Fabien Duveau Les Hauts Poyeux Saumur Champigny Cabernet Franc 2019

Peter Sultan

Truly in its perfect drinking window. Savory deep, fruited and long expression of Cabernet Franc. Black cherries, raspberry coulis, & a damp, earthy backdrop.

Peter Sultan

The fruit vibrations are almost too strong when first opened- but what fruit! Crushed red, ripe cherries, like if Willy Wonka decided to go all in on cherries alone. Things settle down with air & some semblance of balance returns. Also some more typical Cab Franc notes of bay leaf emerge. Mostly drunk w Harissa braised chicken thighs & onions, but its low tannic structure also deal for post meal.

Peter Sultan

Higher end cuvée after I went bonkers with the entry level bottle at 17$. This refines all my earlier impressions & ratchets up the concentration, vivid detail, & the fruit quality-has now a cool blue thing (read: not purple), almost petrol feel. At 29$ just an outrageous value & look forward to the few other bottles I’ve stowed for aging. Cab Franc haters, pls note no vegetal or pencil shaving notes- or if there are, they’re submerged in this joyous fruit.