Recently, the Revue du Vin de France, the country's most serious wine magazine, awarded Roches Neuves their highest ranking (3 Stars), a distinction shared only with Clos Rougeard in the Loire. Clos Rougeard for the unitiated, is the Loire's most impossible to find Cabernet Franc, and the secondary market has driven pricing to several hundred dollars per bottle. From the great 2014 vintage, this has all the hallmarks of great Cabernet Franc. Vinified with only light pumpovers and aged in old foudre, this has all the finesse of a great Burgundy. Additionally, it is farmed biodynamically. The herbaceous tones are subtle and complementary to the dark brambly fruit, and the oak serves as a neutral backdrop to this sophisticated Loire Valley beauty. The The wines are typically not easy to obtain, but given the current climate there was some availability. The style is ripe and silky and simultaneously cerebral and visceral.