Roches Neuves, Domaine des
Loire, France
Saumur-Champigny
La Marginale
Cabernet Franc
2013
$25.99
12.5%
Crimson stained purple core, stays in a translucent range, sunset glow to the orange tinted red rims, no filminess nor sediment. The nose shows plenty of brawn, managing to avoid clumsiness, the cherry to black raspberry fruit scents cloaked in leather, powdered stone and campfire smoke, enough to push the not insubstantial bell pepper to the background. Medium-bodied, fiercely tannic with extremely strong grip. As your mouth dries out further and further, tobacco, white grapefruit pith, tar, graphite, and kindling wood comes to the fore. The cherry, red currant, blackberry fruit fares decently but never going to take the spotlight and arguably won't outlast the tannin. Very savory and biting, demands a decanting and unless you are a gambler likely best consumed in next 3-4 years.
89 points