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Wilfrid Rousse
Wilfrid Rousse put down roots in Savigny-en-Véron, near the confluence of the Vienne and the Loire, in 1987. There he set about establishing his estate, which over the years has grown to over 13 ha in size. The vines range widely in age, from just three years up to an impressive 90 for the oldest. The Cabernet Franc vines are planted at a density of 5000 vines/ha, across all types of the Chinon terroir, including sand-gravel soils and the favoured limestone. Work in the vineyard includes inter-row planting with grass if the vineyard is a vigorous one, otherwise they are ploughed. Some vineyards see a green harvest. There is careful selection, followed by fermentation in stainless steel.
The
four red cuvées made by Rousse start with the entry-level Cuvée les Galuches,
a wine characterised by freshness and fruit, made from young vines (up to 15
years old), and bottled the spring following the harvest. One step up is the
Cuvée Terroir, made from 20 year-old vines planted in a 5 ha plot on
argilo-silicious soils. It sees nine months in oak before bottling. Cuvée Les
Puys comes from hillside slopes of similar terroir, but undergoes a green
harvest in July and will take up to a year in oak; the vines here are also
young, up to six years. The premier vin is La Vieille Vignes, from sandy
terroir, the now ancient vines having been planted in 1910. This wine
sees two years in second- and third vintage oak. There is also a rosé, Rosé
de Saignée. A note of interest is that all the red wine labels bear an image
of a siren holding a fish, a replication of a weather vane that once turned
above La Halbardière in the 17th Century.
(20/12/05)
Contact details:
Address: La Halbardière, 19-21 route des Candes, 37420 Savigny-en-Véron
Telephone: +33 (0) 2 47 58 84 02
Fax: +33 (0) 2 47 58 92 66
Internet:
www.vins-chinon.com
Wilfrid Rousse - Tasting Notes
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Wilfrid Rousse Chinon Cuvée Terroir 2003: A good dark hue here, backed
up by a wealth of vibrant fruit on the nose, with raspberry, blackberry and
cherry character, showing a worthy depth and concentration, and complemented by
a green, leafy nuance. A distinctive, fresh, cherry stone character on the
palate, combined with a reserved, gravelly, wet pebble texture which gives the
palate a refreshing quality akin to crashing sea surf. Well delineated,
initially quite distant from the palate, but it soon melts to show a more
approachable face, low in tannin, and deliciously uplifting. Drink now and over
the next year or two. 17/20 (December 2005)
Label
Wilfrid Rousse Chinon Vieilles Vignes 2003: Wilfrid's top cuvée. A
vibrant, bright red hue. Highly aromatic and charismatic nose, laced with a
little acetic character, lifting up notes of blackberry, bittersweet cherry,
charcoal and burnt crumble, with a little Cab Franc mint. Good, creamy entry,
although this quickly yields to a more serious, slightly bitter, cherry stone
character backed by a firm tannic structure. A reserved style, but enjoyable now
with food, but will improve in the cellar over 3-5 years I think. 17.5+/20 (December 2005)
Label
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