Olga Raffault's "Les Picasses" is one of the Loire red wines I keep coming back to you, no matter how urgent the desire is to try something new when I browse the shelves in a wine store. This unfiltered wine is made from Cabernet Franc grapes, sometimes called "Breton" in the Loire region.
The 2002 "Les Picasses" has a medium ruby color with a thin garnet rim. Very herbal aroma with a medium(+) intensity of cherry, blackberry and bell pepper. Dry, medium alcohol, medium amount of ripe tannins. Medium(+) acidity. Pronounced intensity of lush red fruit flavors, very herbal and mineral. Long length with a silky finish. Perfect balance of ripeness and mineral expression. It has aged beautifully so far and has enough structure for probably another ten years.