The Loire-magedon | The second coming
This time, it’s personal.
I have a tremendous passion for the Loire Valley wines; the thing I like the most about the Loire Valley as a wine producing region, is the incredible diversity of wine styles produced there. Each appellation is different from the next and each appellation has its own style and personality. You will even find a lot of diversity between the wines produced in a specific area. Take Vouvray for example, where Chenin Blanc produces sparkling, dry, semi-sweet, sweet and botrytis affect wines. The Loire is not only a place to get beautiful wines, it’s also the great region in France for value, the wines from this area offer a price to quality ratio that is unheard of anywhere else in the country.
Listed below is a selection of the Loire Valley producers and wines that we currently have in store. I have personally visited and tasted (and thoroughly enjoyed) each wine during one of my annual trips to the Loire Valley. I invite you to discover the wines and to enjoy one of the best kept secrets in the wine world. - Jon Ellison, Marquis Wine Cellars
Philippe Brisebarre – Vouvray
Non-Vintage Vouvray Brut Fines Bulles - $26.90
“Rich and honeyed with a tremendous mousse. This drinks like a Champagne at half the price but it is distinctly Chenin based.”
2007 Vouvray Sec - $23.90
“Vibrant yellow in the glass. Crisp, honey and stone-fruit on the nose. Great length and tremendous presence. Needs a bit of time to unwind.”
2008 Vouvray Demi-Sec - $24.90
“Very pale yellow. Just a hint honey and nuts on the nose with ginger and apples in the mouth. A nice balance between acidity and sweetness make this wine a pleasure to drink.”
2005 Vouvray Moelleux - $37.90
“Brilliant gold with the viscosity you would expect from a moelleux. Cream caramel, brown sugar and sous-bois on the nose, this wine finishes with tremendous length.”
2002 Vouvray Moelleux -$34.90
“Light tawny colour. An expressive nose of honeycomb and hard cheese. Rich and round in the mouth with the faintest hints of mushroom. This wine has a lot of life left ahead of it.”
buy
Philippe Brisebarre has been working at his family estate since he was 12 years old and he is now the third generation of his family to direct this estate. Philippe is a big, imposing man who displays a very deft touch in the winery. His wines display a tremendous balance between power and elegance. Philippe has 15 hectares of vineyards situated in the heart of the Vouvray appellation and you could almost consider Philippe to be the modern saviour of Vouvray. In the late 1980’s the French rail network proposed to build a new route for its high-speed TGV train right through the heart of the Vouvray vineyards. Mr. Brisebarre was having none of this, so he organized demonstrations and rallied local support to preserve the Vouvray vineyards and after a lengthy struggle the vignerons, led by Brisebarre, won their case and the new TGV line was moved. The wines produced at this estate are excellent when young, but benefit from several years of bottle ageing as testified by the 100,000 bottles that Philippe currently has in his cellars. Philippe feels that a few extra years of ageing with his ideal cellar conditions help showcase the best of his wines once they are released for sale.
Domaine Alain Cailbourdin – Pouilly-Fumé
2008 Pouilly-Fumé “Cuvée des Boisfleury” - $29.90
“Pale gold in the glass. Expressive nose of white flowers and minerals. Nice acidity and a crisp, long finish. Enjoy young.”
2008 Pouilly-Fumé “Les Cris” - $31.90
“Muted nose of granny smith apple. Crushed stone and lime in the mouth. Elegant and round, needs a bit of time to soften out.”
2007 Pouilly-Fumé “Triptyque” - $52.90
“From 70 year old vines, this wine has a lot going on. Brilliant yellow in the glass, this wine has as smoky, rich nose. This is a weighty wine, full of ripe stone-fruit and chalk. Savour every mouthful.”
2006 Pouilly-Fumé “Triptyque” -$48.90
“Very similar to the 2007, in profile but a touch more acidity gives this wine a bit of extra freshness.”
