Loire Valley

• Bourgueil
• Jasnières
• Muscadet
• Mont Louis
• Sancerre
• Saumur
• Savennières
• Touraine
• Vouvray

This is Chenin Blanc from one of the top producers in Vouvray.  While not to the same extent, Vouvray has dealt with premature oxidation in their wines much like Burgundy.  This wine has been one of those which has had issues.  Luckily, there were no such issues for this bottle.  Still a light gold in color.  The nose is nice with minerals, slight burnt orange and quince paste.  On the palate, this is dry.  Minerals and burnt orange peel (like in some cocktails).  There is a bit of bitterness on the finish.  It is a very good wine that really begs for food to shine.  Good bottles of this ha

A great example of one of the top Muscadets.  This cost $15 on release and a recent vintage is not much more.  Its been aged for 14 years and it was wonderful.  Still fresh, crisp and enjoyable.  Golden in color.  The nose is great.  Complex with sea air, sea shells and slight honey notes.  On the palate, this is laser precision minerals.  Slightly oily texture.  Some salinity.  For those who prefer oysters, this is the perfect match but works with other food as well.  Long finish.  Just a gorgeous $15 bottle of wine.  

I love Muscadet.  They are some of the best values in the wine world.  Rarely do the cost more than $15 and even the very best are under $30.  And they age much better than many people think.  Light green gold in color.  The nose has slate, green apples, sea air and slight crushed shells.  A bit of salinity as well.  On the palate, this is slightly oily.  Nice mineral streak, crushed shells and slight grapefruit. Slightly warm on the finish, but serving a bit cooler might help that.  It retails for $15 which is a very fair price and well worth it.  

Vouvrays are made from the Chenin Blanc grape.  Light gold in color.  The nose is lovely with apricot, some orange peel, minerals and salinity.  The palate is sweet.  Not full on dessert wine, but sweet.  Flavors of lemon hard candy; that sort of sweet/sour combination on the attack.  The mid-palate has more oranges.  Finishing back at the lemon hard candy.  Long finish.  This has good acidity and is food friendly.  It also is full bodied and deep and works well on its own especially early on a nice summer evening outside.  It is delicious.  No doubt this could last for twenty years or more

This is a top of the line Muscadet.  It was $25 back on release and I doubt it costs much more than that today.  Muscadets are some of the best values in the wine world.  At age 16, this one was gorgeous.  Medium golden in color.  The nose has crushed shells and a salinity to it.  Very nice.  On the palate, this has a wonderful texture.  Its all about the minerals.  Complex and deep.  Great with lighter foods.  Good balance.  Nice finish.  

Ruby in color.  The nose has a lot of barnyard.  Also some cherries and a bit of green pepper and tobacco.  On the palate, this has nice cherry fruit.  Nice depth and complexity.  Slight tannins.  Nice finish.  I would think this has some time, but look for well stored bottles.

As I have said many times, Muscadet, from the best producers, is the single greatest value in the wine world today.  Pépière is certainly one of those producers.  This costs around $15.  It can be stored in a cellar for a decade or more, but is great right now.  Light golden in color.  The nose is all about sea shells and minerals with a whiff of salinity.  On the palate, this is light bodied.  Dry.  The minerals carry thru.  Of course, great with shell fish but just about any other lighter summer fare as well.  It works well with anything that a White Burgundy would work with only this is

Pop and pour.  Gorgeous wine for $15.  One of the great wine values in the world.  Can it age?  At age 13, I think it is a bit improved but certainly it has been harmed by cellaring.  Light golden in color.  The nose has great salinity.  Sear air, crushed shells/minerals and slight lime.  On the palate, this is deep and complex.  Crushed shells and minerals with some citrusy notes.  Nice finish.  Worked great with food.  should have bought more but the new versions are great as well.  

A lot of people question whether cellaring white wine makes any sense.  This is one white that not only lasts but improves in the cellar.  At 13 years from vintage, this showed wonderfully with nothing "past prime" at all.  Medium golden in color, clear and bright.  The nose has a nice minerality to it with plenty of depth.  Also come melon (cantaloupe) and a bit of salinity.  On the palate, this is complex.  Slightly oily texture.  Notes of minerals, sea shells, but nice melon and peach fruit.  But the minerality was sublime.  Good acidity.  Long finish.  Went quite well with a spring sala

Seems to be in a bit of a dumb phase right now.  Don't get me wrong, it is quite good but not as good as it can be.  Light golden in color.  The nose has some grapefruit and nice minerality.  A bit of salinity.  On the palate, this is good but not breaking out any complexities.  Nice grapefruit and minerals.  Good texture.  Excellent with food.  As good it is today, I would hold for a year or two or 8 and patience will be rewarded.