2011 Loire vintage: further news snippets

Bunch of Sauvignon Blanc waiting to be picked at Clos Roche Blanche

I gather that the first estate to start picking in the Cher Valley was Domaine Jacky Marteau, now run by Jacky's son – Rodolphe. They machine harvested on Thursday. It looks like a number of producers will be starting here on Monday including Thierry Delaunay (Domaine Joël Delaunay), who will picking Chardonnay for his sparkling wine. Thierry told me that his Sauvignon Blanc is now at 12.5% potential but with 4.5 acidity.

Thierry Delaunay

Across the valley at Thésée Vincent Ricard will also be starting Monday picking Sauvignon Blanc. Vincent expects to be picking quickly as none of his fruit is below 12% potential with acidities at 5.2/5.3 – higher than at Clos Roche Blanche and Thierry Delaunay.

Vincent Ricard

Elsewhere in Touraine picking for Noble Joué (rosé made from Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier and Pinot Gris) can also start on Monday.

2010 Loire Sauvignon Blanc Ambassadors: Domaine de Cray

2010 Sauvignon Blanc Domaine de Cray

Now back to tasting through the selection of 2010 Loire Sauvignon Blanc Ambassadors. Yesterday it was the Domaine de Cray 2010 Touraine Sauvignon. The estate belongs to the Antier family who also have substantial holdings in Montlouis. Sadly at least some of their vineyards suffer from 100% weedkiller treatment.

This 2010 is fresh, lemony with quite marked acidity. Tonique! Drink as an aperitif or with shellfish.

'France under one roof' tasting: 10th March 2010

This was a useful opportunity to taste a good number of Loire wines fairly quickly. I was rather unusually well organised for the tasting as I had downloaded the tasting catalogue in advance and printed off the lists from exhibitors showing Loire wines. Something worth doing as it saved a lot of time scrabbling through the 105 page catalogue on the day.

Highlights included the rich and opulent 2008 Quincy from Phillippe Portier and the soft and concentrated 2006 Concerto Saint Nicolas de Bourgueil, Vignoble de la Janoterie These two producers are looking for UK importers. I tried all the 2009 Sauvignon Blanc AC Touraine Ambassadors, the Interloire project involving Interloire). From these I'd pick out: quite concentrated Ante Vinum, Château de Quinçay (Meusnes in the Cher Valley and a producer of Touraine and Valençay),  the very zippy and fresh Domaine de Fontenay (Didier Corby), the 2009 Châteauvieux from Pierre Chainier, the Cristal Buisse (Paul Buisse – now part of Pierre Chainier) and Domaine Gibault (Les Martinières, Noyers-sur-Cher).

I tasted the full range on show from Domaine Fouassier (Sancerre) – represented on this occasion by Benoît and Paul Fouassier and the ever green, Michael Ott, The estate is in full conversion to biodynamic viticulture  and tasting these wines confirms my view that this a domaine on the move. Among the around dozen wines tasted I particularly liked the mouthfilling 2008 'sur la fort' white Sancerre from limestone slopes and the weighty and minerally 2008 Les Chasseignes (clay and limestone). Although they have been making Melodie de Gustave Fouassier since 1996, I hadn't come across it before. This Sancerre Blanc is a blend that is selected at the momenrt of pressing and then fermented for around 10 months in wood. Only 3000 bottles are made, which is probably why I haven't encountered it before. There is still a touch of wood on the 2006 but it has attractive rich and toasty fruit. 

It was good to taste some of Daniel Lambert Wines Ltd's selection of Loire wines including those from Domaine Villageau in the Coteaux du Giennois like the clean and weighty 2009 white (100% Sauvignon Blanc) and too reds that have a minimal percentage of Gamay – presumably to comply with the absurd AC regulations that ban 100% Pinot Noir and insist on a small percentage of Gamay. The 2008 Les LiCôtes has an attractive, ripe Pinot Noir character of some structure. Aged in wood it doesn't need its small drop of Gamay. Under the VDQS regulations Villageau could market a 100% Pinot Noir, if AC regulations were based on common sense they would be able to sell a 100% Pinot Noir as an AC Coteaux du Giennois.

Daniel had a couple of 2008 Sancerres from Balland-Chapuis – I preferred the more mineral La Vallion to the other Sancerre that rather dominated by asparagus notes.

To finish.. 

