2020 Domaine Nicolas Brunet Vouvray Brut, France, Loire, Wine Review

This is a sparkling wine (Methode Traditionelle) made from Chenin Blanc in the Loire Valley of France. Yellow/gold in color with slight green hues, mostly clear and bright. The mouse shows a fair amount of medium sized bubbles. The nose has a nice minerality to it with crushed rocks and a slight seltzer quality. Nice mouthfeel. Medium bodied. Good acidity. On the palate, there is a nice seltzer note with slight ginger and a hint of char. A bit of an herbal note (almost scallion like) on the finish. This drinks well on its own and is very food friendly. It would be excellent with lobster. Drink over the next five years.

Grade:

B+

Score:

Vintage:

2020

Current Price:

$29.00USD

Vouvray: A Chenin Blanc for the Ages

Among Americans, the Loire Valley is most often associated with gardens and castles and not much else. We journey the 150 kilometers southwest from Paris and take a day or two visiting Chateau de Chambord and Chenonceau, all the while enjoying the delightful flora and thinking of bygone days when princes and noblemen still roamed the cavernous halls in this ancient land. But the French know better. They know what we foreigners are just beginning to discover—that some of the most interesting, delicious, and affordable wines in the world hail from the chalky soil on which those famous castles stand.

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2017 Domaine Huet Vouvray Pétillant Brut, France, Loire, Wine Review

Vintage:

2017

Score:

Grade:

B+

Current Price:

$26.00USD

This is a lightly sparkling wine made from Chenin Blanc in the Loire Valley in France. Golden in color, the mousse quickly fades in the glass. Medium sized bubbles. The nose is different with yeast, slight doughy notes along with a bit of salinity. Medium to full bodied. On the palate, this is refreshing. Dry. Notes of honey (not sweet) and crushed shells. Good acidity. Long finish. This drinks well on its own but really needs some food. It would be very nice with a wide range of foods from a Beet Salad to a Quiche. Unique and not a substitute for a Champagne styled wine. Drink

2022 Domaine (Alain & Christophe) Le Capitaine Vouvray Sec Les Perrières, France, Loire, Wine Review

Vintage:

2022

Score:

Grade:

A-

Current Price:

$22.00USD

This is a dry Chenin Blanc from the Loire Valley in France. Silvery/green/gold in color, clear and bright. The nose is interesting with red apples, crushed rocks, Linden leaves, and a slight orange peel note. Full bodied. Lovely "slick" texture. On the palate, crushed rocks/minerality, and red apples with a nice backbone of acidity. Long finish. This is young and vibrant but will round out with some age. It should drink well for another ten more years. A nice wine for Thai or Chinese food, but this would also be great with fried chicken.

2021 Vincent Carême Vouvray Plaisir Ancestral Brut Nature, France, Loire, Wine Review

Vintage:

2021

Score:

Grade:

B+

This is a sparkling wine from the Loire Valley made from Chenin Blanc grapes. The wine receives zero dosage. It is made in the pétillant style using "natural" winemaking techniques (no added sulfites). Pale gold in color, clear and bright. Lots of quickly disappearing, medium sized bubbles. The nose is lovely with green apples, with a slight smoky note and some minerality. Medium bodied. Good acidity. On the palate, sour apples, some green apples and minerality. This is mostly dry. Nice on its own, but better with food. This is versatile and will work with a wide variety of foods

2020 Domaine Huet Vouvray Demi-Sec Clos du Bourg, France, Loire, Wine Review

Vintage:

2020

Score:

Grade:

Current Price:

$39.00USD

Huet is one of the top producers in the world. That they make Chenin Blanc in the Loire Valley just keeps the price down. The 2020 is another star. Light golden in color, clear and bright. It has a great nose with orange peel, slight ginger, sea air, quince. Full bodied. Great balance. On the palate, this is slightly sweet with enough acidity to counter it. Flavors of quince, slight ginger and salinity. Long finish. This is drinking great now and should for another fifteen years. Great on its own, this will work nice with Thai food.

2020 Domaine Nicolas Brunet Vouvray Brut, France, Loire, Wine Review

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