Domaine Couly-Dutheil - Chinon Clos de L'Echo 2019

Bettane & Desseauve

About the domain :

Arnaud, who has already been in charge for several vintages, is now alone at the helm. The clos-de-l'olive and clos-de-l'écho, the two peaks of the cellar, are wines for laying down that best reflect their terroir, with the former offering depth and the latter power. Don't overlook the "simple" chinon rené-couly, a great moment of immediate pleasure.

Guide Hachette des vins

About the wine:

A true Chinon institution, once owned by the parents of the great Rabelais, Clos de L'Écho asserts a presence of purity and intensity with this 2019 vintage. A presence refined by long vatting and gentle extraction of tannins. These silky, fine tannins support a Chinon centered on black fruits, very well-balanced, fleshy and long, with remarkable scope.

About the domain :

Couly-Dutheil was founded in 1921 by Baptiste Dutheil, and is now run by Jacques Couly-Dutheil and his son Arnaud. With almost 94 hectares of vineyards, including the prestigious Clos de l'Écho and Clos de l'Olive, a modern cellar built into the rock and impressive 10th-century cellars beneath the Château de Chinon, it is an integral part of the Chinon winegrowing landscape. A benchmark not to be missed.

Robert Parker - Wine Advocate

About the wine:

The 2019 Chinon Clos de l'Echo, less marked by oak than its 2018 counterpart, offers a bouquet of flowers, dark wild berries, cooked plums and spices. Medium- to full-bodied, enveloping and round, it's concentrated with structured yet elegant tannins that assert themselves in a fleshy core of fruit, concluding on a long, imposing palate. It lacks finesse and elegance.

Vinous A. Galloni

About the wine:

In the heart of the city of Chinon, with one of the best views of the fortress, Clos de l'Echo 2019 offers a concentrated, compact core of black fruit. Coming from the warm, dry season of 2019, it has abundant ripeness and a soft mouthfeel. Fans of textured wines will be pleased: there's plenty of substance and an almost fleshy feel, with chalky tannins lining the cheeks. The long, fragrant finish is marked by notes of smoked bacon, violets, exotic spices, tea leaves and ripe red fruit.