Charles Joguet, 2016 Chinon "Silènes"
Cab Franc du Jour #17
Charles Joguet is easily one of the most celebrated estates in all of Chinon. Charles took over from his family in 1957, and today the domaine is being run by Jacques Genet and his daughter Anne-Charlotte. Jacques was hired by Charles back in 1985 to oversee the day-to-day operations, and when Charles retired without any heirs, it was Jacques and his daughter who took over full time. They have 32 hectares of Cabernet Franc vines planted on both sides of the Vienne River in Chinon.
The cuvée Silènes is essentially their “domaine” wine and their largest production, sourced from vines totalling around 10 hectares, predominantly in the commune of Beaumont-en-Véron. The vineyards in this commune are located closer to the Vienne River and have a sandier soil type with a siliceous component, that is to say sedimentary sand with more crystalline structures such as quartz.
This would be considered one of the estate’s earlier-drinking, fruitier cuvées, alongside which they also produce several single-vineyard and monopole wines of greater structure and aging potential. All of the vineyards are farmed organically, and this wine is vinified in stainless steel.
On the nose there is an immediate and appealing fruitiness: sweeter red fruits like red cherry and wild strawberry, with a lovely tart undertone of red currant or cranberry. A lovely herbal note comes through as well, with thyme, a hint of capsicum, and a leafy, savoury character that I find very appealing.
The palate is wonderfully juicy. It is soft and supple, with a clean, cleansing acidity and a beautiful freshness that I absolutely love. The fruit comes through beautifully with a nice balance between fruitiness and that classic savoury, herbal Cabernet Franc character. I would describe this as a very convivial, agreeable, and friendly wine. Anne-Charlotte herself has referred to it as her vin de copains, her “friend wine,” the sort of bottle you open with people you enjoy spending time with. I think it would be delicious with a slight chill on it, and it is genuinely versatile from a food pairing perspective.
Wine Details
Producer: Charles Joguet
Appellation: Chinon
Communes: predominantly Beaumont-en-Véron
Lieux-Dits: Various
Soils: Siliceous sand with gravel
Alcohol: 13%