Loire Valley Tasting

Tasted Monday, July 2, 2012 by wickedwax with 487 views

Introduction

Not having a chance to do a themed tasting with friends for awhile, we figured to do a Loire tasting. While I initially wanted to represent a lot of different regions, Loire is a bit too large to try to get it all in one shot. So it wound up being a Central Loire tasting and even then there were many parts that didn't get represented. Just means we'll have to do another one some time.

Flight 1 - Sparkling (1 Note)

  • NV Foreau Domaine du Clos Naudin Vouvray Brut Cuvée 2004-2005

    France, Loire Valley, Touraine, Vouvray

    Persistent bead of fine bubbles. Aromas of apples, white flowers, pie dough and minerals. Dry and well-balanced with slight creaminess in texture with very good acidity. A really good sparkling Vouvray and a great start to an afternoon of drinking Loire wines.

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Flight 2 - Whites (2 Notes)

  • 2010 François Chidaine Sauvignon Touraine

    France, Loire Valley, Touraine

    Aromas of orchard fruit, grass and a touch of tropical fruit. Very much in the Touraine style of Sauvignon being a little more round and richer than its Eastern Loire counterparts, but with good acidity and nice balance. Decent length.

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  • 2010 Domaine du Fresche Anjou Coteaux de le Loire

    France, Loire Valley, Anjou-Saumur, Anjou

    Labeled as moelleux, and as such I probably would have recommended having this at the end of the night had I known that earlier. Aromas of quince, white flowers and stone fruit. Quite big and rich and concentrated as one would expect from a late harvest Chenin with a fair amount of RS, but with good acidity to keep it from being cloying. Just a baby at this stage.

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Flight 3 - Reds (4 Notes)

  • 2010 Domaine Philippe Tessier Cheverny Le Point du Jour

    France, Loire Valley, Touraine, Cheverny

    Aromas of bright, high-toned red fruit with some herbs, blue flowers and minerality. Nicely smooth textured with light tannins over a light body with very nice juicy acidity. Not complex, but nicely balanced and well made. Fair length. An enjoyable alternative to a Passetoutgrains.

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  • 2006 Domaine des Rochelles (J Y A Lebreton) Anjou-Villages Brissac

    France, Loire Valley, Anjou-Saumur, Anjou-Villages Brissac

    Aromas of lower toned red and some black fruit, tobacco and earth. Still fairly primary with a medium-bodied frame, it has good acidity to keep it well balanced. Still has some grippy tannins that are a touch on the rustic side, but it has quite good depth and length. A solid Anjou.

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  • 1995 Joël Taluau Saint-Nicolas-de-Bourgueil Vieilles Vignes

    France, Loire Valley, Touraine, Saint-Nicolas-de-Bourgueil

    From magnum. Aromas of dried red fruit, bell pepper, blue flowers and earth. Mature; medium-bodied with resolved tannins to make for a velvety soft texture. Finessed and well-balanced with good acidity. Very good length. Terrific -- I preferred this over a magnum of Couly-Dutheil's 1995 Clos de l'Echo.

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  • 1995 Couly-Dutheil Chinon Clos de l'Echo

    France, Loire Valley, Touraine, Chinon

    From magnum and tasted alongside a 1995 Taluau St. Nicholas de Bourgueil Vielle Vignes. Darker in color with lower toned red fruit and some dark fruit, tobacco, forest floor and earth. Still has just a touch of tannic grip and a little more body than the Taluau. More concentrated, but with less finesse. Very good, but I preferred the Taluau.

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