Please join us on Friday, April 8th from 5PM until 7:30PM, and again on Saturday, April 9th, from 12PM until 4PM to continue our trip through France’s Loire – an ancient valley full of fascinating castles, villages and vineyards. This week we explore more Muscadet, a dry Anjou, two unusual wines from Sancerre (one a dry rose, and the other a beautiful Piont Noir), and finally a mature Cabernet Franc from St.-Nicolas de Bourgueil. The Lineup:
1. Bonnet-Huteau Muscadet Sevre et Maine Sur Lie Cuvee La Levraudiere 2009, List Price $10.99, Sale $9.34 – Muscadet, Loire, France – 100% Melon de Bourgogne – 12% abv – Sustainable - Light, bright straw. Dusty minerals, quince and lemon zest on the nose, with a hint of white flowers adding complexity. Dry, sharply focused citrus and mineral flavors show a weightier aspect in the mid-palate and pick up a hint of musky herbs with air. Finishes clean and brisk. – International Wine Cellar
2. Domaine Richard Leroy Anjou Blanc Le Clos des Rouliers 2007, List Price $26.99, Sale $17.99 – Anjou, Loire, France – 100% Chenin Blanc – 12.5% abv – Organic - Pale Gold. Lemon curd, dried pear, melon and vanilla bean on the nose. Fairly bright and lush and creamy, offering gently sweet and weighty citrus and pit fruit flavors and bracing saline notes. Pliant and broad on the finish, which repeats the lemon and pear notes and lingers with very good spicy intensity. – Rated 90 points, International Wine Cellar
3. Pascal et Nicolas Reverdy Sancerre Rose Terre de Maimbray 2010, List Price $21.99, Sale $18.69 – Sancerre, Loire, France – 100% Pinot Noir – 13% abv – Organic - Offers juicy strawberry and mixed red fruit aromas, with a hint of yellow peach. Dry and refreshing.
4. Gerard & Pierre Morin Sancerre Rouge 2008, List Price $24.99, Sale $21.24 – Bue, Loire, France – 100% Pinot Noir – 13% abv - Sustainable - This Pinot Noir is planted in different parcels all situated in the commune of Bue. The roots of the vines draw from two particular terroirs to imbue the wine with its unique characteristics: “Les Caillottes,” predominantly limestone, brings finess and fruits notes. “Les Marnes,” deeper and with more clay, gives the wine structure and excellent potential as a “vin de garde.” Morin’s manner of working the soil and natural weed-control enhances the effect of the two soils, particularly through their harvesting entirely by hand.
5. Yannick Amirault, Pavillon du Grand Clos, St.-Nicolas de Bourgueil Les Malgagnes 2006, List Price $31.99, Sale $25.99 – St.-Nicolas de Bourgueil, Loire, France – 100% Cabernet Franc – 13.5% abv – Organic - Produced from vines planted originally in 1936, with portions of the vineyard replanted in 1973 and 1994. Vinified in wooden vats and then aged in once-used oak demi-muids. Only 583 cases produced. With vibrant flavors of plum, cassis and black berry, tinged by coffee and bittersweet chocolate, and notes of game, minerals and olive, held together by bright acidity.
