B & P Lambert Chinon Les Terrasses

Les Terrasses is a Chinon from B & P Lambert, made from Cabernet Franc in the Loire Valley. Chinon is one of the Loire's main homes for the grape, and red wines from the appellation tend to be lighter in body and more savory than Cabernet Franc grown in warmer climates. The producer's own description points to a fresh, fruit-forward style with red berry fruit, a light herbal note and supple tannins, so expect something closer to a juicy everyday red than a dense, structured one. In the glass, look for raspberry, red currant and cherry, with the faintly leafy or green-pepper edge that is a hallmark of the grape. Styles like this usually sit at medium-light to medium body, with bright acidity and gentle grip rather than firm tannin. Oak is not mentioned for this bottling, and wines of this type are often built around fruit rather than wood, so don't expect vanilla or toast. The finish is likely to be clean and moderately short, with the herbal note lingering after the fruit fades. That freshness and low tannin make it a flexible table wine. It suits charcuterie, rillettes and pâté, roast chicken, pork loin, duck breast and grilled sausages. It also works with mushroom dishes, lentils and goat cheese, a classic Loire match. Because the tannins are soft, it is also a reasonable partner for tomato-based pasta and for salmon or tuna cooked simply. It is less suited to heavily spiced food or rich, fatty red meats that call for a bigger wine. Serve it lightly cooled, at roughly 14 to 16°C (57 to 61°F). Thirty minutes in the fridge before opening usually gets a room-temperature bottle there. Too warm, and the fruit turns soft and the herbal notes can seem sharper. A wine in this style does not need decanting, though pouring it into a carafe briefly can loosen the aromas if the bottle has been closed up. Use a medium-sized tulip glass with a modest bowl, which concentrates the red fruit without exaggerating the green notes. As a fruit-forward bottling in a fresh style, it is best opened within the next few years rather than cellared.