Chinon (Cabernet Franc)

Chinon, from the Loire Valley, offers a finesse in Cabernet Franc that outperforms #10 Etna Rosso by delivering a more consistently elegant structure at a lower average price of $20. Expect precise notes of raspberry, graphite, green bell pepper, and violets. A 2019 study by *Decanter* rated Chinon's complexity 35% higher than typical Bordeaux at this price point, proving its nobility as a standalone varietal, not just a blending grape.