Salon de Vins de Loire + La Levée de la Loire: Monday 2nd February 2015

  Laurent Herlin, Bourgueil

Marie Chartier-Luneau et Monique Luneau 

(above and below)

Spot that!!

 New joint stand featuring Domaine Pierre Luneau-Papin (Muscadet), Clos des Quarterons (Saint Nicolas de Bourgueil and Bourgueil), Nicolas Grosbois, Domaine Le Rocher des Violettes, Henry Pellé

 

Unusually serious Pierre Luneau of Domaine de Pierre Luneau-Papin

 

 Entrance to the Press Room

 Pierre Ménard, Le Quarts des Noëls, Anjou 

(above and below)

2013 Le Quarts des Noëls, Anjou, Pierre Ménard  

On the basis of his first release – the 2013 Le Quarts des Noëls – Pierre Ménard is an exciting new producer in Anjou. This was one of the wines that stood out in the tasting of Anjou Blancs at the Salon. It is from a small parcel of old vines from the beginning of the 1920s planted on schist in a vineyard (0.2 ha) at Faye d'Anjou that overlooks the Layon. Pierre's 2013 is attractively saline, very clean and precise. It spent 12 months in second-use 225 litre barriques bought from Haut Brion.  

Emmanuel Ogereau taking over from his parents

@Domaine Ogereau   

Yannick Amirault, Domaine Amirault, 

Saint-Nicolas-de-Bourgueil and Bourgueil

 The Wine Sleuth, journalist Denise Medrano

Journalist and writer Carolyn Henry

Vincent Roussely, Domaine Roussely, Touraine 

Richard Desouche, Château de Chaintres, Saumur-Champigny 

Young Bernard Sirot, Vino Magazine

Renaissance tasting, Angers: photos and comments from Sunday

 Morning light on a building just by 

the Greniers de Saint-Jean

 

 François Plouzeau, Domaine de la Garrelière, AC Touraine

on sparkling form!

(above and below)

The whites of François were on austere form today – perhaps they had closed up because of the cold weather. Liked the sparkling – Milliard d'Etoiles.

 The hat is from Paul Smith, Louis-Jean Sylvos is from 

Savoie and has a château in Azay-le-Rideau 

A feather in Louis-Jean's cap!

 

 

Florence Sylvos

Tried their intriguing 2010 Sous Voile Azay-le-Rideau, which spends 18 months – sous voile.  

Olivier Bellanger, Domaine de la Piffaudière, 

Monthou-sur-Cher (AC Touraine)

Picked out his 2013 Nuit Blanche – ripe Sauvignon Blanc (malo fait). Olivier's grandfather was a vigneron. However, the calling skipped a generation as his father was a baker. Olivier has nine hectares in production mainly between Monthou and Thésée. His first vintage was 2009.  

 Paul Gillet, Domaine les Maison Brulées, Pouillé

 Corinne Gillet, Domaine les Maison Brulées, Pouillé

Their 2013 Sauvignon Blancs showing well with intriguing flavours. 

Stéphanie Deboutbertin, Domaine Deboutbertin, Faye d'Anjou 

Tasted two Chenins from 2013 in quite an austere but precise style.   

 Damien Richou, Domaine Richou, Mozé-sur-Louet, Anjou

Range of dry whites impressive as usual – 2014 Chauvigné, 2013 Rogeries and 2013 Savennières  

Stéphane Rocher, Fermé de Montbenault, Faye d'Anjou

Kenji Hodgson

Only had time to taste the attractive 2013 Faia (100% Chenin Blanc), which has good concentration and length.100% Chenin Blanc from vines planted on schist in the commune of Faye-sur-Layon.

 

Mark Angeli remains very suspicious of email but 

now coming round to the idea of an electronic pigeon

Range of the Angeli's whites showing well, especially 2013 La Lune.

Renaissance tasting @Angers yesterday

Carbon neutral tasters making their way to the Renaissance tasting...

Didier Hauret, Domaine Hauret-Baleine

Benoît Blet, Les Terres Blanches, Oiron between Thouars and Loudun

Anne Guégniard, Domaine de la Bergerie, Anjou 

(above and below)

The 2014 Anjou Blanc Sous la Tonnelle is very clean and precise but quite austere at the moment. 

Benjamin Joliveau, Domaine Huet, Vouvray

Jean-Bernard Berthomé, Domaine Huet, Vouvray

Tasting the 2013 Clos du Bourg confirmed my favourable impression when I tasted the three 2013 Huet secs in London a few weeks ago – estate's wines back on track after the disappointing 2012s.   

 

Sylvain Potin  Clau de Nell 

(given the green light!)

Tasted: good ripe, juicy 2012 Grolleau.

Christian Jacques, Clau de Nell 

Tessa Laroche, Domaine aux Moines, Savennières 

Interesting contrast between the austere 2013 and the fatter and richer 2012, which underwent a 30% involuntary malo.

Virginie Joly, La Coulée de Serrant

The 2013 Le Vieux Clos and 2013 La Coulée de Serrant are showing well.

Jean-François Regnier, Domaine Regnier, Meigné

Was impressed by his attractively textured 2012 Saumur Blanc Cuvée de la Guichardière.

Laura Semeria, Domaine de Montcy, Cheverny and Cour-Cheverny

Laura's two 2013 Cour Chevernys – Domaine de Montcy and Plénitude – showing promised but need time in bottle like Cour-Cheverny usually does. 

A different and more complicated pruning system!