Domaine Yannick Amirault, ‘Rosé d’Équinoxe’, 2021, Bourgueil (AOC)

'One-Liner'
A beautifully unusual Cabernet Franc rosé, combining blood orange and delicate red fruit with creamy texture, subtle oak and a long, dry finish.

Tasting Note
Very pale onion-skin pink, with aromas of blood orange, white peach and gentle raspberry joined by acacia blossom, brioche and a subtle buttery note. The palate is dry, rounded and quietly rich, with time on the lees bringing a creamy texture while Cabernet Franc’s natural freshness keeps the wine poised and energetic. Fine savoury notes and restrained oak emerge towards a long, gently spiced finish, making this much more of a serious dining wine than a conventional summer rosé.

Country: France
Region: Loire
Sub-Region: Bourgueil AOC
Grape(s): 100% Cabernet Franc
ABV: 13%
Friendly: Vegan, Vegetarian, Sustainable

Awards & Critics' Scores
n/a

The Story
Yannick Amirault established his domaine in 1977 with fewer than four hectares of vines, later joined by his son Benoît as the family’s holdings grew across Bourgueil and neighbouring Saint-Nicolas-de-Bourgueil. Rosé d’Équinoxe is one of their most distinctive wines, made from organically farmed Cabernet Franc grown principally on lighter, sandy soils. Whole bunches are pressed directly rather than macerated, producing only the faintest blush of colour, before natural fermentation and several months of maturation on the lees in large French oak barrels. The result sits somewhere between rosé and blanc de noirs – dry, textured and remarkably food-friendly, with enough structure and freshness to develop gracefully in bottle.

Perfect With... (click me for the recipe)
- Meat/fish: Lightly seared scallops with lemon and herbs
- Vegetarian: Asparagus with browned butter, lemon and a soft-boiled egg
- Vegan: Roast cauliflower steaks with almond, lemon and parsley dressing