Chevalerie 2018 Bourgueil "Grand Mont"

"Grand Mont" is perhaps the greatest site in Bourgueil - a high, south-facing slope on yellow Turonian limestone with shallow sandy clay soils, rich in mica, facing south and protected from the north winds by the forested hill. Wines from this vineyard are built to age and this rare bottling from Domaine de la Chevalerie is a beautiful example, comparable to the great "La Croix Boissée of Domaine Baudry. They started to produce it in 2009, and they consider it their grande cuvée. The wine ages in a one-year-old barrel and several older barrels for 7 months, bottled unfined unfiltered.  The 2018 "Grand Mont" benefits from the ripeness and balance of this excellent vintage for Loire reds, showing a very dark black/purple color with elegant aromas of black raspberry and blackberry with violet, earth, dark chocolate, citrus and game.  The palate shows silky tannins and complex red and black fruits - beautifully balanced with bright acidity and mineral flavours, with a lush and dense texture in this rather ripe vintage. This is really elegant and Burgundian, very long and built to last, really a perfect Bourgueil that will become a profound mature wine in eight to ten years - then drink until 2050 and beyond. Open the day before if drinking now, paired with a confit rabbit with cardamon & juniper served with roasted celeriac, or a coq-au-vin. 100% Cabernet Franc.