A Centre Loire study: seven wines, red and white
Tasted these Centre Loire wines together. It’s an interesting region and there are lots of good terroirs here. I visited this year and it’s a region I am watching closely.
Jospeh Mellot Sincérité Sauvignon Blanc 2022 Loire
12.5% alcohol. (This is £15.99 Laithwaites: the winery is based in Sancerre but it’s not clear where the grapes come from.) This is light, grassy and fruity with a stony, mineral edge to the bright pear and lime fruit. Zesty and a bit pithy, with nice presence. 87/100
Domaine Naudet Sancerre 2022 Loire
12.5% alcohol. This is textured and appealing with a lovely core of lemon and mandarin fruit, with a twist of elderflower and nice weight in the mouth, with good acidity on the finish. Open and fruity but with nice mineral detail. 90/100
Mathilde de Favray Pouilly Fumé 2022 Loire
13.5% alcohol. this is in Marks & Spencer. Aromatic and appealing with pear and mandarin as well as a touch of passionfruit. The palate has nice open, supple fruit with some elderflower and pear, as well as a lemony brightness. Lots of interest here. 91/100
Domaine de Chevilly Quincy La Licorne d’Or 2022 Loire
13% alcohol. There’s a lovely fruity quality to this wine, with lemons, mandarins, table grapes and some passionfruit. Aromatic and quite broad with lovely balance and a sense of ease. Such nice balance to the fruit. 90/100
Villargeau La Clé des Vignes 2022 Coteau du Giennois, Loire, France
13.5% alcohol. Organic farming. This is fruity and expressive with bright pear and citrus fruit, showing some passionfruit richness and a slight stony savouriness on the finish. So expressive, and a little understated. 90/100
Domaine André Vatan Sancerre Rouge Maulin Bèle 2022 Loire, France
13% alcohol. A beautiful example of Pinot Noir from Sancerre’s limestone soils. Fruity and expressive with supple red cherry and plum fruit, with some redcurrant hints and a twist of sour cherry on the finish. Lovely purity here: a very expressive wine of real purity. 93/100
Denis Jamain Reuilly Rouge Les Pierres Plates 2022 Loire, France
13% alcohol. A supple, expressive Pinot Noir offering sweet cherries and plums with a twist of sour cherry, and some stony, mineral hints. This is really delicious, offering seductive fruit alongside good acidity and mineral tension. 93/100
