Cheverny "Argilo" (Red) 2016

A blend of 85% Pinot Noir, 10% Gamay and 5% Malbec (Côt).Stewed red fruits and dusty wild flowers on the nose. Sour cherry with a hint of graphite on the palate. Argilo is made from some of the domaine’s oldest vines, grown on clay-dominant soils. A balanced, easy to drink wine with surprising layers that will be revealed as the wine evolves in the glass.

Story: Domaine de Veilloux is a small estate in a quiet part to the Loire Valley near Cheverny. It has been a family owned the estate since the French Revolution, and was taken over by Michel and Sylviane Quenioux in 1994. Michel, a firm believer in the health and environmental benefits of organic and biodynamic farming, implemented these practices from the start and obtained their certification in 1998. The domain now includes just over 25 hectares, all of which are grown using sustainable, organic methods. The red grapes are Pinot Noir, Gamay, Cabernet Franc and Côt, and all of the red wines are blends of some of those. This is the only cuvée which uses Cabernet Franc.

Vinification: Vines aged from 30 to 40 years-old grown on clay and limestone soils. Grapes are hand-picked at low yields (20 hl/ha), totally destemmed then macerated in concrete vats for 4 to 6 weeks. The wine undergoes malolactic fermentation and is aged in old barrels for one year. It is bottled with no fining and a light filtration.

Match it with: Cabernet Franc, Gamay and Côt vines varying from 30 to 45 years-old are grown on clay-rich limestone soils. Grapes are hand-picked and harvested at yields of 20 to 40/hl/ha. They are fully destemmed and gently macerated in