Millésime Bio 2012: The first day

Entrance to Millésime Bio 2012 under a clear blue sky

With around 60 Loire producers at this edition of Millésime Bio – incidentally this is the 20th – my first priority was to visit and taste with all the Loire producers present, especially as there are a number here whose wines I have never tasted.  

One particularity of this fair is that everyone has the same sized table, which means that much less space is needed as there are no fancy stands so there is less walking involved. Even so with nearly 600 exhibitors the fair took up two large halls – 12 and 10.

I started in Hall 12 yesterday and here are some of the wines that impressed: 

White 

2006  Clos du Papillon, Savennières, Domaine du Closel  

There is lovely balance and complexity in this 2006 Clos du Papillon demonstrating that Savennières often needs time to develop and show its best. This still has a good number of years  ahead of it and may still get better. 

2008 La Fontaine des Bois, Anjou, Domaine Pierre Chauvin 

2008 was a cool vintage saved as is so often the case by fine weather in September and into October. Due to the cool temperatures the grapes had a very long hang time and this is a fine vintage for very precise and pure dry whites. Domaine Pierre Chauvin is an estate of 14 hectares with two thirds planted with Chenin Blanc. La Fontaine has weight, purity and good length. It is a pity that Anjou Blanc doesn't have a better reputation as there are some excellent dry whites being produced under this appellation. 

2009 Authentique, Anjou, Domaine Philippe Delesvaux

2008 Feuille d'Or, Anjou, Domaine Philippe Delesvaux

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