2020 Chtâeau Soucherie 'Reliefs' Anjou Rouge

Aromas of fresh blackcurrant, wild strawberry, graphite, violet, and crushed black pepper lead into a lively, medium-bodied palate. Flavors of red cherry, dark plum, tobacco leaf, and dried herbs mesh with a distinct flinty minerality and a hint of forest floor. The texture is smooth and fluid, supported by silky, fine-grained tannins and bright, crunchy natural acidity through a clean, savory finish.

Grapes are hand-harvested from 35-year-old vines and undergo a cold pre-fermentary maceration followed by temperature-controlled fermentation in stainless steel tanks, incorporating gentle manual punch-downs. The wine ages on its fine lees in neutral tanks for approximately nine to twelve months prior to bottling to maintain energetic primary fruit, floral aromas, and textural purity without barrel contact.

Grapes are sourced from organically farmed estate vineyards situated in the Anjou region of France's western Loire Valley. The vines are rooted in shallow gravelly topsoil resting over a foundation of dark schist and slate bedrock. This cool, shale-dominant terroir combined with gentle slopes allows for excellent drainage and solar exposure, imparting a signature linear minerality and aromatic tension to the wine.