Wines Chinon Château Coulaine - La Diablesse - 2015

Château Coulaine's "Cuvée La Diablesse" 2015 is a red wine from the heart of Chinon, nestled within the Touraine subregion of the Loire Valley. The wine is certified organic, a testament to careful vineyard stewardship and respect for the natural environment. While the precise blend is not confirmed, Chinon reds are almost invariably crafted from Cabernet Franc, sometimes with a handful of other traditional local varietals. This cuvée, from the excellent 2015 vintage, typically offers a medium-bodied profile, with supple tannins and a lively freshness. Expect nuanced berry fruit, hints of violets, touches of graphite and earth, and a gently peppered, mineral-driven finish that speaks to the region’s limestone and tuffeau soils. Ageing in stainless steel or old barrels is common, preserving the grape’s bright aromatics and clarity.

The Chinon appellation, one of the Loire Valley’s most storied, is shaped by its temperate climate, moderated by the Loire and Vienne rivers. This area enjoys long, relatively mild growing seasons, ideal for ripening Cabernet Franc with balance and finesse. The patchwork of gravel, sand, and limestone ("tuffeau") soils lends great complexity to the wines, ranging from lighter, fruit-forward styles grown on sandy flats to deeper, more structured bottlings from hillside vineyards. Chinon’s winegrowing history dates back to the Middle Ages, and its red wines, once favoured by French royalty and literary figures, strike a harmonious chord between elegance and rusticity.

For food pairing, "La Diablesse" would beautifully complement local Loire dishes such as rillons or rillettes (slow-cooked pork), duck breast, or goat’s cheese like the famed Sainte-Maure de Touraine. Its freshness and gentle tannins also make it an excellent match for grilled vegetables, roasted poultry, or a classic French onion tart. For international pairings, consider mushroom risotto or lamb chops with Provençal herbs.

To fully appreciate this wine’s aromatic delicacy and structure, serve slightly cool, ideally between 15-17°C. Decanting for 30 minutes can help open up the bouquet if the wine is still youthful. This Chinon is likely drinking beautifully now, though its balanced structure suggests a few more years of cellaring would not go amiss.