Charles Joguet: The Great Domain of Chinon
Based in the heart of this UNESCO World Heritage landscape, Charles Joguet is one of the great names of Chinon and a benchmark for Cabernet Franc at its most expressive. Credited with putting Chinon on the fine-wine map, Joguet was a pioneer of single vineyard bottlings, a legacy continued today by the Genet family.
From gnarled old vines on classic Chinon soils, the wines combine sweet red fruit, spice and mineral depth with energy and precision. Profound yet never heavy, they show a distinctive saline freshness and have the structure to age beautifully. Cabernet Franc at its most characterful and complete. We are delighted to offer some rare older bottlings from this fine domaine.
Silènes - From the siliceous plateau of Beaumont-en-Véron, Silènes is a bright, fruit driven expression of Cabernet Franc. Aromatic and supple, it shows vivid red berry fruit, floral lift and fresh acidity, making it an energetic, approachable Chinon.
La Cure - An historic gravelly vineyard in Sazilly with a firmer, more structured style. Savoury red fruit, spice and vibrant acidity are supported by fine tannins and barrel ageing, giving a classic Chinon with excellent ageing potential.
Clos de la Dioterie - The flagship Clos de la Dioterie is one of Chinon’s great historic vineyards. From old vines on calcareous clay soils, it delivers concentrated yet refined Cabernet Franc with depth, minerality and a distinctive saline freshness. A complex, long lived wine built for the cellar.
➜ Explore the wines of Charles Joguet
"Charles Joguet himself was the iconic producer in Chinon from the 1960s onwards until he retired about 25 years ago. He is in his 90s today, and I am happy to have met him in person three years ago at the Domaine de Pallus, where we had some amazing old wines. It is being said it's easier to purchase a Romanée-Conti today than a matured Charles Joguet, since whoever owns a bottle would drink it but never sell.
Lead by Kevin Fontaine today, the domaine has kept the legendary name and is still producing excellent wines. The organically certified 36 hectares of vineyards—predominantly old Cabernet Franc between the Loire and Vienne Rivers, with the oldest vines planted in 1930 and 1940—are widely spread and on many different soil types (gravelly, siliceous alluvial sands and limestone). Many plots are planted in late-ripening, north-facing sites to maintain the Loire-typical freshness and structure of Cabernet Franc. Since the early beginnings of the domaine, it has produced up to nine single-vineyard wines, which reflect the particular site as well as the vintage on different quality levels, with the finest coming from Sazilly.
All parcels are harvested and vinified separately, and the red grapes (there is a bit of Chenin Blanc too) are all destemmed and cold-macerated in either stainless steel cuves or oak vats and fermented for up to four weeks. The aging takes place in either stainless steel tanks or used barrels for up to 18 months.
I really like all wines from this producer, but three Chinons stand out: Les Varennes du Grand Clos (fermented at higher temperatures than most cuvées), Clos du Chêne Vert (one of the oldest lieux-dits of the AOP, which is situated in the small city of Chinon on the right bank of the Vienne River and named for a monumental green oak tree that hangs over the parcel) and the Clos de la Dioterie (situated next to the winery, with the domaine’s oldest vines in a northeastern sun exposure)." Stephan Reinhardt, The Wine Advocate