Red | Cabernet Franc | Loire Valley

Domaine Matignon has been farmed by the same family for three generations, now run by siblings Yves and Hélène Matignon from their base in Martigné-Briand, one of Anjou's most significant winegrowing communes. The estate spans 38 hectares planted mainly with Cabernet Franc, Chenin, and Grolleau, worked on a mix of schist, clay-limestone, and marl soils using a program of sustainable, reasoned viticulture that prioritizes soil health.

This 2018 bottle carries the Anjou-Villages appellation, a higher-tier designation than basic Anjou, reserved for the region's best-sited reds and requiring stricter production standards. Made from 100% Cabernet Franc, the Joué cuvée is aged for 10 months in barrel without any new oak, letting the wine show its structure and character rather than added wood influence. Expect a deep, well-built red with a round, powerful tannic backbone and a long finish that continues to soften with time and food.

The result is a serious, structured Anjou-Villages built for the table, from a family that has spent three generations learning every corner of their estate's varied terroir.