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This is one of my favourite estates in the entire Loire Valley. In addition to being one of the nicest winemaker’s you will ever meet, Alain Cailbourdin produces some of the purest and most drinkable Pouilly-Fumé’s you will ever find. Alain has 16 hectares of vines scattered around the commune of Maltaverne, with ages ranging from 6 to 70 years. Alain produces 4 different ‘cuvées’ and each has a unique personality. The “Cuvée des Boisfleury” comes from the youngest vines and this wine tends to be the most openly expressive of Alain’s wines. Meant to be enjoyed in the first 2-3 years of its life. The “Les Cris” comes from limestone dominated slopes, which gives this wine power and structure. This wine needs a bit of time to soften out, but it showcases the minerality of the Pouilly-Fumé terroir perfectly. The “Triptyque” is, quite simply, a beautiful wine. From his oldest vines, Alain ages a quarter of this wine in new 600l barrels with the other three quarters aged in 2, 3 and 4 year old barrels respectively. Alain isn’t trying to dominate the wine with oak, rather the oak is used to increase the intensity of the wine. This is Sauvignon Blanc like you’ve never tried before, the minerality of Pouilly-Fumé combined with a smoky je ne sais quoi. Alain has also recently taken up golf to help relax and I had the pleasure of joining him for a round last February during my annual visit to his estate.
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Domaine de l’Ecu – Muscadet
2006 Expression d’Orthogneiss - $25.90
“This wine has a very mineral nose, with lots of citrus fruits. Crisp and lemony with a broad, sappy, sour-savoury quality. This is delicious.”
2005 Expression d’Orthogneiss - $24.90
“Shades of green with tart, refreshing acidity in the mouth. Dominated by minerals and brine this wine has tremendous precision and length, it just begs for a dozen oysters as an accompaniment.”
2005 Expression de Granite - $25.90
“A hint of green in the glass. With a bright lemony, salty and herb nose. Possessing great depth and complexity, this wine has sea salt and citrus the palette. Very precise but rich with lots of character.”
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Everyone considers Nicolas Joly to be the “Father of Biodynamics” in the Loire Valley, but an argument could be made that Guy Bossard of Domaine de l’Ecu in Muscadet should own that title. Bossard started practicing biodynamic techniques at his estate in 1986 after a full decade of vigorous organic farming. Despite Joly’s fame, I would argue that Bossard’s adherence to biodynamics in Muscadet is much more impressive than Joly’s in Savennière because of the fickle weather and the constant threat of rot that the low lying Muscadet vineyards at the mouth of the Loire are prone to. Most people consider wines produced from Muscadet to be simple, lacking concentration and personality. Bossard’s wines are anything but. His Expression d’Orthogneiss is a bold, mineral driven style wine that has nuances of citrus fruits woven throughout. The Expression de Granite is always an extremely clean wine, with a very subtle hint of under-lying minerality. These wines will change the way you think about Muscadet.
Domaine Stéphane Guion – Bourgueil
2008 Bourgueil “Cuvée Domaine” - $19.90
“Deep purple colour. Low acidity and soft, plumy flavours with tart dark fruit. Nice length and hints of leather and game. This is a such a beautiful little wine, and was a massive hit last year, everyone really seemed to love it.”
2007 Bourgueil “Cuvée Prestige”- $21.90
“Royal purple with a brilliant cherry rim. Black currants and blackberries on the nose. Soft acid and mild tannins. Has a great animal component that is interwoven with hints of smoke and leather.”
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I discovered this producer quite by accident during my first trip to the Loire Valley in 2007. I was having dinner in a restaurant in Saumur and I ordered a half-bottle from Domaine Guion off the wine list and was amazed by the quality. So I wrote the name down in my tasting book and when I returned to the Loire in 2008, I made it a point to visit the estate. Stéphane is a quiet man who produces only two wines from a small cellar located in the courtyard directly behind his house. But don’t let his modest workings deceive you. These are top notch wines that over-deliver in the value department and they are everything a great Bourgueil should be. Both wines are 100% Cabernet Franc and display raspberry and cherry on the palate which mingle with savoury, leathery notes. The big difference between the two wines is the age of the vines (Cuvée Domaine 8 to 30 years old and Cuvée Prestige 35 to 80 years old). This gives the Cuvée Prestige more weight and body, while the Cuvée Domaine retains a freshness that makes it easier to drink young.
