Jim's Loire: 2005 Côte de la Houssaye, Anjou Villages, Ogereau + 1998 Cahors, Domaine du Port

Friends came round on Saturday night and we enjoyed a relaxed evening – une soirée de la modération, bien entendu.... We enjoyed these two two reds with the main course – free-range roast chicken.

2005 Côte de la Houssaye, Anjou Villages, Domaine Ogereau

This comes from a special parcel planted with Cabernet Sauvignon and this cuvée is only made in good vintages when the fruit is properly ripe. Wines from the 2005 vintage are now showing very well and this is no exception. Rich and full bodied, very attractive texture this developed remarkable and intense aromas of mint and eucalyptus – aromas that I don't remember finding on Loire reds before.

1998 Cahors, Domaine du Port

Quite bricky in colour with delicate sweet but complex fruit fruit, likely to be past its best but still has its attractions.

•••

Variable ripeness within a bunch with

some grapes frazzled by hot weather (19.9.16)

(above and below)

Not looking pretty!
2016 Vendanges in Saint-Georges-sur-Cher, AC Touraine

This brief report comes with a health warning as to date I have only looked at couple of sites in Chinon plus taking a ride today through some of the vineyards of Saint Georges-sur-Cher. In addition I have also talked to a number of Loire vignerons but even so it is dangerous to jump to conclusions on a small sample.

However, we can say that 2016 has been a difficult year with frost at the end of April, very heavy rain causing widespread flooding at the end of May and beginning of June. After this many producers had to deal with powerful mildew attacks. Then in July and August the weather turned dramatically hot and very dry, so much so that there were drought conditions by early September.

However, rain started on evening of Tuesday 12th September, so the drought is over. But the drought has probably made the veraison prolonged so within the same bunch you can still still green grapes along with black ones making picking difficult. The very hot weather also frazzled some of the grapes as these photos show.