Schildknecht's ranking of Loire chenin producers

M

maureen

maureen nelson
Over on the RP board, in response to a poster's query re: whose wines he should be looking for if he wants to explore Loire chenins (he asked about sec or demi sec but not sure David's answer was limited to that), David posted his rankings of producers, with "1" being the top tier. He organized the rankings by region and within that alphabetically. Your views?

VOUVRAY
1 Aubousires, Dmn. des (Bernard Fouquet)
1 Champalou, Didier
1 Foreau, Philippe
1 Huet
2 Allias
2 Pinon, Francois
3 Fontainerie, Dmn. de la (Catherine Doye)
3 Careme [?]
3 Cruchet, Rgis
3 Gaudrelle, Chteau (Alexandre Monmousseau)
3 Raimbault, Vincent
3 Viking, Domaine du

MONTLOUIS
1 Chidaine, Francois
1 Taille Aux Loups, Dmn. de la (Jacky Blot)
1 Rocher des Violettes, Le
2 Deletang
3 Jousset, Lise & Berrand
2 Alex-Mathur (Eric Gougeat)
3 Chatenay, Domaine de
3 Cossais, Stphane
3 Grange Tiphaine, Dmn. la (Damien Delecheneau)
3 Loges de la Folie, Domaine Les

But if you like these, there are other Chenins to explore, and in particular don't miss those from the Coteaux du Loir (no-"e") about which I have also written extensively. My pecking-order:
1 Bellivire, Dmn. de (Eric & Christine Nicolas)
1 Charrire, Dmn. de la - Jol Gigou
1 Janvier, Pascal
1 Rycke, Bndicte de
2 Maison Rouge, Domaine les - Jardin
3 Brazillier
3 Briseau, Domaine le
 
Thinking of expanding the cellar, Maureen?

(I'm afraid pab is going to be so disappointed with this list.)
 
originally posted by Sharon Bowman:
WHERE IS RICHARD LEROY?!?!?!?!

-pab
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I fucking love oaky chenin. There I said it.

I kinda like Richard Leroy. I know, it's very strange.

Sorry sweetness, you can rename The Twins.
 
originally posted by VLM:

I fucking love oaky chenin. There I said it.

I kinda like Richard Leroy. I know, it's very strange.

Sorry sweetness, you can rename The Twins.
Click to expand...

Ever try a Rougeard Breze? If yes, your comments?
 
If you love oaky chenin, South Africa is your mecca. In general, they do it better there than in the Loire. Seriously.
 
re: Breze

Yes. I think it was an '03. Faint recollection of the particulars: compelling, slightly ox, a bit rich. Had it at harvest so it was drunk with more aplomb than scrutiny.
 
I had the '00 Breze last week. It is in a bit of an adolescent phase, all elbows. Very good though, and it really held my interest over the course of the bottle. It was more chiseled than a previous example of Breze I tried, which had more dense pineapple flavors.

I was surprised not to see Breze ( R) on the list.
 
originally posted by Levi Dalton:
I was surprised not to see Breze ( R) on the list.
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I think the list was incomplete. It was a quick cut and paste that he posted to another board and doesn't have any of the wines west of Tours, and I am sure David is more than aware of those wines.
 
originally posted by Sharon Bowman:
Could have been in "other Chenins."

OK. Why am I in this thread? Srsly?

Chris Coad? U bails me out?
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Our little chenin-lark has left the nest and taken to the sky.

*snf*
 
originally posted by JBrennan:
originally posted by VLM:

I fucking love oaky chenin. There I said it.

I kinda like Richard Leroy. I know, it's very strange.

Sorry sweetness, you can rename The Twins.
Click to expand...

Ever try a Rougeard Breze? If yes, your comments?
Click to expand...

People have mixed views on this wine. I view it as one of the great wines of the world and have tried to buy it every vintage since I've been gainfully employed.
 
originally posted by slaton:
Jo Pithon has a nice touch with oak and chenin blanc.

I've still never had a Brz, sadly.
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I also really liked the last couple of Pithon vintages I've had (this is one example, apropos of this discussion), but I think I heard he went out of business or something. Bummer.

BBQ and Brz is the bomb.
 
originally posted by Levi Dalton:
I had the '00 Breze last week. It is in a bit of an adolescent phase, all elbows. Very good though, and it really held my interest over the course of the bottle. It was more chiseled than a previous example of Breze I tried, which had more dense pineapple flavors.

I was surprised not to see Breze ( R) on the list.
Click to expand...

I can't remember if you disliked that bottle of 2002 I brought to Lyle's. It was very young, but I still enjoyed it. Lyle hated it, IIRC.
 
originally posted by VLM:
People have mixed views on this wine. I view it as one of the great wines of the world and have tried to buy it every vintage since I've been gainfully employed.
Click to expand...

I doubt we'll live long enough to enjoy them at their peaks tho.
 
originally posted by Scott Kraft:
originally posted by VLM:
People have mixed views on this wine. I view it as one of the great wines of the world and have tried to buy it every vintage since I've been gainfully employed.
Click to expand...

I doubt we'll live long enough to enjoy them at their peaks tho.
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Maybe. I like them younger than most folks do.

Anyone have vintages like 1995 or 1996 lately?

Levi's experience with the 2000 sounds similar to mine. I don't mind angular wines.
 
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