LOIRE
CAVE DE SAUMUR
The Cave de Saumur is reknowned for quality, regularity, and value. The latest vintages are some of the best that we've brought in. 2008 is a quasi-perfect vintage in all colors. I prefer it to 2005 because I think the ripeness is in better balance with the rest of the wine's attributes. One of the best white Saumurs I've seen at a small fraction of the high-end's price. 2007 produced juicy well-colored reds with friendly tannins for immediate to mid-term enjoyment.
2008 SAUMUR BLANC "RESERVE DES VIGNERONS"
Ripe, juicy, melony, citrusy flowery goodness!
2007 SAUMUR ROUGE "RESERVE DES VIGNERONS"
Deeply purple, with gobs of dark fruit. Excellent acid and warm, friendly tannins.
2007 SAUMUR-CHAMPIGNY "LES POYEUX"
Deeply purple, layers of dark fruits and dusty spices. A very consistent performer over the years.
DOMAINE DE LA ROCHETTE
François Leclair has proven to be an excellent source for a wide range of wines from TOURAINE that are exceptional bargains. Quality is always good, but in vintages like 2008 it approaches superb for a risible price.
2008 TOURAINE SAUVIGNON BLANC
Very pale, nice aromatic intensity, good weight and plenty of zip.
2008 TOURAINE PINEAU D'AUNIS
Gorgeous, electric gris color. Explosive nose, perfect texture. Exuberant, yet very sophisticated rosé. Que demande le peuple?
2008 TOURAINE PINOT NOIR
Surprisingly deep color. Excellent fruity, spicy and earthy nose. Firm friendly tannins with good zip.
2007 TOURAINE PRESTIGE DU VIGNERON" (Cabernet Franc/Côt)
Very deep opaque purple, with a medley of red and dark fruits with spice.
DOMAINE SEBASTIEN RIFFAULT
Something about me wants to hate these wines, and I would if they weren't so completely seductive. I was for some reason naturally hostile and skeptical to the concept of strictly non-interventionist 'natural winemaking' where the wine is literally allowed to make it itself. I was basically dared to taste them by a colleague in France and found my prejudices and preconceptions swept away by the extremely seductive character of these wines, which overwhelms even their strangeness. You won't need to leave your points of reference at the door, they'll be rendered meaningless all by themselves. To me these wines are revelatory. The wines all contain some solids. Don't be afraid of them, they are just part of the deal.
2007 SANCERRE BLANC "AKMENINE"
The name means "Made of Stones" in Lithuanian. 6-9 months in very old (10+) Burgundy barrels. Very bright yellow color. Bonbon anglais, nutty, lightly oxidized. Voluminous, sumptuous and exotic. Incredible length.
2007 SANCERRE BLANC "AUKSINIS"
The name means 'Golden', and that's a fair assessment of the color. 18 months in very old casks. Oxidized, candied nose. Mature, candied fruits. See above x 1.5
2007 SANCERRE BLANC "SKEVELDRA"
The name means "Fragment", and refers to the flinty soils that produce the fruit. About a year in old casks. Bright yellow with a vivid orange-ish edge. Quasi Sherry-like nose. Flavors are quite complex and pretty bizarre but most importantly absolutely and irresistibly delicious. The wine gives so much pleasure that you don't want to swallow it, you just want it to live in your mouth! One usually has to pay a lot more than this for that attribute...
2007 SANCERRE ROUGE "RAUDONAS"
The name means "Red". 18 months in old casks. Deep bricky color. Very ripe, candied, stewed fruit. Tiny prickles, bracing acids. Good volume, if bizarre.
LANGUEDOC-ROUSSILLON
LES COTEAUX DU RIEUTORT
A fairly recent cooperative, founded in 1996. 1250ha of vines are worked by 250 vignerons, providing a rich and varied palette of material going into the wines. From textbook VDPs to Millésime's first Saint-Chinian wine, I am very pleased to have discovered this source.
2008 VDP D'OC "LES GRANJOTS" VIOGNIER
Pale color, this is a really attactive, textbook stainless steel Viognier. Rich and intense with plenty of interest.
2008 VDP D'OC "LES GRANJOTS" GRENACHE ROSE
Delicate salmony color. Explosive fruit, bone dry.
2007 SAINT-CHINIAN ROUGE "LES SCHISTES"
Syrah, Grenache, Carignan. Carbonic for the Syrah. Deep and brilliant, this wine is explosive, intense, lush, silky and way underpriced. Best QPR red out of literally hundreds I tasted in France several months ago.
CHATEAU PLANERES
2007 COTES DU ROUSSILLON BLANC "PRESTIGE"
Tourbat/Rolle/Grenache Blanc. Tourbat is also known as 'Roussillon Malvasia' and was once widely planted in the area. Nowadays it is very very rare. It is a very noble, but late maturing and low-yielding varietal. Gilles Jaubert is a big believer in this grape, which he reintroduced at the the domaine in 1980. A revelation in 'southern whites'
2007 COTES DU ROUSSILLON ROSE "PRESTIGE"
Syrah/Cinsault/Grenache. Dark, meaty, 'structured' rosé that stands up to most foods.
2006 COTES DU ROUSSILLON ROUGE "CHANTAIL" 1L
Syrah/Grenache/Carignan. The Syrah and Carignan are vinified by carbonic maceration. Dark, soft, and juicy but with a decent tannic backbone. It is a great BBQ and paella red.
2006 COTES DU ROUSSILLON ROUGE "PRESTIGE"
Syrah/Mourvedre/Grenache. Deep and brilliant garnet with brambly, plummy and chocolatey fruit. Superb QPR.
2006 COTES DU ROUSSILLON LES ASPRES ROUGE "LA COUME D'ARS"
50% 100 year old Carignan, 30% 45 yo Grenache & Syrah. - This single-vineyard wine is earthy, juicy, big and powerful with attractive dark fruit background and firm tannins. Way undervalued, brownbag this to your next tasting group and blow some minds.
