2013 Loire vintage: an appointment with the doctor and a quick look@Vouvray and Montlouis

Control tower@Tours Airport

Last Sunday afternoon (6th) we met Chris Kissack, The Wine Doctor, off the brief flight from London Stansted to Tours. This was the start of an intense few days as we tried to cover as much of the 2013 Loire vintage as we could in the brief time Chris had available – he flew back on Friday.

 Vouvray: stormy skies looking across to the Clos Baudoin

 Vouvray: just a few grapes here 

A promising bunch!

Less good!

As Chris' flight arrived at 17.15 we headed straight for the vineyards of Vouvray; stopping to look at the vines around Vouvray's cemetery, which is just adjacent to the Clos du Bourg on the première côte, one of the appellation's sectors hit by the hail of the early morning of 17th June 2013. Here there were few bunches – mainly grapillons which will not be ripe enough to use. 

 François Chidaine's new winery

Then we headed across La Loire and on to Montlouis, where we saw François Chidaine's new winery in use - some of his AC Touraine grapes as he hadn't started picking Montlouis. Then a brief look at some vines before heading to Epeigné via Château de Chenonceau, where the caught the sunset.  

 Depending on weather could go either way (above and below)
Grapes are tasting more noble than unpleasant but rarely any concentration

   

Chenonceau: last of the sun's rays on the château 

Sunset on the Cher