Frederic Mabileau Saint-Nicolas de Bourgueil Les Rouilleres, Loire, France 2022

The Mabileau family's vineyard cultivation dates back to the late 19th century, spanning five generations. In 1991, Frédéric and Nathalie Mabileau embarked on their own journey by establishing an independent estate separate from Frédéric’s parents. They started with 7 acres of Cabernet Franc vines known as "Les Rouillères" in the sand and gravel terroir of Saint-Nicolas-de-Bourgueil. By 1996, they had expanded to 22 acres, and in 2003, Frédéric's parents retired, passing on 37 acres of vineyards to Frédéric. The oldest vines date back to 1947, a testament to the family's long history in winemaking.

100% Cabernet Franc from 38 year old vines planted on sand/gravel soil, on a single parcel called “Rouillères”. The grapes are hand-harvested, destemmed, and go through a pre-fermentation maceration in tanks at cold temperatures. After the fermentation, the wine stays 4 months in the tanks and is racked twice before bottling. Juicy with crunchy red fruits.