TN: 2012 Raffault - Chinon "Les Picasses" (France, Loire Valley, Touraine, Chinon)

WINE TALK
1

2012 Olga Raffault Chinon Les Picasses - France, Loire Valley, Touraine, Chinon (10/15/2017)
– popped and poured –
– tasted non-blind over a few hours –

NOSE: light; red-fruited; medium-light brett note.

BODY: medium-light bodied.

TASTE: bitter chewable aspirin; bretty; not tannic; adequate acidity; hint of the typical Cab. Franc pyrazines; seems pretty open; a lighter vintage for this bottling, it would seem. Gut impression score: mid 80s.

2

This note is dead-on point. I was thinking orange-flavored baby aspirin the whole time! I’m not that impressed with this vintage.

3

well … damn. One of those times I was hoping to get shouted-down, especially because I have two more bottles. Torn between socking 'em away and hoping for the best or drinking them now to make room in the cellar. mmmmmm …

Thanks for posting, Robert. [cheers.gif]

4

Lol. Stick them away. Raffault can fool more for sure in some vintages, think 2002.

5

Recently had this and sadly agree. The bitterness seemed to be from the Brett, the wine just lacked any sense of dynamics. I remember liking this one in its youth…

6

I bought 12 375mls based on hope. I tried one and thought I should move the other 11 to a location I call “Seller” in CT to offload them. I’m not convinced there is enough behind the curtain for me to keep them. Inertia may keep them around.

7

2012 Olga Raffault Chinon Les Picasses - France, Loire Valley, Touraine, Chinon (10/29/2018)
– popped and poured –
– tasting note started 2 hours after opening –
– tasted non-blind over approx. 5 hours –
– 100% Cabernet Franc –

NOSE: reticent upon opening, but better after two hours open – more complex and expressive; light red fruits; a bit of an ashy mineral note; clean; little-to-no obvious bell pepper; interesting floral aspect; slight orange oil note around the 3 hour mark.

BODY: clear; garnet-violet color of medium to medium-deep depth; medium-light bodied.

TASTE: 12.5% alc. not noticeable; open; hint of brie rind; back-end note of anise; not terribly herbaceous; no brett; forward/open/accessible; light/elegant; better than my previous bottle a year ago. I do not see this as a long ager, but rather a wine best consumed in the next five years.

50, 5, 12, 15, 6 = (88 pts.)