2017 Loire: David Vigan (Château du Breuil)

 Château du Breuil, Beaulieu sur Layon

After our quick visit to the Quarts de Chaume we bumped into David Vigan, who has been the régisseur at Château du Breuil since 2006. Time for a quick chat about the 2017 vintage.

David explained that they had started picking for their Crémant at the end of August before moving onto their dry whites. He was pleased with the quality and commented on the very expressive aromas from the reds during fermentation. The Cabernets, especially the Cabernet Sauvignon had come in at 14% potential. Yields from their Grolleau were low due to frost and then the drought. There was little juice in the berries. 

Like many others they had been badly hit by frost in Savennières. They normally make between 7000-7500 litres there but this year there will be just 1000 litres.  

2014 Loire Vintage: a few more photos from our Tuesday visit to the Layon

 Charlie Pasquiers showing us around the cuverie@Domaine FL's new winery

A small selection of photos taken during our visit to the Layon Valley last Tuesday

 Just harvested Cabernet Franc being loaded into a vat

 Barrel room downstairs@FL

 Pickers@FL – a tri for a light, easy drinking Coteaux du Layon

Grapes (Chenin Blanc) selected for another easy drinking Coteaux du Layon

@Château du Breuil 

Bruno – vineyard manager@Château du Breuil

 Picker@Château du Breuil checking for acid rot

by cutting the bunch open and smelling.

Acid rot has a sharp vinegary aroma

 

 Cuverie@Château du Breuil

Heading home on the A85 Autoroute 

Steam cloud rising from the Chinon nuclear power station 

could be seen for miles on this very clear day

2014 Loire vintage: happy pickers

 @Château du Breuil

Today we were in the Layon, which included a look at how the Quarts de Chaume was shaping up in 2014 – this post is to follow tomorrow. Here are a couple of photos of pickers snapped at two domaines – Château du Breuil and Domaine FL – where they were picking for a light, fruity style of Coteaux du Layon that currently tends to sell better than the richer, riper styles of Coteaux du Layon as consumers find the lighter style to be more versatile. It would, however, be a tragedy if the richer, long-lived style of Coteaux du Layon did not continue.

Duo@Domaine FL

Dudley Craig Wines: some bottles

Blaxsta Apple Icewine 2011 Sweden (trade prices: £25.95 375ml)

On Wednesday I went to the Dudley Craig tasting and had time to taste a selection before heading home for a delivery, so unfortunately didn't make the Hallowed Ground tasting of Australian and New Zealand wines on the same day. The most unusual 'wine' I tasted was the 2011 Blaxsta Apple Icewine from Sweden with strong, complex apple flavours and concentration – certainly intriguingly different.

The soft, ripe 2012 white Menetou-Salon, Domaine Philippe Gilbert showed well with just enough acidity in the finish to provide balance. This was one of the best wines of the tasting and showing that this is currently one of the top Menetou-Salon domaines.  

2012 Menetou-Salon white, Domaine Philippe Gilbert (£12.95)

2010 Coteaux du Layon-Beaulieu, Château du Breuil (£16.95 50cl)

Richard Dudley Craig has recently started importing Château du Breuil in the Layon Valley. Like many 2010s their 2010 Coteaux du Layon-Beaulieu is attractively textured with very clean honey and apricot flavours with a fresh finish.         

2011 Anjou Rouge, Château du Breuil (70% Cabernet Franc, 

30% Cabernet Sauvignon) £8.95

Soft juicy, easy drinking red Anjou from Château du Breuil.

Impressive Alsace 2011 Pinot Noir, Chemin de Pierres, 

Domaine Jean, Louis and Fabien Mann (£21.95)

2007 Jura Blanc, Savagnin, Cave Jean Bourdy (£17.95)

Marked oxidation, clean fino style with tannins in finish

2007 L'Extrait, Rivesaltes Grenat, Vaquer 
Attractive plummy flavours

Coteaux du Layon: a few landscapes inc Les Treilles

 Château Guimonière

The château is now a gîte, while the vines are part of Vignobles Alain Château

Looking across to Château du Breuil

 Vines and a hut in the commune of Saint-Lambert 

looking towards Les Treilles on northside of Layon

(above and several below)

 

A tractor on the steep slopes above the River Layon

 Help please – can anyone identify this small town, which is either 

in the western Layon or possibly in the Aubance?

Across the Layon to Château du Breuil

Looking across the Layon Valley northwards towards Château du Breuil (white building on top of ridge)