Domaine des Roches Neuves Clos de l'Echelier France Loire Saumur-Champigny Biodyvin 2020 (13.5% ABV) — 92.7
SF | Ruby and a hint of blood; watery at the rim. The nose is subtle; black tea, crushed raspberry and a hint of cayenne pepper. Accomplished, intriguing. The palate maintains the somewhat enigmatic stance, the spicy notes cosseting the fruit, the acidity a foil for the tannins. A gastronomic potential behind the generous austerity; a web of beguiling contradiction to underlines the dominion of this very special varietal. 94
DW | Very harmonious creme de cassis; so glossy and deep and inviting but with such appealing freshness of fruit and the sappy snap of curranty fruit tannin, a wine that is concentrated but shimmies and sashays with seamless acidity and brightness in the finish. lovely warm-vintage Loire Cab Franc.Drink Dates: 2024 - 2034. 93
AR | This shows good depth of youthful colour in the glass; the aromas are subtle and fine, with an appealing floral and red fruit fragrance tinged with herb and a smoky hint of oak; there's a nice ripe fruit middle to this wine with a light touch of oak and a relatively firm structure of juicy-textured tannins and an appealing savoury finish that balances out the mid-palate fruit ripeness; the only negative here is that it perhaps just a touch drier on the finish that you might hope for, so matching it with a dish that can absorb the tannins is important.Drink Dates: 2024 - 2028. 91