Côte de la Houssaye Rouge Cabernet Sauvignon (ECO) 2020 75 cl.

A well-structured, fruit-perfumed single-vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon from the cool climate of Anjou. A true testament that it’s not only Cabernet Franc that thrives here—its “daughter variety” can also produce genuinely magical wines. Cool, refreshing and almost wild in character, with a tightly knit tannin structure and impressive complexity. Deep dark ruby in the glass with fine cherry-coloured highlights. The aromatic nose is fruit-driven and green-spiced, showing black raspberries, tart cherries, anise seed and dark red roses, supported by pencil lead, mint leaves and a hint of smoke. Crisp, lively and medium-bodied on the palate, with playful acidity and a tingling minerality. The flavour follows the elegant nose, offering a true potpourri of fruit and spice: tangy, juicy dark forest berries wrapped in pepper, sage, green herbs, graphite and liquorice. The finish is long and acid-driven with striking structure—clear proof of excellent ageing potential. In short: a characterful, terroir-driven, cool-cut Cabernet Sauvignon that is a must-try for all fans of true red Loire. A wine made for pepper steak, ideally with simple, classic garnishes.

The wine is made from 100% Cabernet Sauvignon from the vineyard “Côte de la Hussaye”, located on the hillside above the Hyrôme River in the eastern part of the commune of Saint-Lambert. A warm, dry, south-east facing slate terroir—ideal conditions for this late-ripening variety, which can otherwise be challenging to fully ripen in the Loire. The fruit is exclusively hand-harvested and organically grown, picked relatively late in the season, often in the third week of October. The grapes are carefully destemmed on arrival at the winery, followed by fermentation and 25 days of maceration on concrete vats. The wine is then transferred to a mix of 400- and 500-litre barrels (15% new), where it ages for 12 months. Finally, it rests for 6 months in underground tanks before being bottled.