Domaine de la Martinière - La Peau de L'Ours 2023
Domaine de la Martinière is a Loire Valley estate located in the Chinon universe, an emblematic appellation of Touraine. The estate works around Cabernet Franc, the king grape of Loire reds, with a focus on frank, digestible wines deeply oriented towards the pleasure of drinking. La Peau de l’Ours 2023 holds a special place in the range, as it comes from a small trading structure created to complement the estate's grape needs. The grapes come from friendly winemakers, certified organic, in the Chinon appellation. This approach gives birth to a deliberately freer, more immediate, and convivial cuvée. The estate presents it as a friendly wine, light, easy to drink, and perfect for simple moments around a snack. It is a Chinon red without excessive pretension, but with lots of charm, fruit, and energy.
The La Peau de l’Ours 2023 cuvée is made exclusively from Cabernet Franc, the emblematic grape of Chinon. This grape here produces a supple, fresh, and very expressive Loire red wine, built more on the fruit's gourmandise than on tannic power. The sought-after style highlights drinkability, lightness, and aromatic freshness. It is far from an austere or very structured Chinon: this cuvée favors the brightness of red fruit, the finesse of the grain, and a fluid mouthfeel. The certified organic grapes allow preserving a clear and lively expression of the grape variety, with a sincere profile and no heaviness. The 2023 vintage brings beautiful maturity while keeping the natural energy of the Loire Cabernet Franc. La Peau de l’Ours thus establishes itself as an immediately pleasurable red, ideal to open young.
In the glass, Domaine de la Martinière La Peau de l’Ours 2023 reveals a bright ruby robe, light and full of brilliance. The nose opens on crunchy cherry, raspberry, currant, and fresh small red fruits, with a typical peppery touch of Cabernet Franc. The palate is fluid, juicy, and very digestible, supported by fine tannins and a freshness that invites you to come back. The fruit remains in the foreground, in a simple, gourmand, and perfectly assumed register. The finish extends the red fruit notes, with a slight hint of spices and a very thirst-quenching sensation. This Chinon can be served slightly chilled, around 14 to 15°C, to accentuate its crunchy and convivial side. It will perfectly accompany a charcuterie board, roast chicken, rillettes, terrine, grilled dishes, roasted vegetables, or fresh goat cheese.
Grape variety: 100% Cabernet Franc
