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Chateau de Chaintres
The Chateau de Chaintres is a 17th Century estate, complete with vineyard,
which once belonged to a monastic order attached to the nearby abbey, at
Fontevraud, where Henry II, Eleanor of Aquitaine and their son, Richard the Lion
Heart are buried. It is likely that the vineyard was established by the monks
who owned the site. Managing
the estate during more recent vintages has been Krishna Lester, a British ex-pat who
came to viticulture and winemaking by a circuitous route involving theatre
managing and even a stint as a balloon pilot. The more relevant facets of
Lester's curriculum vitae include a little oenological study in Bordeaux, before being
invited to run the show at the Chateau de Chaintres, which he does now with the
help of oenologist Laurence Desse. Lester is also the founding member of the
Saumur Cricket Club, which has on occasion put up a brave fight against teams of
visiting British wine writers, only to graciously lose.
Today the vineyard covers more than 20 ha, situated in a clos which surrounds the manor house. The terroir is favourable, with very typical limestone and chalk underfoot, and a southerly aspect which maximises exposure to the sun. The vineyard is planted solely with Cabernet Franc with an average vine age of over 40 years. The fruit is harvested by hand with an eventual yield typically between 50 and 55 hl/ha, before fermentation using temperature-controlled equipment, with a 20 day maceration to extract colour and structure. The wine sees eleven months in stainless steel and oak before bottling. As well as the straight domaine bottling, there is an old vine cuvée aged in oak, Oratoriens. I have fond memories of the former, having discovered the estate and its wines on my first visit to the Loire, back in 1992 or thereabouts. Sadly I have lost my notes from those times, but I still recall tasting and drinking the wines of Chateau de Chaintres, and those of Domaine Filliatreau, most vividly. (20/6/06)
Contact details:
Address: 49400 Dampierre sur Loire
Telephone: +33 (0) 2 41 52 90 54
Fax: +33 (0) 2 41 52 99 92
Internet: www.chaintres.com
Chateau de Chaintres - Tasting Notes
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Chateau de Chaintres Saumur-Champigny 2002:
A very fine but significant sediment of tartrate crystals with this deeply
coloured wine. Lots of character on the nose, first cherry fruit, then violets
and little notes of sweet blackberries and even a hint of buttery biscuit.
Lovely, restrained, stony-minerally texture on the palate, detached and
reserved, with the dryness of a cherry stone but all the flavour of the fruit. A
very dry, sappy finish, showing a little flurry of ripe tannins that mirrors the
thin seam running through the midpalate. I'm sure this would age nicely over 3-4
years. Very good indeed. 17/20 (June 2006)
Label
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