Concours Mondial du Sauvignon 2013 more photos of tasters

 Baudouin Havaux

Some photos from yesterday morning's tasting session at the Château of Blois. 

 Lionel Gosseaume

Pierre Chainier, Loire négociant and producer

Pieter de Waal, Hermit on the Hill, South Africa

 

Laurence Fourgeray

Thierry Michaud – Touraine producer@Noyers-sur-Cher (above and below) 

 Julie Guillot, one of the organisers of the Concours 

After the tasting: Lionel Gosseaume (world expert on Meslier Saint François and 

Interloire's representative for the Concours), Paul Buisse (retired négociant and producer), Christian Girard (retired Touraine producer)

 A previous edition of Jim's Loire and a taster@the 16th century Concours

Touraine: 1989 Cabernet and 2001 Côt

1989 Cabernet, Touraine, Thierry Michaud

Although I was pretty confident that this 1989 would show well I was pleased by how well it showed with still quite young colour and good, medium weight evolved fruit and fair length. I used to visit Domaine Michaud in Noyers-sur-Cher quite frequently but have got out of the habit – not because the wines weren't good. I should go back again. I have no idea what I paid for it – probably the equivalent of £3-£4. proof again that the Loire offers very good value and that you don't have to pay the high prices demanded by Bordeaux to have a Cabernet that will age well.

 

2001 Côt

This Côt was a pleasant surprise from La Gourmandière– the Cave Cooperative of Francueil. In my time I have had some poor wines from this cooperative. However, this Côt, although not a heavyweight, had aged well with attractive mature fruit and that touch of rusticity that tends to be Côt's hallmark.