Domaine des Huards – Cheverny and Cour-Cheverny (arriving in April 2010)
2009 Cheverny Rosé - $21.90 – approximate price
“A blend of Pinot-Noir 50%, Gamay 40%, Cabemet-Franc 10%. This is a fresh, fruit forward rosé that boasts strawberries and raspberries on the nose and in the mouth. Chill this down and enjoy a pre- meal drink.”
2009 Cheverny Blanc - $21.90 - approximate price
“Dominated by Sauvignon Blanc with a touch of Chardonnay. This wine is fresh and lively with a little bit of weight on the back end. Lemon, lime and a touch of ripe stone-fruit in the mouth. Nice length and a clean finish.”
2007 Cour-Cheverny Blanc - $23.90 - approximate price
“100% Romorantin. A fresh, clean nose gives way to citrus, minerals and a touch of honey in the glass. Reminiscent of a Chardonnay but way more personality and complexity, this wine has a tremendous finish.”
Domaine des Huards lies in heart of the Cour-Cheverny commune, a short distance from the famed castles of Blois, Chambord and Cheverny. The Gendrier family has owned the property since the 1840’s but it wasn’t until the 1950’s that vines were planted. Today, Michel and Jocelyn Gendrier run the estate and their wines always figure prominently in wine competition and receive tremendous accolades in the press. I’ve tasted the wines three years in a row at the Salon des Vins de la Loire and was always impressed with them, but it wasn’t until I had the chance to visit the estate in 2009 that I understood just how committed the Gendrier’s were to producing top notch wine. From their state of the art winery to the irrigation system they installed to use as frost protection, everything about this operation shows a devotion to quality. That plus, I enjoyed driving through the vineyards with Michel in his Audi A8. The Cheverny Rosé is a blend of Pinot Noir, Gamay and Cabernet-Franc. The Chevenry Blanc is mostly Sauvignon Blanc with a touch of Chardonnay to add some weight. The Cour-Cheverny is 100% Romorantin, a grape variety introduced to the region by King François Ier in 1519. For those of you not familiar with Romorantin, and I doubt many will be, it is a sibling of Chardonnay and it produces wines with good concentration and fresh, lively acidity. This grape is extremely rare, only a handful of growers have this grape, and it really is a rare and unique treasure to have found this wine and be able to offer it to you.
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Domaine Huet – Vouvray
Non-Vintage Vouvray Brut Petaillant - $29.90
“Clear gold, its bubble stream is both fine and persistent. Fresh and appetizing aromas and flavors present crisp apples and a pleasing mineral note on the nose and palate.”
2007 Vouvray “Le Mont” Sec - $34.90
“Brilliant, reflective gold in the glass. Fresh and clean with lots of acidity. Round and muscular with beeswax and honey notes. Awe inspiring.”
2007 Vouvray “Le Mont” Demi-Sec - $44.90
“Beautiful gold with yellow highlights around the rim. Rich, expressive nose of ripe apple and brown sugar. A near perfect balance between the acidity and the sweetness. The finish lingers a long time after each sip.”
2007 Vouvray “Le Clos du Bourg” Moelleux - $49.90
“What can I saw about this wine, other than it is simply stunning. Thick and unctuous, this wine is dessert all by itself. Still just a baby, put this down in the cellar for a decade and wait for some maturity.”
