Loire CF that deserves more awareness
- Thread starter BJ
- Start date
Pavel Tchichikov
Pavel Tchichikov
the barrels should be 3-4 vintages old
have you had les georges from CdPT? a personal favorite.
Pavel Tchichikov
Pavel Tchichikov
Les Georges '20 ? Beautiful and drinking now.
If I may ask, which Loire CFs have dissatisfied you in 2020 so far? I am of a completely different opinion, at least where good producers are concerned, of which we are blessed with quite a few in the region. It is nothing like 2018 or [in some isolated cases] 2022.
Pulled out my trusty Benoit France Chinon vineyard map to learn more. Interesting to see their vineyards are Vienne left bank, in fact les Plantes, where this wine comes from, is adjacent to the Clos de la Dioterie and Varennes du Grand Clos - to me the two best Joguet vineyards. So noble terroir indeed - and this makes more sense to me now as this doesn't taste very Chinon to me.
I will add this loosened up quite quickly in a less positive direction - I am guessing due to young vines. It didn't matter a lot though, as it went quite fast.
I also came across this youtube channel -
Neat! That lady should join us.
I will add this loosened up quite quickly in a less positive direction - I am guessing due to young vines. It didn't matter a lot though, as it went quite fast.
I also came across this youtube channel -
Neat! That lady should join us.
Pavel Tchichikov
Pavel Tchichikov
I think les plantes is smack in the middle (or even towards the west of) st germain sur vienne, whereas the two joguet vineyards are in sazilly
i agree that it doesn't really taste like chinon, although i think of the wine as having saumur soil and chinon soul
the video you link actually provides the critical information here: the lerné-seuilly fault splits the commune into an eastern section with soils similar to some of the left bank chinon like those in ligre, while the rest is an extension of saumur tuffeau plate
i agree that it doesn't really taste like chinon, although i think of the wine as having saumur soil and chinon soul
the video you link actually provides the critical information here: the lerné-seuilly fault splits the commune into an eastern section with soils similar to some of the left bank chinon like those in ligre, while the rest is an extension of saumur tuffeau plate
OK...it's interesting that my Benoit map shows a les Plantes vineyard abutting les Varennes du Grand Clos and la Dioterie on the east. But now the commentary about appellation expansion makes more sense. And definitely the Chateau itself is in St Germain sur Vienne. I need to listen to that again more closely with my map in front of me.
I also note that Michel Pinard, the long-time winemaker at Joguet, was winemaker for Petit Thouars until 2022...neat! So it does make me wonder if indeed that Plantes in Sazilly is their vineyard.
The Mme and I had a really nice visit with M. Pinard in '03 at Joguet. Really nice guy and took plenty of time with us.
The Mme and I had a really nice visit with M. Pinard in '03 at Joguet. Really nice guy and took plenty of time with us.
Pavel Tchichikov
Pavel Tchichikov
maybe this one? btw I am happy you liked the wine. I can't keep my hands off the 2020. The 2021 on the other hand needs some serious cellar time.
Steve Guattery
Steve Guattery
A different experience: Opened a lovely bottle of this tonight. Wide open; if there’s Brett, it’s just a hint that gives a touch of spice on the nose. Good acidity nicely balanced on the palate and an extended finish. This bottle was from Chambers, so it may be an issue of different lots.
Steve Guattery
Steve Guattery
Yes. I was careless with my wording and used ‘lots’ without thinking of the EU-required lot numbers assigned to wines. The lot number on the Clos Guillot is 2016, so I suspect there was only one lot of that wine in 2016. I probably should have said something along the lines of “different bottles sent to different places.”
Christian Miller (CMM)
Christian Miller
I was quite taken by Pépière's Cabernet Franc VdP at a restaurant in Burlington VT recently, for a reasonable $12/glass. No big deal, but a tasty mouthful of old school Loire CF, light but not thin, herbaceous and green without going full bell pepper, lively tart blackberry fruit. Reminds me of the kind of mid-Loire reds you'd find in modest Paris bistros or cafés with good direct grower connections, years ago.
The restaurant is May Day, from the same folks that own Honey Road, and the food was very good.
The restaurant is May Day, from the same folks that own Honey Road, and the food was very good.
Pavel Tchichikov
Pavel Tchichikov
BJ, I quite liked the '22 last night. Rounder/softer than the 20 but delicious nonetheless.