Château de Coulaine

Château de Coulaine is a family-owned estate rich in viticultural tradition which has been operating continuously since 1300!  In the 19th century the estate came to be one of the most notable in Chinon before phylloxera reduced the holdings to just over 1 hectare of Clos de Turpenay. Since 1988, Etienne de Bonnaventure took over the farming of that 1 hectare assuming all viticulture and winemaking responsibilities and has grown the estate to its current 18 hectares, all situated on Chinon's plateaux. Planted mostly to Cabernet Franc (with a little Chenin blanc making both Chinon blanc and Touraine blanc) particular care is taken to re-plant using selection massale as they have done for generations. The  vineyards are organically farmed since 1997, being the first in the appellation to be certified organic, all grapes are hand-harvested and vinification follows a non-interventionalist path.  Coulaine's low yields result in deeply concentrated, savoury and succulent expressions of Cabernet Franc with ripe and polished tannins - a harmonious balance between the traditional and modern worlds. We adore Cabernet Franc and it is easy to see that Etienne has made every effort in the vineyard and the cellars to ensure that these are simply some of the purest and most deliciously approachable examples you will ever come across!

“Coulaine delivers two of the finest white wines produced within appellation.” Richard Kelley, The Definitive Guide To The Wines Of The Loire.

2022 Chinon (blanc) Sinople
100% Chenin Blanc from the tiny 'Clos de Coulaine' plot of 30 year-old vines just opposite the Château. Planted in silty-clay over tuffeau limestone, the vines enjoy a full south exposure. Fermented with indigenous yeast and matured on fine lees in barrel (20% new) for 11 months and then in tank for 6-8 months. Shows great intensity of fruit and wonderful freshness from the 2021 vintage. Has a thoroughly Burgundian feel to the wine with 100% malolactic with a little texture from a small amount of lees stirring. Just 300 dozen bottles produced. Bone dry and 13.5% alc/vol.

2022 Chinon (blanc) Clos de la Cure - due spring 2024

2021 Chinon rouge - 750m + 375m
Mostly from younger vines up to about 20 yo coming from slopes and on the plateau close to the chateau. This wine is vinified in large old cement tanks using indigenous yeast and aged in a combination of large old oak and cement tanks. Excellent depth of colour and notably deeper and richer in 2020 while still retaining freshness and balance. A real ‘vin de soif’ giving the extravagant raspberry perfume and thirst quenching freshness that Chinon is so well known for. Very fresh, very moreish.

’The 2021 Chinon from Château de Coulaine is young, juicy and fresh. It has supple creamy red fruit flavours, a gentle clasp of tannins and mouthwatering acidity that is commonly sen in the 2021 vintage. Ready for drinking now for its fresh fruity appeal. Serve slightly chilled.’ Rebecca Gibb MW, Vinous, June 2022.

2021 Chinon Les Picasses - NEW
Made from a 1.8 ha plot in one of the best known vineyards in Chinon on the limestone plateau in the commune of Beaumont-en-Véron located just above the chateau. Vinified in cement with indigenous yeast and then aged for 12 months in 400 litre barrels (1/3rd new) and then another 6 months in large old foudres, the wine is bottled unfined and unfiltered with minimal S02. This has given the purest expression of Cabernet Franc that one is likely to find in the Loire. Beautifully elegant and fresh with vivid raspberry perfume and intense yet fresh dark berry and spice on palate. Incredibly fresh and refined structure with astonishing purity. Lip-smackingly moreish.

2021 Chinon La Diablesse - very limited
Named after a distant relative with a fiery nature named 'La Diablesse' (the she-devil). Made from a tiny 0.8ha plot of 80+ year-old vines in the famed Les Picasses vineyard. This small parcel has a north facing exposition giving a finer fresher aspect to the terrific old vine intensity. Vinified in cement tank with indigenous yeast and then aged in mostly older 400 litre barrels (20% new) for 11 months before bottling unfined and unfiltered. This is beautifully pure and finely boned with real persistence and depth and very fine structure with gentle tannins and great expression of classic Chinon character. Intense yet very refined. A totally brilliant Chinon that can be enjoyed now or cellared with confidence.

2019 Chinon La Diablesse - last bottles
”From grapes grown in Beaumont en Véron on the so-called Picasse terroir on pure clay-limestone soils, the 2019 Chinon La Diablesse is based on the fruit of 80-year-old vines. Naturally fermented in concrete and aged in 400-liter barrels for 11 months before bottling, the unified and unfiltered red opens with a pure, intense and elegant nose with perfectly ripe elderberry aromas. Silky, crystalline, fresh and enormously vital, this is a full-bodied, intense and elegant Chinon from a 0.8-hectare plot. The wine has a lot of energy and tension but needs a couple of years to show its class, which is not based on power and intensity but freshness and purity of fruit.” 93 points Stephan Reinhardt, The Wine Advocate, August 2021.
”Sourced from 80-year-old vines in the Picasses vineyard, the 2019 Chinon La Diablesse has focus on both nose and palate, perhaps due to the north-facing aspect, which tends to provide cooler conditions. The fruit is ripe and sweet, offering raspberries, blackberries and a small note of smoky bacon, but does not become voluptuous; abundant chalky tannins (the soil is
clay-limestone) provide structure while the 20% new oak (400-liter barrels) brings toasty notes to the nose and finish. It's rather grippy and firm at the moment, but time should ameliorate this, and there's attractive fruit and texture awaiting you. Plenty of fresh acidity keeps things clean and precise while the finish is scented with red fruits and wood-smoke. Very young.” Rebecca Gibb MW, Vinous, October 2021.