Souvenir from 2011 vintage – Frédéric Filliatreau assessing some Cabernet Franc

Frédéric Filliatreau (above and below) 

Domaine Filliatreau

Café de la Promenade (Bourgueil): Joseph and Filliatreau

 Dominique Joseph (Le Petit Saint-Vincent, Saumur)

 tasting his 2012 nobile, Saumur (below)

Saturday 5th April: dropped into Café de la Promenade for lunch where Dominique Joseph and Frédéric Filliatreau were having lunch with their wives. The 2012 nobile (100% Chenin) Le Petit Saint Vincent was showing very well.

Frédéric Filliatreau (Domaine Filliatreau)

Ludo Ragot of Café de la Promenade pouring wine

Frédéric Filliatreau: one man who seems optimistic@2014!

Let's follow and applaud Frédéric Filliatreau's (Domaine Filliatreau) apparent optimism (captured at this year's Salon des Vins de Loire) for 2014 and hope that we see a vintage with reasonable yields that make being a wine producer in the Loire economically viable.  

Matthew Jukes curator of 100 Most Iconic Wine Estates

Matthew Jukes: Quintesstially's 100 Most Iconic Wine Estates

Matthew's Quintesstially's 100 Most Iconic Wine Estates was published by Quintesstentially Publishing at the end of 2012 priced at £30. 

Naturally Matthew's selection spans the entire wine world: from California to Australia and New Zealand by way of Europe and South Africa.

Matthew Jukes tasting

From the introduction:

'The wine world is ever changing, but these estates can be relied upon to make stellar wines year in, year out – they are the shimmering bedrock of the wine world. Showcasing an incredible array of grape varieties, regions and countries, with hypnotic aromas and devastating flavours there are sublime creations on every page. All are unique, celebrating their exact position on our planet and fashioning delicious wines which entrance our senses. A fair few of the pioneers mentioned within these covers have changed the paradigm of winemaking in their sphere. There are wines here that don't cost the earth and that bring great joy; nestling comfortably next to those whose rarity and cost are truly breath-taking. These are also all wines that I would love to have in my own collection; forming the most complete and balanced cellar that I can design.'  

     Bernard and Matthieu Baudry, Domaine Bernard Baudry

There are five Loire estates selected: Bernard Baudry, Filliatreau, Huet, Jacky and Jean-Philippe Blot, and François Cotat. 

 Frédéric Filliatreau testing Cabernet Franc during 2011 vintage@Brézé

 Noël Pinguet, Domaine Huet during the 2010 vendange   

Jacky Blot in Bourgueil@La Butte

Domaine François Cotat – 'closed'  

On Huet, Matthew comments: 'Until recently the estate was run by Gaston's son-in-law Noël Pinguet and with the security of substantial investment it looks set to cruise into the next generation, with winemaking controlled by local lad Benjamin Joliveau and long time cellar-master Jean-Bernard Berthomé.'

I trust that Matthew's optimism is well placed here but given the nature of Noël's departure in February 2012 questions for the moment hang in the air.   

  

2011 Salon des Vins de Loire: some more photos

Abel Osorio (Nau Frères, Bourgueil)

The very fine 2008 Vieilles Vignes, Bourgueil, Nau Frères

Alphonse Mellot, jnr with Génération XIX

Edouard de la Palme with his AC Touraine Blanc (100% Chenin) 

Sebastien du Petit Thouars with the 2008 Reserve AC Touraine (100% Cabernet Franc)

Both the wines pictured from Edouard and Sébastien will be outlawed from AC Touraine if the idiotic reforms of the appellation come into force. Why you might ask. Simple! They are made respectively from 100% Chenin Blanc and 100% Cabernet Franc. The new regulations will not permit Touraine wines to be made from pure Chenin or pure Cabernet Franc. That these wines come from very close to  the birthplace of François Rabelais, the great promoter and lover of wines made from these two varieties, and that they are archetypal Loire varieties doesn't matter a jot to the Ayatollahs of eastern Touraine!

Frédéric Filliatreau (Domaine Filliatreau, Saumur and Saumur-Champigny)

Gérard Cherrier (Château de Sancerre)


Comte Henry d'Assay pouring his Château de Tracy (Pouilly-Fumé)

Henry Marionnet (Domaine de la Charmoise)

 

Utter nonsense Mr Ray!

I have recently received a review copy of Jonathan Ray's 64-page new book: How to buy wine – all you need to know to choose the right bottle every time published by Ryland Peters & Small £9.99

I was dismayed to read on the Loire page:

'Not so good for: Big, full flavoured reds. Forget it, there are none.'

Jonathan I'll give you that there aren't any Barossa style reds but there are plenty of full flavoured reds including some from your recommended producers such as Filliatreau and Vacheron (La Belle Dame).'

Very disappointing to see such nonsense continues to be written and published.

Salon des Vins de Loire: more photos

Neil Sommerfelt MW, buying director for the Jeroboams Group UK, makes
his final offer to Florent Baumard, Domaine Baumard

Arnaud and Yves Lambert, Domaine de Saint-Just, Saumur and Saumur-Champigny

Saumur and Saumur-Champigny producers Frédéric Filliatreau
and Patrice Retif share a joke with Bernard Sirot,
one of Belgium's most eminent wine journalists.

Antoine Sanzay, one of Saumur's rising stars, behind his stand

Saumur-Champigny: Jean-Luc Mary (Domaine de la Cune)
and Alain Duveau (Domaine des Sables Verts )

Vini-be-Good stand

Touraine

Olivier Poussier, famous sommelier and consultant,
passing through Anjou-Brissac area à grand vitesse.

The Roblin brothers from Maimbray, Sancerre and a friend modeling a rather vivid cardigan

Vouvray stand

Various caves-cooperatives inc Châteaumeillant

Neil and Florent: negotiations continue......