2010 Sauvignon Blanc Ambassadors

2010 Sauvignon Blanc Loire Project Ambassadors selected

Twenty-three wines were selected on 18th and 19th February as this year’s Sauvignon Blanc de Loire Project Ambassadors. The wines, all from the 2009 vintage, were chosen by a panel of four UK wine professionals, led by Sam Harrop MW. The all-female jury comprised journalists Sarah Jane Evans MW and Sarah Ahmed, and buyers Christine Parkinson from Hakkasan and Cat Lomax from Direct Wines.

The panel chose the wines which best represent the quality and terroir of Sauvignon Blanc de Loire in a range of styles from tropical fruit, through to citrus and herbal, which they considered have the best commercial chances of success in the British market. The tasting is part of the Sauvignon Blanc de Loire Project which is run by InterLoire, is managed by a local oenological technical team and has employed Harrop as its international consultant. The main purpose is to create a better profile for Sauvignon Blanc de Loire, and to raise the region’s image in order to increase the perception and value of the wines on the UK market.

Both the AOC and Vins de Pays ambassadors will be shown at this year’s London International Wine Fair in May. The AOC wines have also been entered into the International Wine Challenge and will be available to taste at France Under One Roof.

Sauvignon Blanc de Loire Project Ambassadors – 2009 Vintage

AOC Touraine Ambassadors
AOC Touraine Sauvignon Blanc Secrets de Chai 2009, Les Vignerons des Coteaux Romanais

AOC Touraine Sauvignon Blanc Tonnerre de Vignes 2009, Les Vignerons des Coteaux Romanais

AOC Touraine Sauvignon Blanc Sélection Château Ante Vinum 2009, Château de Quincay AOC Touraine Sauvignon Blanc 2009, Domaine de Fontenay

AOC Touraine Sauvignon Blanc 2009, Domaine de la Renne

AOC Touraine Sauvignon Blanc 2009, Domaine Malet

AOC Touraine Sauvignon Blanc Elysis 2009, SICA des Vignerons de la Vallée du Cher

AOC Touraine Sauvignon Blanc - les Grenettes 2009, Domaine Beauséjour

AOC Touraine Sauvignon Blanc 2009, Domaine Xavier Frissant

AOC Touraine Sauvignon Blanc Châteauvieux Cuvée 2009, SAS Pierre Chainier

AOC Touraine Sauvignon Blanc – Famille Bougrier 2009, SA Bougrier

AOC Touraine Sauvignon Blanc 2009, Domaine du Haut Perron

AOC Touraine Sauvignon Blanc 2009, Domaine Gibault

AOC Touraine Sauvignon Blanc – Domaine Paul Buisse 2009, Domaine Paul Buisse

AOC Touraine Sauvignon Blanc – Cristal Buisse 2009, Domaine Paul Buisse

Vins de Pays Val de Loire Ambassadors
Vins de Pays Val de Loire Sauvignon Blanc, Domaine Saint Roch, Bardon, 2009

Vins de Pays Val de Loire Sauvignon Blanc, Domaine du Salvard, 2009

Vins de Pays Val de Loire Sauvignon Blanc, Rémy Pannier, S.A. Ackerman, 2009

Vins de Pays Val de Loire Sauvignon Blanc, Fauvette, S.A. Ackerman, 2009

Vins de Pays Val de Loire Sauvignon Blanc, Domaine de la Houssais, 2009

Vins de Pays Val de Loire Sauvignon Blanc, Privilège de Drouet, Drouet Frères/ Les Celliers de la Roche, 2009

Vins de Pays Val de Loire Sauvignon Blanc, Désiré François, Drouet Frères/ Les Celliers de la Roche, 2009

Vins de Pays Val de Loire Sauvignon Blanc, Sauvage de la Brie, Auguste Bonhomme/ Les Celliers de la Roche, 2009

(Press release from InterLoire)

In 2009 there were 29 wines chosen as Ambassadors – see here.

2010 Sauvignon Blanc Ambassadors

Vin de pays Sauvignon Blanc 2008

Am hoping to be able to bring you the results of this year's Sauvignon Blanc Ambassadors tasting that was held in London earlier this month. I have already had enquiries from the Loire asking when it will appear. It's just a question of awaiting clearance by Interloire. I just hope the French air-controllers strike isn't holding things up.

Hopefully later today...