2015 Clos de l'Echo, Chinon, Couly-Dutheil

2015 Clos de l'Echo, Chinon, Couly-Dutheil 

Just across from and to the west of the medieval fortress of the Château de Chinon, the Clos de l'Echo is one of the most famous and long-established single vineyards in the Loire. This is 100% Cabernet Franc. Echo was once owned by François Rabelais' family. In 1952 it was bought by René and Madelaine Couly.

The 2015 Clos de l'Echo has impressively ripe concentrated black fruits. Almost pure fruit, its concentration currently hides the wine's structure. This is an example of how forward even the top 2015 Loire reds are.     

Loire Millésime - 19th-22nd April 2017 – chasing after Rabelais.

Statue of François Rabelais beside the Vienne

Yesterday we followed in the footsteps of François Rabelais, author, man of many talents and the renowned promoter of the wines of Chinon. This included a visit to the Rabelais Museum at La Devinière in Seuilly.

 Vines @La Devinière, birthplace of Rabelais  

(above and below)

Young buds to date not 

affected by the recent frosts

 The pigeonnier @La Devinière

Eminent wine writer @ease

View of Chinon from South Bank of the Vienne

after a very dry winter

 

Vienne: Looking upstream

with statue of Rabelais on left close to the trees 

Inside the Caves Painctes, Chinon:

Poster advertising the works of Rabelais