Charles Joguet may have been the first to put Chinon on the proverbial map, but it was Philippe Alliet who came along to seal the deal. He did this with a slight twist. His reference... Read More

Charles Joguet may have been the first to put Chinon on the proverbial map, but it was Philippe Alliet who came along to seal the deal. He did this with a slight twist. His reference point was not Burgundy, as it was for Joguet, but Bordeaux.

Makes sense right? The local grape is Cabernet Franc, the same as they use on Bordeaux’s right bank. And you have to wonder, do modern vintages in the Loire boast temperatures somewhat comparable to Bordeaux in the 1950s? Maybe, just maybe, the next Cheval Blanc will be a Chinon!

But let’s not get ahead of ourselves. You'll never get the pichet out of Chinon—this is an AOC that easily produces highly drinkable, gushing wines that do well on warm days if you let it spend a bit of time in the fridge. Alliet’s also a master of this refreshing style.