One of Chinon’s best vignerons, Charles Joguet is also an artist and sculptor with a studio in Paris. He inherited a Chinon estate at Sazilly on the southern bank of the River Vienne in 1957, and since then he has expanded it to 15 hectares. Joguet is a late harvester because his vineyards face north and the grapes need longer to ripen.

Although Joguet makes a little rose, so pale it is really a vin gris, his red wines made from Cabernet Franc are exceptional and as fine as any on the Loire. As a new addition to this list we have chosen this single vineyard wine from Les Varennes du Grand Clos 1996. Aromatic, rich and subtle, here is a Chinon of great finesse and balance that drinks splendidly with rillettes, Navarin of lamb and creamy cheeses. This beautiful wine was aged in two-year old barrels, rather than brand new ones, because Joguet seeks to allow the wonderful Cabernet Franc flavours to express themselves fully. Because of its good balance of acidity, it can be drunk with pleasure now or left to mature safely for five years, to develop further complexities.