Loirebound in October seeks advice

O

Oswaldo Costa

Oswaldo Costa
In the very early stages of planning a trip during the second week of October to the stretch of Loire that runs from Anjou to Touraine (time is limited, so Im excluding, with regret, the western and eastern fringes). Would TGV from Paris, rent a car at Angers train station and return it at Tours or Orleans train stations, and then TGV back to Paris.

Ill probably try for about ten appointments - two per weekday - from among the following, and was wondering if anyone has any strong yays or nays (would love to visit Clos Rougeard, but feel uninclined, out of annoyed noblesse oblige, to pull the necessary strings).

Mosse
Joly
Closel
Baumard
Baudry
Breton
Puzelat
Nicolas
Huet
Chidaine
Robinot
Courtois

Other possibilities:
Pierre-Bise
Amirault
Filliatreau
Joguet
Marionnet
 
Kinda depends what you like to drink.

Will you be bringing things back? I sometimes realize that recommendations for someone in Paris, say, would be different from those to someone abroad, in that someone in a car (with a home a relatively short drive away) would bring back finds (counted in cases), whereas (correct me if I'm far away from the bullseye) people who live in far-flung places don't or can't, so come to taste for the information or the experience or the pleasure.

ETA: Or perhaps you're looking for people who will give you time, be generous with it, and not shoo you on your way post haste, once the latest round has been sipped 'n' spat.
 
The trip would be mostly for information/experience/pleasure, so the latter may preclude winemakers who shoo (usually not a problem: most are relieved not to have to speak English, and are gracious with my faulty French).

I'll have two or three styrofoam-lined sixpacks for things I can't find in the US, so I'd say 18 or 20 bottles will be my the maximum haul.

I guess I'm most curious about the mavericks and weirdos - the characters -, but wouldn't rule out the staid yet deep competence of a Huet.
 
There are obviously a great many possibilities. Francois Pinon is one of the most gracious guys you'd ever care to meet. I'm partial to Pinguet and Huet, obviously. They have some good old wine, still. Likewise Foreau.

The incomparable Richard Leroy has excited much comment here, and seems like a very nice guy. If you can figure out how to find Jo Pithon, he is a very interesting fellow. Damien Laureau makes some good wine and also seems like a good egg. Marc Angeli is a madman, but he's made some great wine.

Catherine and Didier at CRB (secret code for WD initiates only) are of course boddhisatvas of wine.
 
Jo Pithon is a really nice guy, but it's hard to get as excited about his new wines as his old since he had to change his elevage times.
 
Robinot. Those wines are freak shows. I love them. Actually,Robinot is a freak show too. I would visit him. Sparkling Pineau d'Aunis anyone?
 
originally posted by Cory Cartwright:
Jo Pithon is a really nice guy, but it's hard to get as excited about his new wines as his old since he had to change his elevage times.
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when you say "new," you mean this year? The poor guy has been through so many changes.
 
originally posted by SFJoe:
originally posted by Cory Cartwright:
Jo Pithon is a really nice guy, but it's hard to get as excited about his new wines as his old since he had to change his elevage times.
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when you say "new," you mean this year? The poor guy has been through so many changes.
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The Pithon-Paille wines. He had to shorten his typical elevage to get them on the market. They're good, but lacking what made the made the wines "Pithon" in the past. He has some really cool terroirs, however, and is definitely still worth following.
 
I've loved every Robinot I've tried that wasn't shot. About a 50/50 hit rate with +/- six bottles.

CRB would be on the list but the two SBs I've tried were, don't shoot me, just not awesome. But maybe that's all the more reason to visit, to give them the fullest chance and bask in their charisma.

Foreau and Damien Laureau are good ideas, will add to the list.

Maybe Cazin would be good too.

Know zip about Richard Leroy, will do some research.

Merci!
 
Richard Leroy is a French cult winemaker amongst French cult winemakers. I was surprised at how many kids mentioned him as a huge influence on how they wanted to make wines.
 
originally posted by Oswaldo Costa:
I've loved every Robinot I've tried that wasn't shot. About a 50/50 hit rate with +/- six bottles.

CRB would be on the list but the two SBs I've tried were, don't shoot me, just not awesome. But maybe that's all the more reason to visit, to give them the fullest chance and bask in their charisma.

Foreau and Damien Laureau are good ideas, will add to the list.

Maybe Cazin would be good too.

Know zip about Richard Leroy, will do some research.

Merci!
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I love Leroy. Anjou Blanc. 2 Cuvees. I've raved about the wines on my blog. His favorite wine is Mosel Riesling and it comes across in the racy character of the wines. Yet there is a richness and I do remember him professing admiration for Clemens Busch, who is Lower Mosel where it's a bit warmer, and his wines are pretty rich, so it makes sense Leroy would like him. Similar styles. On the Les Nols de Montbenault there is some oak, but I have always found it well integrated.

I've had a much better hit rate with Robinot. 4 for 4. 2 Concerto de Oniss and 2 Sparkling Pineau d'Aunis. The whites I find fascinating. They are a bit oaky but the material he has to work with is incredible. They are dense like Fassbinder.
 
I think you should oblige your noblesse and go see Rougeard. I mean, if you had the opportunity in the applicable region, would you blow off Chave? DRC? Giacosa? Huet? ZH/Trimbach? Mller-Catoir? It's at least worth exploring whether or not you think this winery deserves that company.

Here's something that someone wrote to me about a much lesser, but reputationally-analogous, producer, many years ago:

Yeah, the wines aren't that good anymore. Maybe they never were. But they defined a genre and made the entire market for this wine. They haven't changed, it's just that the rest of the region has passed them by. You haven't visited. Don't be a fuckhead. Go visit. It will only help you think about everything else you taste.
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This was not the Loire, but I took it to heart, and I'm happy I did.

Go.
 
I haven't visited the winemakers in the Loire, but did get the chance to meet them when they traveled to Seattle. Based on that I would try to visit Evelyne de Pontbriand at Closel, who was so very gracious and showed great patience with me and my questions.

I would also try to schedule a visit with Eric and Christine Nicolas at Domaine Belliviere. They are a very enthusiastic and kind couple, and make lovely wines.
 
Belleviere is a great idea.

As for CRB SB, try the '09 and get back to me. No, try the gamay and get back to me.

The cult of Leroy (R) eludes me a bit. The wines are fine when they're not too woody, but I don't want to run away and join the circus for them.

Baudry would be extremely high up the list, esp for '09s. Which is after all the most recent vintage.

But really, go to CRB, if only for your inner serenity. If you don't like the wines or learn anything from them, I'll make it up to you on our next encounter in NYC. Or you can work it off in your next life.
 
originally posted by Sharon Bowman:
originally posted by SFJoe:
Courtois
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Thanks, and apologies for my miserable spelling.

I was a bad speller in English until a standardized test in 7th grade fingered my deficiency.

The Noodle only knows what I'd score in French Surnames today.
 
I think nephew Courtois is nicer but uncle more entertaining.

Not a winemaker, but if Jacqueline Friedrich is still living there I would join the circus to have a meal with her.
 
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