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Domaine Huet is arguably Vouvray’s most famous and greatest Domaine (sorry Champalou) and really, one of the greatest wines estates in the world. So it might come as surprise to some to find out that this estate was only founded in 1928 by the Huet family, Victor and son Gaston. Today the estate is managed by Noël Pinguet, Gaston’s son-in-law, but the devotion to the production of world class Chenin based wines remains the same. The estate vineyard holding are composed of three main sites; Le Haut-Lieu, Le Mont and Le Clos du Bourg and in 1988 each of these sites was converted biodynamic viticulture. The range and style of wines produced by the estate varies from year to year and each vineyard site produces wines different from one another. Simply put these are tremendous wines and I cannot recommend them enough. When I first tasted the wines at the Salon des Vins de la Loire in 2007, I was so blown away by the sheer power and complexity of the wines that my tasting notes were rather limited. Here is a brief sample: “excellent”, “simply stunning”, “yum” and “liquid gold in a glass”. Not the most descriptive, but you get the point.
Alphonse Mellot – Sancerre
2007 Sancerre Blanc “La Moussière” 750ml - $39.90
“Fermented half in stainless steel and half in new oak cask, this wine has a delicate balance of freshness and weight. Pale, delicate gold this wine is fresh and lively. Citrus and grapefruit dominate the palette with a nice mineral finish emerging.”
2007 Sancerre Blanc “La Moussière” 1.5L - $94.80
2007 Sancerre Rouge “La Moussière” - $69.90
“Bright plum with a cherry rim. Enticing nose of byng cherry, truffles and baking spice. In the mouth, the vibrant acidity integrates beautifully with the silky tannins. Not quite a Chambolle, but definitely a top notch Pinot Noir.”
2006 Sancerre Blanc “Edmond” - $79.90
“Pale gold yellow in colour with light green sheen. A ripe and floral nose with hints of vanilla, lemon and brioche. Concentrated and extremely pure on the palette with citrus and vanilla filling the mouth. Tremendous focus and purity.”
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Today this famed estate is run by the 18th and 19th generation of Mellot’s, Alphonse Sr. and Alphonse Jr. Alphonse Sr. occupies most of his time attending tastings and conducting tours of the “La Moussiere” facility located in heart of the Sancerre Village. The driving force behind the creation of some of the best wines Sancerre has to offer, both white and red, is Alphonse Jr. Junior is passionate young man who loves what he does and who displays a tremendous level of commitment to making serious wines. In fact when the famed Didier Dagueneau met his un-timely death in September of 2008 just before the harvest, Alphonse Jr. stepped up and ran the harvest for the Dagueneau family. I always enjoy my visit to the labyrinthine cellar each year. You spend a lot of time walking from room to room, up stairs, down stairs, through hallways. They seem to have wine and tanks scattered under half the town. The wines speak for themselves, from their introductory “La Moussière” to the stunning “Edmond”, you would be hard pressed to find a better Sancerre producer. Also don’t discount their Sancerre Rouge. Made from 100% Pinot Noir, Alphonse Jr. told me his aim is to rival the best Pinot’s produced in Burgundy. Not a small task, but give one a try and I think you will agree with me that he is well on his way to accomplishing his goal.
Domaine Michaud – Touraine
2008 Touraine Rosé -$18.90
“Delicate salmon in colour. Fresh and lively, this wine smells like a basket of field berries. Good length with a bone dry finish.”
2008 Touraine Blanc - $19.90
“A slight green tint to this wine with golden reflections. Citrus fruits and grapefruit on the nose. Similar flavour profile in the mouth as on the palate. Fresh and lively acidity make this a pleasure to drink.”
Non Vintage Crémant de Loire - $24.90
“A blend of 50% Chardonnay, 20% Pinot Noir, 20% Cabernet Franc and 10% Chenin Blanc. The nose is dominated by honey, lemon and lime. Creamy and mouthfilling, this wine has very fine bubbles. Finishes with a touch of toasty and leasy notes.”
