France — wine

Anjou-Villages Brissac AOC

Anjou-Villages Brissac AOC is the smallest and most prestigious sub-appellation within the Anjou denomination in the Loire Valley — covering only 10 communes on the south bank of the Loire, including the village of Brissac-Quincé dominated by the Château de Brissac, France's tallest château. Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon produce structured, age-worthy reds on the schist-dominant hillsides of the Maine valley. The region's cool Loire climate and excellent drainage produce wines of genuine structure and longevity unusual for the broader Anjou appellation.

Year Rating Notes
2022 Concentrated vintage with good structure; Cabernet Franc showed ripe, dark fruit character with the region's characteristic tobacco and iron-mineral notes
2021 A benchmark year for Loire reds: cool growing season preserved Cabernet Franc's aromatic freshness; Brissac's schist-dominant sites produced wines of unusual mineral precision and structure
2020 Good vintage with ripe Cabernet Franc showing characteristic red fruit and herb notes; some sites showed the Loire's tendency to retain natural freshness even in warm years
2019 A landmark Loire red wine vintage — Anjou-Villages Brissac achieved rare combination of concentration and freshness; wines from schist parcels will age for 15+ years