Category Archives: Loire
Chenin Blanc, David Monopole, Arnaud Lambert, Brézé, Saumur AOC, Loire Valley, France, 2020, 13.9% abv., US$88
In September 2023, we dropped into Monterey, California for the Rennsport 7 Reunion, a kind of convention for Porsche enthusiasts. On the last night, and to celebrate 20 years of being together, we dined at ‘Passionfish’. We are no slouches … Continue reading
Chenin Blanc, Clos de la Coulée de Serrant, Appellation Savennières – Coulée de Serrant Contrôlée, Savennières, Loire Valley, France 2010, 15% abv., US$68.70 (in 2014)
I read a lot about wine, and the one thing that consistently irritates me about so many reviews is the fawning, oh-my-god-this-wine-is-amazing accolades that many churn out. The thing though is that, truly, there are many wines of the world … Continue reading
Loïc Mahé, Gourmandise du Gue d’Orger, Savennières, Loire Valley AoC, France, 12.5% abv, 2015, US$20
Straight from Savennières in the Loire Valley comes this precise, biodynamic red wine made of Cabernet Franc by Loïc Mahé. On the eyes, it’s translucent ruby with a nose of light raspberry and strawberry, with green leaf, schist and earth. … Continue reading
Cabernet Franc, Les Muriers, Anjou Villages AC, Loïc Mahé, Loire Valley, France, 12.5% abv. 2013, US$20
These are a few of my favourite things. From a site located in the western part of Savennières and north of the Loire River, Brittany native Loïc Mahé grows bio/organic grapes on shale soils and makes unfiltered wines fermented with natural … Continue reading
Domaine Huet, Le Mont, Sec, Vouvray AC, France, 2011, 13.5% abv. US$30
Do a quick search on this site and you’ll find five other reports on Huet wines that I’ve enjoyed over the past several years, as well as an accounting of our trip there in June 2014. One of my favourite … Continue reading
Sauvignon Blanc, Le Tronsec, Joseph Mellot, Pouilly-Fumé, Loire, France, 2013, 12.5% abv. C$35
We stopped into the Joseph Mellot storefront in the centre of Sancerre when visiting the Loire in September 2014. So, when looking for a Sauvignon Blanc recently, purchasing this white wine classic was an easy decision. The grapes for this … Continue reading
Domaine Huet, Clos du Bourg, Moelleux, Première Trie, Vouvray AC, Loire, France, 2002, 12.5% abv, US$ 45 (half bottle)
Chenin Blanc is one of the most versatile grapes. This wine is a botrytised, sweet version from Domaine Huet located in Vouvray, Loire Valley, France. If you actually knew what these grapes look like when picked, you may not want to … Continue reading
Domaine Huet, Clos du Bourg, Sec, Vouvray AC, Loire, France, 2011, 13.5% abv.
These are a few of my favourite things – the Loire Valley, Domaine Huet and Chenin Blanc. We visited this classic biodynamic benchmark winery in June 2014 but opened this bottle in July 2015. A second bottle was opened in October 2015 (notes … Continue reading
Génération Dix-Neuf, Sauvignon Blanc, Alphonse Mellot, Sancerre AC, Loire Valley, France, 2012, 13% abv.
We visited this tasting room in the heart of Sancerre in June, 2014. Although I’d booked a personal appointment well in advance, no tour was offered and we simply did the regular tasting with their store employee – who was … Continue reading
Notre Histoire, Bourgueil AC, Domaine de L’Oubliée, Loire, France, 13% abv, 2011
This is a wine made by Xavier Courrant who used to work in Paris as a wine retailer. In 2009 he purchased 6 ha of vines (five Cabernet Franc and one Chenin Blanc) in Bourgueil near Saint-Patrice and went to … Continue reading
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