2006 Domaine Filliatreau, Château Fouquet, Saumur

2006 Domaine Filliatreau, Château Fouquet, Saumur, Loire Valley, France

Dean had this one open in the store and I tasted it along with the flight of other things. I was struck by how extraordinary it was compared to the others, and since J wasn't with me, I bought the bottle so we could both study it further. I love earthiness and a good cab franc, but it turns out that something about this bottle struck us both as very challenging. It was a little too assertive on the earthiness and the subtleties of minerality that I usually enjoy were hard for my (brutish, unsophisticated) palate to discern. It was better with food, I believe it was a tomato, garlic, spinach, zucchini pasta primavera that toned it down a bit.

Profile of the wine from a retailer on the web:
"We’re pleased to welcome the exemplary portfolio of the Domaine Filliatreau, one of the truly great names in the Saumur region of the Loire Valley. The Château Fouquet is a sixteen-acre estate on clay and limestone soils near the hallowed town of Brézé. Employing strict organic methods, the father and son team of Paul and Fredrik Filliatreau have captured the essence of Cabernet Franc as expressed in this special terroir. Opaque plum-ruby in the glass, the Château Fouquet casts deep aromas of red currants and pungent clay and limestone soil. Plump and velvety on the attack, the Château Fouquet Saumur tightens mid-palate with fine tannins, crunchy acidity and a lashing of classic Saumur soil. Long, plummy and chocolaty on the finish, the wine is overwhelmingly drinkable and a versatile pair for fresh chèvres, braised pork dishes, grilled burgers and a myriad of vegetarian dishes, especially those employing tomatoes, potatoes, roasted red peppers and grilled eggplant. Enjoy now and over the next three years."