Hey there, Feastlings.
Burgundy and Bordeaux may be the big name wine regions of France, and we have nothing against them whatsoever, but sometimes, you’ll discover, wines from a less notable region can be every bit as good as those of the heavy-hitting, well-recognized regions, and without the price tag that accompanies notoriety. The Loire Valley is great fun in that they produce Sauvignon Blanc (just like Bordeaux), Cabernet Franc (just like Bordeaux) and Pinot Noir (who knew? Just like Burgundy) and Gamay (Burgundy again), but all more economically than their more those of their better-known counterparts. Plus there’s Chenin Blanc, the Loire’s own claim to fame. Want to taste some? Come join us with Mary Grace Rodarte this Sunday the 27th at 3:30 pm. The tasting is $35 and each wine will be specifically paired with its own tasty bite of food. Make your reservation by calling 326-9363. Regrettably, web and email reservations will not hold you a place.
Le Loire
2010 Clos de Nouys Sec (Chenin Blanc), Vouvray $21.00
Pale yellow in color with silver tints. Fruity with redcurrant and citrus fruit with a note of white flowers. Dry and rich on the palate, well balanced acidity, and aromas of dried fruits.
2012 Les Hospices Sancerre (Sauvignon Blanc) by Pierre Chainier, Sancerre $22.00
White-yellow with silver reflections. Lively and full of fruit, with pleasant aromas, backed up by blackcurrant buds and wild flowers.
2012 Régis Minet Pouilly-Fumé (Sauvignon Blanc), Pouilly-Fumé $24.00
Pouilly-sur-Loire produces one of the greatest Sauvignon Blancs in the world. Régis’ vineyards sit at 750 feet, surrounded by hills on the far east of the Loire River, and centered proudly on the prized limestone and clay of the Kimmeridgian chain. The scattered flint in these vineyards imbues the wines with a character quite distinctive from the neighboring village of Sancerre. In the eloquent words of KLWM Store Manager, Steve Waters, “You couldn’t ask for a cleaner, fresher, flintier, or truer expression of Sauvignon Blanc. Its mouth-watering acidity, depth of flavor, and fleshy texture will have you racing back for more.”
2012 Château d’Epiré Savennières (Chenin Blanc), Savennières $29.00
This vintage was produced on a plot situated right above the Coulée de Serrant. It is made with traditional vinification methods, in old barrels, with regular rackings without malolactic fermentation. This is a frank and rich wine, some would say mineral. A wine that will benefit from a long ageing, two years at least before showing a more integrated structure, it can be laid down even more than 10 years. Honeydew, grass and iodine on the nose; honeysuckle and melon on the palate.
2012 Éric Chevalier Pinot Noir, Vin de Pays du Val de Loire $21.00
Flexible and light weight, nearly to the point of being like a Rosé. Red fruit on the nose, clean and unpretnentious.
2011 Catherine et Pierre Breton”Les Picasses” Chinon (Cabernet Franc), Chinon $27.00
Mature, with olive, fresh herb and tobacco notes out in front of the softening cherry fruit, which glides through the iron-tinged finish.