Winemaker Notes
Cent Visages, meaning 100 faces, is the name Jean-François gives to his cuvée of 100% Côt (Malbec) from a single vineyard in St. Julien de Chedon. These 50 year old vines are an old massale selection of Cot and ones which are the source for many of his new plantings. Cent Visage is fermented in concrete tanks by natural yeasts and aged in concrete for at least 24 months before bottling.
Professional Ratings
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Decanter
A dense, deep plum colour in the glass reflects the rich prune and fig aromas coming from it. It’s very concentrated and will need time to soften to express its full potential and should age very well. The 50-year-old vines for this Côt – the local name for Malbec – come from a 2.5-hectare parcel of clay-limestone that faces south/southeast. The grapes are hand picked and macerated for five to six weeks using native yeasts. It is then aged in unlined concrete tanks with the use of micro-oxygenation. Côt is the most successful red variety in eastern Touraine producing quite rustic, characterful wines, the best of which are able to age for several decades. There are some vines in the Cher Valley that are well over 100 years old.
Celebrated for its bold flavors and supple texture, Malbec has enjoyed runaway success in Argentina since the late 20th century. The grape originated in Bordeaux, France, where it historically contributed color and tannin to blends. A French agronomist, who saw great potential for the variety in Mendoza’s hot, high-altitude landscape, brought Malbec to Argentina in 1868. Somm Secret—If you’re trying to please a crowd, Malbec is generally a safe bet with its combination of dense fruit and soft tannins.
Stretching east along the steep banks of the Loire River, Touraine is a major part of the Middle Loire. Soil variations of clay, sand, tuffeau and gravel throughout its subregions support both white and red varieties. Chinon and Bourgueil remain the source of Loire’s finest Cabernet Franc; various styles of the most outstanding Chenin blanc come from Vouvray and Montlouis.