Bourgueil Vieilles Vignes 2008
Bourgueil Vieilles Vignes 2011
Your wines this year come from the 2008 and 2011 vintages. In 2008 a humid spring was followed by a cloudy summer, resulting in low grape maturities. Growers reported increased amounts of leaf-pulling and crop thinning to ensure even ripening. Harvest stretched into October, with some Indian summer weather helping save the vintage.
Your 2008 vintage is drinking well now with a fragrant earth, spice and raspberry nose following through on the palate with juicy acidity and lovely creamy hedgerow fruit and dark chocolate. The finish is long and herbal. You can drink it now through to 2015/16. The freshness allied to smoothness means it will work well with charcuterie, ratatouille or rabbit in mustard sauce.
One could say that in theLoireValley, vintage 2011 was the vintage of the Cabernet Franc. Low acidity and superb ripeness due to a lovely warm and sunny September gave quite a good volume of juice and a balance in the wines that one didn’t find in other grape varieties throughout the valley.
Your 2011 Vieilles Vignes has a deep, youthful purple colour and a distinct Cabernet Franc leafy fragrance of graphite, raspberry and earth. In the mouth the wine is juicy and vivacious with bright, creamy fruit flavours and young grippy tannins. It has good ripeness and balance and a mouthfilling texture. It finishes long, spicy and pure. Drunk young, try it with simple, tomato based Italian dishes. After several years in cellar try it with pigeon, mature game or carpaccio of beef. Drink to 2020-2022.