Wine of the Week 9/17/19

Domaine Fabrice Gasnier Chinon Le Rosé 2017
Regularly $16.99/On Sale $13.96

Fabrice Gasnier’s great-grandfather founded the family farm with 7.4 acres of vines at the beginning of the 20th century. In those days, Aimé Gasnier also cultivated barley and corn, as well as raising cattle, sheep and pigs. In 1966, Jacky Gasnier, Fabrice’s father, converted the domaine entirely to vines, planting parcels formerly used for pasture and grains.

Today, fourth-generation Fabrice Gasnier and his wife Sandrine oversee 25 hectares of mostly old-vine Cabernet Franc planted on varying combinations of Chinon’s chalk, gravel, sand and clay soils. Organic since 2000, and Biodynamic since 2009, the Gasnier vineyards are all south-facing; an imperative characteristic, given the marginal climate of Chinon.  Yields are extremely low, even for the young-for-Chinon vine (20-30 year-old!) Franc used in their stellar rosé. Direct-pressed, slowly fermented and left on the lees for five months before bottling, this is one of our very favorite food rosés!