Some recently tasted bottles – Loire and elsewhere

 

2011 Fié Gris, Eric Chevalier 

A quick round up of some recent bottles tasted, drunk and enjoyed mainly but not exclusively from the Loire.  

2011 Fié Gris, Eric Chevalier, Domaine de l'Aujardière 

I'll happily admit to having a fondness for Fié Gris, otherwise known as Sauvignon Rose or Sauvignon Gris and, in particular, for the Fié Gris from Eric Chevalier. The 2011 certainly didn't disappoint as my notes suggest:

'Shape of bottle is much more Alsace or Austrian than Loire, so in a way is the wine. Softly textured, lightly spicy rich fruit. Has none of the aggressive assertiveness sometimes shown by its near relation Sauvignon Blanc. Soft agrume in finish. Attractive stylish wine.'

 

 2008 Sancerre Rouge, François Crochet (above and below – back label)

Delicious and delicate red fruits with a lovely fresh finish, this is a fine example of Pinot Noir from Sancerre. This is François Crochet's domaine cuvée with the emphasis on the fruit and is I think typical of 2008 that touch of austerity in the finish that is unlikley to be found in 2009.    

2011 Sancerre Blanc, Domaine La Croix Canal, Tinel-Blondelet  

Stocked by Jascots in the UK, this Sancerre has an attractively opulent texture, good length and in common with many 2011s light acidity.  

 

2011 Tradition, Muscadet Sèvre-et-Maine, Les Grands Presbytères

Nicely zippy Muscadet from the Gadais family with a real sur lie prickle in the finish. 

 

 2009 Rasteau, Domaine de Pisan (above and below)

As you would expect from the Southern Rhône this Rasteau has powerful black fruits with a slightly baked character – quite heady stuff! The back label is more poetic than informative.  

 

2012 Mes Vignes de Saint Paul, Jean-Louis Denois

A couple of wines from Jean-Louis Denois from vines in the Fenouillet. Jean-Louis established his reputation with Domaine de l'Aigle, part of which he sold to Antonin Rodet, who then subsequently sold to Gérard Bertrand.  

The white is soft, very clean and fresh with honeysuckle fruit and fair length, while the red is juicy and easy drinking with bright red fruits.

2010 Pouilly-Fumé Tinel-Blondelet + 2009 Chinon Château de la Grille

2010 Pouilly-Fumé, Domaine Tinel-Blondelet

Two recent samples tasted: 2010 Pouilly-Fumé from Domaine Tinel-Blondlet and the 2009 Chinon from Château de la Grille (Baudry-Dutour).

2010 Pouilly-Fumé, Domaine Tinel-Blondelet

Attractively fresh, citric and yellow plum character – mid-weight wine. Not particularly complex but agreably refreshing was a good match with an open prawn sandwich.  Should not be served too cold. From Jascots – £16.20 a bottle or £14.58 for case of 12. 

 

The 2009 Chinon, Château de la Grille (Baudry-Dutour) is the first vintage made by the Baudry-Dutour team having bought the estate at the beginning of 2009. Full of softly textured, ripe black fruits this is a mid-weight Chinon and while easy and enjoyable to drink lacks that extra complexity that would make it more memorable. The tannins are certainly riper, softer and rounder than in previous vintage of La Grille, which have always tended to be rather angular. It will be interesting to see how subsequent vintages show when the Baudry-Dutour team have had a chance to work more fully on the vineyards.   

Christophe Baudry and Jean-Martin Dutour have chosen to keep the estate's traditional bulbous bottle. I'm afraid I think this bottle very impractical the lip is too small to allow a traditional waiter's friend to pull the cork. The bottle is heavy and difficult to hold unless you have very large hands.