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I first read about these wine in the 2008 edition of Les Meilleurs Vins à petits prix (best wines at small prices), while preparing for my 2008 trip. The description of the estate and wines intrigued me and I decided that I should visit the estate. Setting up a visit to the estate was easy, finding it tucked amongst the vineyards on the north bank of the Cher river proved to be another thing. Finally after driving around identical looking rows of vines on the outskirts of Noyers-sur-Cher for a half hour, I finally stumbled across a small sign with a arrow that pointed me to my goal. Fortunately my exertions were not in vain, as I was very impressed by the quality of the entire range of wines produced at the estate. Thierry Michaud is dedicated to producing top quality wines, at bargain prices. These wines are seriously under-valued and provide tremendous drinking enjoyment for their price. The Rosé is a four way blend of Cab Franc, Cab Sauv, Côt (malbec to you) and Pineau d’Aunis. The Blanc is 100% Sauvignon Blanc, done in a crisp and refreshing style, while the Crémant has a tremendous mouthfeel and a very creamy mousse.
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Domaine Octavie – Touraine
2008 Touraine Sauvignon Blanc - $18.90
“Pale gold. Intense nose of gravel and white flowers. Lively acidity with grapefruit, gooseberry and lime in the mouth. Clean and precise a pleasure to sip.”
2008 Touraine Gamay - $18.90
“Vibrant purple. Nose of ripe strawberries and other berries. Soft mouthfeel with good acidity. Fruity and light, you could almost serve this one with a slight chill.”
Touraine Fines Bulles Brut “Cuvée Pauline” - $24.90
“This blend is dominated by Chardonnay, Chenin Blanc and a touch Pinot Noir. Intense gold in the glass. Ripe tropical fruit notes with honey and nutty characters. Fine mouse, nice finish and surprising length.”
Touraine Fines Bulles Brut Rosé “Cuvée Pauline” - $24.90
“Made from 100% Pineau d’Aunis. Ripe grapefruit colour in the glass. Nose of pepper and tropical fruits. Superfine, almost creamy mousse. Strawberry and raspberry on the palatte. Reminds me of cream soda without the sweetness.”
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Of all my additions to our Loire portfolio, I might be the most proud of this discovery. The wines produced by Isabelle and Noë Rouballay at Domaine Octavie are everything a great Touraine wine should be. The whites are fresh, clean and lively. The reds are fruity and well structured. The bubble, white and rosé, have zippy acidity and their mousse fills every corner of your mouth and well, the prices just can’t be beat. Finding these wines occurred pretty much by mistake. On the first day of my first trip to the Salon des Vins de la Loire, I was wandering around aimlessly in the Salon, just trying to get my bearings. I was over-whelmed by the sheer number of producers and people in attendance and quite frankly I was in need of a place to start. I happened to duck into the Domaine Octavie booth and what a fateful decision that was. I sampled their entire line-up and was blown away by the quality of the wines. These were exactly the type of wines that were on my radar and I am very happy to have them back in store for the fourth year running.
Domaine des Ouches - Bourgueil
2008 Bourgueil Rosé - $21.90
“Very delicate pink in colour. Nose of ripe strawberries. Fresh and clean with great acidity.”
2008 Bourgueil “Igoranda” - $24.90
“Deep cherry core with a cherry rim. Bright red fruits, fresh raspberry and a gravel quality on the palette. Good acidity and a pleasure to drink. Needs some food, but I like the rustic edge it displays when consumed by itself.”
2006 Bourgueil “Les Clos Boireaux” - $29.90
“100% Cabernet Franc that underwent a one month fermentation and then aged in 3 to 6 year old barriques for 1 year. A subtle nose of blackberries and cacao, delivers on the palate with an expressive mouthfeel of more of the same with a long finish rounded out with silky tannins.”
