Domaine Philippe Alliet - Chinon 'L'Huisserie' Red 2022

Grape

100% Cabernet Franc

Tasting Notes

The Domaine Philippe Alliet Chinon 'L'Huisserie' 2022 is a structured, medium-to-full-bodied Cabernet Franc with a floral bouquet of peony, iris, and violet, alongside dark wild berry aromas. It features a textured palate with powdery tannins and a penetrating, mineral finish, promising a broad drinking window and excellent aging potential.

Expert ratings

92/100 - James Suckling

More About The Winery

The winery began as a family affair when Claude and Philippe Alliet took over from Philippe's father in 1983. Today, the tradition continues with Pierre Alliet, who works alongside his father, Philippe, and grandfather, Claude. The family has consistently focused on enhancing the quality of their vineyards and wines, passing down their extensive knowledge and expertise through the generations.

Vineyard and Terroir The Domaine spans 19 hectares of organically farmed vineyards. The soils in Chinon are diverse, featuring alluvial terraces of gravel and sand along the Vienne River, limestone and yellow tuffeau soils on the hills, and flinty clays and sand on the plateau. This complex terroir contributes to the distinctive character of their wines.

Viticulture and Winemaking Practices Domaine Philippe Alliet emphasizes sustainable and environmentally friendly viticulture practices. The family meticulously manages their vineyards to maintain low yields, resulting in concentrated flavors. They use only indigenous yeasts and de-stem all grapes to reduce vegetal characteristics.

During winemaking, the grapes undergo a long maceration process with gentle punch-downs to extract flavors and tannins slowly. The wines are aged in a combination of barrels and tanks for up to 18 months, with new oak usage kept to a minimum (down from 100% new 225L barrels to 20% new 500L barrels). This approach ensures the wines are approachable when young yet have great aging potential. The ancient cellars, carved into the tuffeau hillsides, provide a naturally temperature-controlled environment ideal for aging the wines.