Domaine de Bellevue, Saumur Puy-Notre-Dame 2011, Loire, France

Tasting Note: Medium-to-deep-intensity ruby in color this wine has an aromatic nose of red currant, crushed-dried violet, raspberry, wet leaves and damp forest floor.

It is a feast for the senses.

On the palate the dry, medium-plus bodied red blend shows bright yet restrained and somewhat-concentrated red fruit lifted by bright, medium-plus acidity and grippy medium-plus tannin.

The wine is imbued with subtle vegetal notes along with hints of cedar.

Acidity and fruit are well balanced and the wine shows mid-palate complexity that ultimately completes with a long finish.

I suspect cabernet franc makes up the predominate proportion of this blend along with other red varieties permitted in this Loire appellation.