2004 Bourgueil “Grande Reserve” - $35.90
“90% Cabernet Franc and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, with the fruit sourced from vines ranging in age from 50 to100 years old. A 29 day fermentation was followed with the malolactic fermentation completed in oak barrels, the wine was then aged in “barrique” for 14 months. Deep purple in colour with notes of spice, toast and sous-bois. Thick and round with a slight rusticity, this wine needs 4-5 years to soften out.”
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These wines were introduced to me by Alain Cailbourdin in 2007 when I was having lunch with him and his family. Domaine des Ouches is owned and run by the Gambier family who are great friends of Alain. We enjoyed a bottle of the 1998 Grand Reserve and I was thoroughly impressed by how well the wine had aged. With this in mind, when I returned to France in 2008 I made it a point to visit Domaine Des Ouches and I was not disappointed with my decision. The entire line-up of wines that the Gambier’s produce are what Cabernet Franc based wines are all about, they have the tart dark fruit and the underlying minerality that I expect from a Loire Valley red. When I drink a great Bourgueil or Chinon I want to feel like I am licking raspberry jam off a blackboard and that is exactly the experience I have when drinking these wines. These are classically style Bourgueil’s that need a bit of time and are generally best enjoyed with a meal.
Domaine Henry Pellé – Menetou Salon
2007 Menetou-Salon Blanc “Bornes” - $27.90
“This wine draws fruit from many vineyards around Morogues. 100% Sauvignon Blanc, it is a pale yellow. Crisp and round with honey and ripe melon flavours.”
2007 Pouilly-Fumé - $33.90
“Very clear with hints of green. White flower and crushed stone on the nose. Citrus and chalk on the palette with a slight hint of sea salt.”
2007 Menetou-Salon Rouge “Morogues” - $32.90
“Deep crimson. Raspberry dominates the nose. Earthy and dark chocolate in the mouth. Firm tannins and a good lengthy finish make this wine a real treat. This Pinot reminded of an homage to the great Pinots of Oregon.”
2007 Menetou-Salon Blanc “Clos Ratier” - $34.90
“A serious wine. Delicate gold in the glass that reflects the light brilliantly. Lively stone fruit with lots acidity. A refreshing wine to drink, this needs a bit of time in the bottle to round itself out.”
2005 Menetou-Salon Rouge “Les Cris” - $36.90
“Deep cherry in colour. Intensely aromatic nose that smells of forest floor. More of the same in the mouth with a touch of raspberry. This wine saw some time in new oak but it does not dominate. Big and robust in style, this easily matches any good village Burgundy in quality.”
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Located about a 15 minute drive west of Sancerre, the Menetou-Salon appellation is a virtually unknown outside of France a quality wine producing region. I always like to think of the wines produced in Menetou Salon as “baby Sancerre”. The soil is similar to that of Sancerre, as are the grape varieties (Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir) and you would be hard pressed to distinguish between the wines produced in each region in a blind tasting. Domaine Henry Pellé is easily the star of this appellation and they have been producing stellar wines since 1959. Today the estate is headed by Anne Pellé while her son Paul-Henry is in charge of wine-making with the assistance of consulting oenologist Julien Zernott. The wines produced by this estate are vibrant, rich in flavour and full of character. I would especially consider trying a Menetou-Salon rouge as it is pretty hard to find a better Pinot Noir in that price point.
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Domaine Pierre Luneau-Papin – Muscadet
2007 Muscadet Sevre et Main Sur Lie - $19.90
“A slight hint of green and gold in the glass. This wine is everything a top notch Muscadet should be. Pure, fresh flavours of citrus, sea salt and granny smith apple abound. A nicely rounded wine with a surprisingly long finish.”
2007 Muscadet “Le L d’Or” - $24.90
“Virtually crystal clear in the glass. The nose exhibits notes of citrus, pear and nuts. Fresh, focused and direct in the mouth with flavours of saline and melon. As you sip this wine, you are reminded of standing on a windswept beach. Enjoy now or keep it for a few years and watch it mature.”
