100% Cabernet Franc. Guiberteau’s village rouge is sourced from three parcels of old-vine Cab Franc (planted from 1955 to 1957) which lie on silty and sandy topsoils over limestone on the Brézé hill. Made entirely from de-stemmed grapes, this fruit-forward bottling is naturally fermented in concrete before spending 12 months large tronconique barrels.
To mitigate the richness of the vintage, Guiberteau avoided any punch-downs or pump-overs, only infusing the grapes in their own juice this year. The result of this approach in a seductive year is a wonderfully juicy yet layered red that is already accessible and delicious, with a core of pulpy, dark cherry fruit and subtle, roasted herb and peppercorn-like spice. This reverses the logic we found in the white releases, where the Moulins was superior to the villages. Romain Guiberteau clearly thought the same, hence the pricing. Again it’s terrific value.