2014 Echardieres Chenonceaux Le Long Bec

In the ever-expanding family of Touraine appellations, Touraine Chenonceaux is dedicated to Cot, a.ka. Loire Malbec, and Cabernet Franc. The vineyards of Domaine des Echardieres lie on the left bank of the River Cher, a tributary of the Loire, and Cot is the emblematic red of the Cher Valley. The Echardieres red exemplifies its appellation with an equal blend of Cot and Cabernet Franc, and it is nothing akin to an Andean Malbec - it is really the Cabernet Franc character that comes across. Dark but only middleweight, a little smoky and invigoratingly fresh. A cool and extremely drinkable red. (NT 30/01/17)