Two diary dates: Lamé Delisle Boucard (6th-7th July) + 51st Foire aux Vins de Vouvray (15th-18th August)

 

Part of the amazing cellars@Lamé Delisle Boucard

Portes Ouvertes@Lamé Delisle Boucard in Ingrandes-en-Touraine (AC Bourgueil)on Saturday 6th and Sunday 7th July. 

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15th-18th August 51st August wine fair@Vouvray

Here is a great way to show your support for the producers of Vouvray severely hit by hail on Monday 17th June. Go and taste and buy some of their wines.  

51 ème édition de la foire aux vins d’août

Les vignerons de l’appellation Vouvray vous attendent dans les caves troglodytiques de la Bonne Dame pour vous faire déguster leurs vins les 15, 16, 17 et 18 août de 10h à 19h.

Salon incontournable de l’été dans le pays du Vouvray, organisé dans les caves de la Bonne-Dame les vignerons de l'appellation Vouvray vous feront découvrir leur production à travers différents millésimes. Sur place également, les visiteurs pourront déguster des spécialités gourmandes en accord avec les vins.

 C’est une façon originale de découvrir le vignoble de Vouvray, une balade insolite dans les galeries troglodytiques du XVème siècle des Caves de la Bonne Dame. La vie en Vouvray est toujours pleine de surprises, car Vouvray est à la fois unique et multiple.

 Avec ses quatre facettes : sec, demi-sec, moelleux, « fines bulles », le vin de Vouvray nous entraine toujours vers de nouvelles découvertes. Vous pouvez ainsi apprécier toutes les facettes d’un terroir millénaire en un seul lieu. Toute la diversité de l’Appellation Vouvray vous est présentée à travers différents styles et millésimes.

Restauration sur place.

Entrée libre- Prix du verre de dégustation 3 €

Vouvray: the 50th August Foire aux Vins

 

 Laurent Bonneau, Le Bouchet, Domaine de la Croix des Vainqueurs 

On Tuesday I went to the 50th edition of Foire aux Vins de Vouvray, which is always held around 15th August. This event never attracts the top names in Vouvray but is an opportunity to taste wines from lesser known properties. Many of the producers here concentrate on making sparkling Vouvray with the still wines as something of a sideline. 

As in 2009 I found the wines of Laurent Bonneau (Domaine de la Croix des Vainqueurs), a step up from the rest. More weight, concentration and complexity in the 2010 Sec and two lovely sweet wines from 2009: a moelleux and Lubin – a liquoreux. The moelleux has 90 g of residual sugar and has a lovely delicate balance of honeyed and apricot fruit. Lubin is named after Laurent's son who was born in 2009. Lubin is much richer with 200 g of sugar and is impressively rich but has the acidity to balance it – one to sip at the end of a meal.           

2009 Moelleux, Le Bouchet

2009 Lubin, Vouvray 15€ for 50cls

 Premium, Vouvray Méthode Traditionelle

New to the Bonneau range is Premium, a sparkling Vouvray which spends four years sur latte. Premium is designed to hit the price point between cheap Vouvray fizz, which spends around a year sur latte and Champagne. At 9€ it is more expensive than most Vouvray mousseux but also has more character with its aromatic honeyed, toasty aromas and slightly oxidative style – ifferent from the often lemony sparkling Vouvrays.

Some other producers present at the Foire:

 Christophe Boutet, Domaine Boutet Saulnier

I liked the more recent bottling of Christophe Boutet's 2011 Sec over one that was bottled in the Spring. This had benefited from a longer élévage giving it more weight, character and length with an attractive touch of bitterness in the finish. Christophe is based in La Vallée Chartier, Vouvray and has 10 hectares of vines.    

Daniel Jarry

Although Daniel Jarry retired in 2007 he still has stock of some older vintages. It was interesting to taste secs from 1986, 1990 and 1991. They are an older style of Vouvray with the 1986 (14.50€) and 1991 (7€) being lean and austere, while the more full bodied and honeyed 1990 (10€) reflects one of Vouvrays fine vintages.  

 

Denise Bongars, Domaine des Bergerons with 13 ha at Noizay

Jean-Michel Gautier, Domaine de la Racauderie 

Lionel Gauthier, Domaine des Viking

Lionel has 17 ha of vines mainly on argile-silex (clay and flint known locally as Perruches) and is based in Reugny. I liked his expressive and honeyed 2008 sec. 

Another Viking!

Vincent Poussin, Caves Poussin 

In 2009 Vincent and Francis Poussin took over the family estate, which was founded in 1982. They have 25 hectares of vines with 18ha in production. The 2008 demi-sec with 30 gms of residual sugar shows a honeyed and exotic fruit character, especially lychees.  

Sébastien Rouger (above and below)

Sébastien Rouger (Domaine de la Morinière), who is based in Reugny, started in 2003 and has gradually built up to 10 hectares. 90% of his production is currently sparkling but is intending to increase the proportion of still wines made. The 2011 Sec shows some promised. Someone to watch?   

Amboise: foire aux vins 11th - 15th August + Foire aux Vouvray

2009 La foire aux Vins d'Amboise 

The annual summer edition of the Loire aux Vins d'Amboise will be in the cellar tunnel under the Château d'Amboise from today 11th through to Wednesday 15th. Some 15 producers will be pouring their wines. Entry is free, while a tasting glass costs 3€.  

Xavier Frissant, president of Touraine-Amboise, with his son

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A reminder that the Foire aux vins de Vouvray is also on over these next five days. Details of this 50th edition here. 

Vouvray: date for your diary – 50th Foire aux Vins de Vouvray: : 11th-15th August

Entrance to the Caves de la Bonne Dame, Vouvray

The 50th edition of the August Foire aux Vins de Vouvray will be held from Saturday 11th August through to Wednesday 15th August at its traditional home Les Caves de la Bonne Dame in the centre of Vouvray. Opening hours are from 9h-19h each day. Entry is free but it is 5€ to buy a tasting glass. 

This is a good opportunity to taste a range of Vouvray from the very fine to poor.