Pascal et Alain Lorieux
Pascal et Alain Lorieux works the chalky soils and clay-limestone terroirs of Saint-Nicolas-de-Bourgueil, in Touraine's Middle Loire. The region's cool continental climate and riverside position shape wines of mineral precision and bright acidity—hallmarks of Loire Cabernet Franc. The winery's Thélème Chinon, made from Cabernet Franc grown across the appellation's varied sites, demonstrates the grape's capacity for structure and depth. Agnès Sorel St. Nicolas de Bourgueil and Les Mauguerets la Contrie St. Nicolas de Bourgueil, both Cabernet Franc-based, reflect the specific character of their respective vineyard blocks: the former showing the appellation's signature elegance, the latter the textural complexity that comes from older vines and careful site selection. Wine Enthusiast and Wine Spectator have rated these wines, recognizing their balance of Loire freshness with the darker fruit and tannin weight that distinguish the region's best red expressions.
Critics
Wine Enthusiast, Wine Spectator