Foire aux Vins d'Amboise: 3rd April 2010

Visitors to the Foire in costumes from the time of François I

I went to the first morning of the Foire aux Vins d'Amboise, which is on for the three days until Monday and is held in the tunnel under the château. Conditions weren't ideal for tasting as it was cold in the tunnel, so all the wines were cold making the whites closed up and unexpressive, while many of the reds were tight with the tannins to the fore. 

The overall standard of the wines was well below that at the Fête des Vins de Bourgueil last weekend. There were a few really very poor whites from some quite large producers. 

The following producers impressed – little change on last year!

 Xavier Frissant

Xavier Frissant – particularly his two Fie Gris (Sauvignon Gris) wines. Under the new mad AC Touraine (AC Touraine Fou) regulations it will no longer be possible to make 100% Fie Gris and have the Touraine AC.

 The son of Xavier

François Péquin and his son

François Péquin, Domaine des Bessons: good range of wines.

Willy Debenne , Closerie de Chanteloup

Closerie de Chanteloup  – particularly the 2008 Malbec AC Touraine.
Given the poor quality of the two Plou et Fils wines  – 2009 Chenin sec and 2009 Sauvignon – I can well imagine why Frédéric Plou decided to leave the family company in December 2005 and join Vincent Guichard at Chanteloup.

Lionel Truet, Domaine de la Grande Foucardière.

 Stéphane Mesliand

Domaine Mesliand – Stéphane Mesliand. A young producer with 17ha of vines in Limeray.