gravel soil are lighter and more approachable, with classic red fruit flavors.

The more robust varieties cultivated on clay and tuffeau limestone soil are usually more complex and tannic, with black fruit and woodland scents. Chinon is a versatile wine that goes well with a wide range of foods, including white and red meat, mushroom-based sauces, and goat cheese. Red Chinon wines range in style from light-bodied and fruity (similar to good Beaujolais in many aspects) to medium-bodied wines with well-structured tannins and complex notes of undergrowth, pencil shavings, and spiced black cherries. White and rosé wines are also produced in limited quantities in the area.