Salon des Vins de Loire, 2011

 Tasting within the disembodiement of the shows, under flourescents and on carpeted topped off cement was wearing on my nerves. But with pencil and hand, trying not to be sullen, I was soon happy enough at the Salon des Vins de Loire.  2010 was certainly a year, fortune smiled on the the Loire, from Nante to Sancerre. 

Domaine Le Grange Tiphaine in Ambroise/Tourainne/(and some Montlouis); Damien & Coralie are pure adorableness and also have some lovely old vines. The 2010s are fantastic. Straight up and down beauts. Of particular note; Le Clef du Sol, chenin from Montlouis. Le Clef du Sol from Ambroise, 35 % Côt and 65 % Cabernet franc from clay and limestone (fresh bitten, tart berry) and the old vines Cot. Really, you can't go wrong. Lovely wines. (Jenny & Francois)
 

Domaine Baudry From the amazing Chinon domaine. Brilliant in both 2009 and 10. As one would expect, lush in '09, structure in '10. I'll be laying down some of both. Which ones? Les Grezeaux (clay and gravel stone, sour noise, crushed eggshell nose. Round in the middle with some sort of other worldly-like dimension.) Les Granges? Sure! Rich and acid with plenty of flesh. In  general, can't wait for them to lose their baby fat. (LDM)

 I forgot about Sancerre, but tasting at Domaine Vacheron and Vincent Gaudry reminded me to remember. Beautiful wines. I always do like Vacheron, but this time, Gaudry was a revelation.  

Gaudry's Le Tournebride was yes, extremely ripe but stony, apricot and acid.  The Vielle Vignes was killer: fresh old ladies perfume, wild.  

Vincent also showed some pretty, pretty sancerre rouges.

'09 Vincengétorix: sancerre rouge. Powdery, Chanel #5- like, with low fruit and high texutre.  

'08 Les Sang des Serfs; smoke, whole cluster gorgeousness that was so damned thrilling. Lots of acid and vibrancy.  Sadly, only 500 bottles. 

 

+Honorable mention: Clos Cristal.  They've changed their farming and the wines are begining to sink. I particularly liked the youngest and freshest that sees no wood... their 2009. Brett lover alert, just a touch. Zingy acid. The 2010s were all pre-malo, hard to tell but looks promising.

+ Really did like theseDomaine de la Chevalerie 2009    

Any of them, and the winemaker is so adorable. She reminds me of a cross between Pascaline and my publisher's daughter Marie.

Comments

[Jimsloire.blogspot.com]

Hi Alice. Thanks for the notes. Sorry to have missed you at the Salon. Best wishes Jim