Loire, France
Tasted Wednesday, June 15, 2022 - Sunday, June 19, 2022 by ThijsV with 298 views
Annual wine trip, this time to the Loire, focused on the Chenin Blanc and Cabernet Franc area. Visits to 1) Taille aux Loups (and Domaine de la Butte) in Montlouis 2) Domaine Huet in Vouvray 3) Domaine Roches Neuves in Varrains 4) Domaine Guiberteau in Mollay 5) Domaine Joly in Savennieres and 6) Domaine Belargus in Val du Layon.
It was ridiculously hot, between 39 and 42 degrees Celsius, which made management of bought bottles an important part of the trip
Before the tasting we visited their monopole Clos de Mosny vineyard together with JP. He showed how they graft, select, prune etc.
After the tasting we visited the sparkling cellars, which are just behind the tasting room
Great restaurant in a very relaxed garden around the mansion. An amazing wine list and an even more impressive underground cellar, which used to be a quarry
Great tasting room, with bottles from great producers from around the world. The highlight though were the kilometers long underground natural cellars with vintages going back several decades!
One Michelin star restaurant, where the tables are set around a 15th century cloister
A rather short tasting, but the possibility to buy a lot of old vintages; the oldest I bought was ‘89. Their mansion is within the Coulée de Serrant vineyard, which is really impressive
Franck (the sales director of their small team of 5) took all the time of the world to show us their important vineyards (the 3 in Quarts de Chaume and Treilles). We also met Ivan, the owner. The possibility to taste from their barrels was truly special! Unfortunately they are so successful that there were hardly any wines to buy at the domaine. Thank you Franck!
An amazing trip wit great winery visits, and although difficult to pick the number one, Belargus was the absolute highlight.
2019 Domaine de la Taille aux Loups Triple Zero 91 Points
France, Loire Valley, Touraine, Montlouis-sur-Loire
(6/16/2022)
[Tasted at Domaine Taille aux Loups] Pale lemon in color with citrus, peach, pear, yeast, brioche. Quite elegant, fine bubble. No suger added (not in liqueur dosage and liqueur d’expidition). 3 years in bottle
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2018 Domaine de la Taille aux Loups Montlouis-sur-Loire Tradition Brut 88 Points
France, Loire Valley, Touraine, Montlouis-sur-Loire
(6/16/2022)
[At Domaine Taille aux Loups] Citrus tones, not too much brioche and a hint of spiritus. High acidity, medium finish. Preferred Triple Zero
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2020 Domaine de la Taille aux Loups Montlouis-sur-Loire Clos de Mosny 91 Points
France, Loire Valley, Touraine, Montlouis-sur-Loire
(6/16/2022)
[At Domaine Taille aux Loups] Complex with citrus tones, apple, lemon, almost sweet while being dry. High acidity, long finish. Great wine, but needs time
91-92+
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2020 Domaine de la Taille aux Loups Montlouis-sur-Loire Les Hauts de Husseau 92 Points
France, Loire Valley, Touraine, Montlouis-sur-Loire
(6/16/2022)
[At Domaine Taille aux Loups] From a vineyard very close to the winery, at the top of the hill near the small village Husseau. Various citrus tones, lemon zest, saline, minerality, yellow ripe fruit, bee wax. Medium+ acidity, long finish. Fantastic wine, curious to see how it will develop. 92+
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2020 Domaine de la Taille aux Loups Vin de France Cuvée Parcellaire Monopole Bretonnière 90 Points
France, Loire Valley, Vin de France
(6/16/2022)
[At Domaine Taille aux Loups] A bit more introvert than Les Hauts de Husseau, deep flavors, still a bit restrained, hint of eucalyptus. This clos (which is Vin de France since 2014 as the Vouvray appellation rules changed) is a ‘slow cooking’ vineyard as Jean Philipe Blot told us, located not south but south east facing the Loire. 90++
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2006 Domaine de la Taille aux Loups Montlouis-sur-Loire 93 Points
France, Loire Valley, Touraine, Montlouis-sur-Loire
(6/16/2022)
[At Domaine Taille aux Loups] Fantastic developed CB from les Hauts de Husseau, although in 2006 it was not yet labeled as such. Classic CB development aromo’s notes such as honey, wool, beewax, but very fresh, alive. Also peach, apple. Very well integrated and just such a joy that you keep sniffing and sipping! High acidity, long finish
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2020 Domaine de la Butte Bourgueil Le Pied de la Butte 89 Points
France, Loire Valley, Touraine, Bourgueil
(6/16/2022)
[At Domaine Taille aux Loups] Their entry level CF, no wood. Quite expressive for such a young wine; cassis, black currant, blackberry. Medium- tannins, medium body, medium finish
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2020 Domaine de la Butte Bourgueil Le Haut de la Butte 91 Points
France, Loire Valley, Touraine, Bourgueil
(6/16/2022)
[At Domaine Taille aux Loups] Deeper than the Pieds de la Butte; cassis, black currant, less fruity, more structure. Medium+ tannins, medium+ finish. 91-92
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2019 Domaine de la Butte Bourgueil Mi-pente 92 Points
France, Loire Valley, Touraine, Bourgueil
(6/16/2022)
[At Domaine Taille aux Loups] From the middle of the slope (between pieds de la butte and les hauts de la butte). Expressive nose, deep black fruit, medium+ tannins, medium+ body, long finish
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2019 Domaine de la Taille aux Loups Montlouis-sur-Loire Moelleux
France, Loire Valley, Touraine, Montlouis-sur-Loire
(6/16/2022)
[At Domaine Taille aux Loups] Made from 15% potential abv grapes. Oranges, lemon, high acidity, very fresh. Despite the 50 g/l RS. Medium+ finish
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1996 Domaine de la Taille aux Loups Montlouis-sur-Loire Cuvée des Loups 93 Points
France, Loire Valley, Touraine, Montlouis-sur-Loire
(6/16/2022)
[At Domaine Taille Aux Loups] A great surprise at the end of the tasting! JP opened this bottle and it’s amazing how fresh it still was while also clearly developed.
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