RJonWine.com

• By Richard Jennings
  2/13/2010 (link) 92 points

  (Domaine de Montcy Cheverny Cuvée Clos des Cendres) Light yellow color; light, tart apple, mineral nose; poised and chiseled, mineral, apple, green apple, chalk palate; medium-plus finish

Garagiste

• By Jon Rimmerman
  8/28/2008 (link)

  (CLOS DES CENDRES Montcy) Clos des Cendres Dear Friends, This is one of the insider gems of the Loire Valley and it is what we now refer to as a blogger's delight. It is the classic example of the modern information highway and what can be done with $0 marketing money and a few good laptops on your side. What was once a wine found only in the eccentric wine bars of Paris has become something of an internet phenomenon - all without the help or knowledge of the owner (they barely have a computer). In today's world, formal scores are almost irrelevant, it's what a causal wine drinker in Cincinnati (or Fairbanks) has to say on his/her blog that matters... The Clos des Cendres is Loire Sauvignon Blanc at it's most delightful (with a dash of other varietals including Romarantin and Chardonnay). The wine is as close to a can't miss white from the region as you will find. It is harmonious, luminescent and brilliant in tone - it walks a pebbly path (rather than a road of rocky stalactites) that gives the pure minerality of this region (Cheverny) a more playful persona but does not overwhelm the taster with piquant and nervous acidity. The Clos des Cendres has been lauded by more than just the internet, it has become a staple in the Guide Hachette and also on the medal circuit. The 2006 follows in the path of the 2005 (or more appropriately, it is a combination of the 2004 and 2005) with its swath of flavor in a delicate shell. With only 11.5-12.5% alcohol, this is the classic French example that would be held for a fine occasion in its home country but is considered an everyday wine in the US (something that continues to mystify the French - most Americans associate quality with price or "special occasion" with price - the French are the opposite, "special occasion" means the best wine, even if it's $10 - something to think about). To them, the Clos des Cendres is a special wine that ages gracefully over 6-8 years and Montcy's regular bottlings would be typical for everyday. To each his own but our goal of offering the finest examples in the world for under $15 is enough for me to recommend this wine 365 days a year regardless of the event or circumstance. In sum, this is a beautiful wine that has become extremely difficult to source due to its limited production and obvious quality. In the past, that would be enough, but the grass-roots groundswell of a new generation has made it something of a sensation. Wine critics? Who needs them when the words of a wine-loving layman in any-city USA hold just as much weight (or maybe even more)... VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED for silly price/value and feminine, floral representation of varietal and site-place We have a terrific price on this wine, about the same as in Angers: 2006 Domaine de Montcy "Clos des Cendres" Cheverny (blanc) Thank you, Jon Rimmerman Garagiste Seattle, WA Loire9370