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My visit to this estate last year completely changed the way I thought about wine produced in Muscadet. This estate has started to focus on the individual ‘terroirs’ of Muscadet and are producing several single vineyard and ‘lieux dit’ wines. Pierre-Marie, the young winemaker, is experimenting with some of the wines by leaving them on their lees longer and doing softer batonnage in an attempt to add weight and muscle to the wines while maintaining the delicacy that is the hallmark of a great Muscadet. The Muscadet produced here are not your typical thin, watery wines. Rather, they have substance, style and personality. Perhaps the greatest shock I received during my visit was a blind tasting of a 1976 Muscadet from magnum. It was gold in colour (reminiscent of a Meursault) and yet, it was still fresh and lively on the palete. I could not believe that a wine produced in Muscadet could age so well or so long. You have to give these wines a try as they will completely change the way you think about Muscadet.
Domaine de la Renaudie - Touraine
2008 Perle de Rosé - $17.90
“Made from 100% Pineau d’Aunis. Vibrant pink in the glass. Nose of candied grapefruit and bubblegum. Fresh and aromatically enticing this wine has great acidity and nice dry finish.”
2008 Touraine Sauvignon Blanc - $18.90
“Gold in colour. Citrus, minerals and white flowers on the nose. More of the same on the palette with ripe melon flavours emerging. Vibrant acidity and good length, makes this wine a tremendous value.”
2008 Touraine Rouge “Cuvée Albert Denis” - $18.90
“From 100% Côt. Rich, intense purple in the glass. Expressive nose of tart dark fruit. More of the same in the mouth with a slightly rustic feel. This is a mid body wine that has softer tannins and it is very easy to enjoy by itself.”
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This Domaine is run by the husband and wife team of Patricia and Bruno Denis and Patrica is the sister of Isabelle Rouballay of Domaine Octavie. The Denis’ have 24 hectares of vines clustered around the village of St. Aignan which is located on the south bank of the Cher river and they are pretty much at the southern most part of the Touraine appellation. All the wines produced at this estate display lively aromatics and a richness that you might not normally associate with the wines of Touraine. Their Touraine Sauvignon Blanc is great as an aperitif, but it also serves as a great accompaniment to fish and poultry dishes. My favourite wine produced here is the “Cuvée Albert Denis”, which is 100% Côt. Most of you would know Côt by its more familiar name of Malbec. This wine is very fruit forward for a Loire Valley red and provides immense drinking pleasure. It has cherry and red fruits aromas and it delivers more of the same on the palete which makes it ideal to have on its own or with game and cheese.
Domaine du Roncée – Chinon
2006 Chinon “Clos des Marronniers” - $30.90
“Medium purple in the glass. Dark fruits and byng cherry on the nose. Black currant, graphite, earth and tobacco on the nose. Aged in 2 and 3 year old barriques, this is a wine that begs for food. Medium bodied with a nice, firm finish.”
2005 Chinon “Côteau des Chenanceaux” - $44.90
“Deep, purplish colour in the glass. Bright red fruits and pencil shavings on the nose. On the palette, this wine exhibits tart red fruits and a bit of lush blackberry. Everything is underpinned by a nice mineral edge. Partially aged in new oak, this wine needs a few years to smooth itself out but it is still a pleasure to drink now.”
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Domaine du Roncée is just one of the properties owned by Baudry-Dutour, but it is perhaps the best. Created when Christophe Baudry and Jean-Martin Dutour joined forces, this Domaine is situated on some of the best land in all of Chinon. I have always enjoyed the wines from this estate as they are classic examples of a what Chinon should be. The Clos des Marronniers is a pretty, fruit forward style wine that showcases woodland fruits and a hint of sous-bois, while the “Côteau des Chenanceaux” is a Chinon on steroids, reminiscent more of a Bourgueil. Fruit driven with an underlying minerality, this wine needs some time.
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To view our entire and extensive selection of Loire Valley wines, please follow the link below:
http://www.marquis-wines.com/Loire_c_606.html