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92 JG. "Traditionally, this, along with the Clos de la Dioterie, has always been one of the top two cuvées from the Joguet portfolio (though the new Cabernet Franc de Pied cuvée from Varennes may well give these a run for their money in the future). The two hectare vineyard of Clos du Chêne Vert is planted in thirty to thirty-five year-old vines on a soil base of clay, chalk and sand, and is located in the village of Chinon proper. The nose on the 2003 is stunning, as it jumps from the glass in a ripe mélange of black raspberries, cassis, violets, woodsmoke, herbs, earth and dark chocolate. On the palate the wine is full-bodied, deep and broad-shouldered, with a lovely base of minerality, good, bright acids, modest tannins, and excellent length and grip on the powerful finish. This is a superb bottle of 2003 Chinon that is perhaps a bit more typical of the vintage’s character than the cooler fruit tones of the Cabernet Franc de Pied cuvée of Varennes, but it is a complex, balanced and utterly classy bottle of Chinon." John Gilman, View From the Cellar, Jul/Aug 2006, Issue #4 |