Of course a 1999 Layon isn't past it!

1999 Château de la Guimonière, 

Coteaux du Layon Chaume

We had a very enjoyable dinner with friends, whom we hadn't seen for a while, last night. Just before the dessert I was asked whether a 50cl bottle of 1999 la Guimonière Coteaux du Layon Chaume would be OK or would it be past it. 

I was absolutely confident that not only would it not be past it but it would be good, providing it hadn't been stuffed up by a bad cork. So it proved the 1999 was very good – a fine concentration of honeyed fruit combined with some freshness in the long finish. No rush to drink this 1999 it will last for several decades more. It was also a good match for a fine apple strudel. Desserts are often a difficult match for Loire sweet wines but fruit desserts, providing they are not too sweet, generally work well.  

The 1999 was made during the ownership of Bernard Germain, who at the time owned Guimonière, la Roulerie and Château de Fesles.   

#DWWA13 two Loire regional trophies – Château Soucherie (Chaume, Layon) and Jean Tatin (Quincy)

 Jean Tatin tasting grapes during the vintage 

Many congratulations to Jean Tatin (Quincy) and to Château Soucherie the two Loire trophy winners at this year's Decanter World Wine Awards. Jean won the under £15 Loire Sauvignon Trophy for his 2012 Cuvée Vin Noble, AC Quincy. Château Soucherie won the Loire Sweet Wine Trophy with their 2010 Coteaux du Layon Chaume.   

2012 DWWA Loire Regional Trophy Winners

Chris Kissack and Nigel Wilkinson tasting@DWWA12 

News flash – results released this morning 

Many congratulations to the Loire's two DWWA Regional Trophy Winners:

Loire Sweet Wine over £10:

2010 Coteaux du Layon Chaume, Château de la Guimonière,

Loire Red Wine over £10

2010 Chavignol, Sancerre, Paul Thomas 

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Two Gold Medals: both 2010 sweet wines:


2010 Coteaux du Saumur, Château de Targe  


2010 Quarts de Chaume, Les Guerches, Château la Varière

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In 2012 we awarded four golds for the Loire. Three from one very fine flight of sweet wines. Just underlining what a good vintage for sweet Loire wines from Anjou-Saumur 2010 is.  

2012 Decanter World Wine Awards: a golden day on Loire panel

 Part of the Loire panel: Chris Kissack (The Wine Doctor) and Nigel Wilkinson (RSJ Restaurant) 

In contrast to yesterday when the rather dreary morning flights of not very good Sauvignon – vin de pays, Touraine and some of the Central Vineyard appellations was followed by some good Muscadet today was very productive throughout yielding an all-time record haul of medals. A short range of vin de pays Chardonnays was the only poor flight of the day. 

On the panel today were established members Chris Kissack and Nigel Wilkinson along with newcomer – Jason Yapp of Yapp Brothers. Several flights of Pouilly-Fumé took up most of the morning. Around 60% were from the 2011 vintage and 40% from 2010. In previous years Pouilly-Fumé has been disappointing. However, this year the quality was much improved and, although there were no golds, we were able to award four Silvers, six Bronzes and to commend a number.          

 Jason Yapp of Yapp Brothers 

Nigel Wilkinson searching for the secret of Chenin

In the afternoon we moved on to Chenin Blanc starting with a range of good dry whites from Anjou through to Touraine. Then on to a flight with five Savennières and four Vouvrays – mainly from the 2010 vintage. Again a good standard but none hit the heights attained by FL's 2008 Château de Chamboureau, which took the Loire Over £10 Trophy.  

We finished with a very fine range of eleven sweet wines running westward from Coteaux de Saumur through to the Quarts de Chaume with all but one coming from the excellent 2010 vintage. In unprecedented scenes we awarded three golds – a Coteaux de Saumur, a Coteaux du Layon Chaume and a Quarts de Chaume. To put this into context we awarded a total of two golds last year and none the year before. No doubt that 2010 is best sweet wine vintage in the western part of the Loire (Anjou-Saumur) since the lovely 2007s.   

 Jason Yapp

Sebastian Denton

We have been looked after brilliantly by our 'red shirt' Sebastian Denton, son of Michael Denton, Decanter's long serving advertising manager for France.   

 Sebastian@work