Loire Valley

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

Muscadets continue to be some of the best values in wine.  Made from 100% Melon de Bourgone grape.  Light golden in color, clear and bright.  The nose has crushed shells, salinity and just a hint of lemon.  Medium bodied.  On the palate, this is all about minerality.  Depth.  Great acidity.  Long finish.  This is great on its own but the classic pairing is oysters.  Drink over the next five to seven years, but it will probably go longer.  Don't listen to those who say they need to be consumed in the first year or two.  

Not many family-run business can claim over 300 years in business, but the Saget family starting working with wine back in 1790. And leave it to the French to produce a very enjoyable Pinot Noir for under $20. Created in a lighter style this Pinot, at this price point, is a very good value and provides good quality fruit, tannic structure, and acidity. It offers red raspberry, light strawberry, delicate cherry, cranberry, worn leather, resin, a mild earthiness and a suggestion of cola. The wine is seamlessly blended and therefore drinks well.

This is Cabernet Franc from the Loire Valley in France.  Deep garnet in color, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose is nice with black cherries, green bell peppers, tobacco and earthiness.  Medium to full bodied.  Light tannins.  Good acidity.  On the palate, this has nice depth.  Some complexity.  Flavors of black cherries, slight bell pepper, tobacco and slight earthiness.  Good finish.  I don't believe this wine sees any oak which gives it a good freshness.  It is nice on its own but would be better with food.  It would work well with Szechuan Beef.  drink over the next few years.  

Very impressed with this wine.  Sauvignon Blanc from the Loire Valley.  Sort of old school in style, but that is just fine with me.  Pale golden in color, clear and bright.  The nose is clean (no cat pee) and is mostly mineral driven but there is a slight grapefruit note.  Medium bodied.  Good balance.  On the palate, this is almost seamless with a wonderful texture.  The acidity is there but is part of the whole package.  Flavors of slight yellow grapefruits with lots of minerality.  Long finish.  While not at the level of the Cotat wines (neither is the price), it is more in that style th

This is Cabernet Franc from the Loire Valley in France.  It is from the wineries youngest vines and aged in concrete.  Ruby  in color with some purple and blue hues, mostly clear and bright.  The nose is sweaty/dusty with cherries and strawberries and a bit of black pepper.  Medium tannins.  Tart acidity.  On the palate, cherries with a touch of strawberries.  A streak of heat on the finish.  This is nice on its own but really needs some food.  It would be nice with some fatty meats, say a Lamb Stew. Drink over the next five to eight years.

This is a sparkling wine made in the traditional method from 100% Chenin Blanc in the Loire Valley.  Light golden in color with a nice mousse of medium to smaller bubbles.  The nose is nice with good minerality along with a bit of red apples.  Medium bodied.  Good balance.  On the palate, this drinks easy.  The slightest bit of sweetness makes it nice on its own but is still food friendly.  It would work with most foods.  Fried chicken should work well.  Drink over the next couple of years.  

Ordered off the wine list at Edwin's in Shaker Heights, Ohio.  This is Chenin Blanc from the Loire Valley in France.  Pale yellow gold in color, clear and bright.  The nose is expressive with minerality (Schist?), apples and slight orange peel.  Semi plush texture.  Great acidity.  On the palate, this is mineral driven but there is also some apple fruit.  Persistent finish.  This is drinking well now but should go another seven to ten years.  Nice on its own as well as with food.  This went great with an Asparagus Heart soup (no easy feat).  

Another great consistent value wine.  This is Sauvignon Blanc from the Loire Valley.  Light golden in color with some green hues, clear and bright.  The nose has nice minerality with a bit of peach.  Light to medium bodied.  Good acidity.  On the palate, mineral, and lemon with some peach coming out later especially on the finish.  This is tasty and easy drinking on its own but also very food friendly.  It would work nicely with Salade Niçoise.  Drink over the next three to five years.

This is Chenin Blanc from the Loire Valley in France.  The name represents the "Three Clays" or three clay dominant parcels of land.  It is not labelled as such but is essentially a Demi-Sec or Half-dry wine.  Light golden in color with green hues, clear and bright.  The nose is nice with an apple sauce quality.  Slight, slight tannins.  Good acidity.  Medium bodied.  On the palate, this is slightly (or perhaps a bit more) sweet.  Flavors of apples with a bit of wild herbs and a chalky minerality.  Good finish.  This is drinking well on its own and will work with some lighter foods.  Fried

This is a Sauvignon Blanc from the eastern edge of the Loire Valley.  Green/gold in color, clear and bright.  The nose is waxy with lemon and some salinity.  Tight.  Slightly oily texture.  On the palate, peaches with salinity and slight minerality.  Moderate acidity.  Good finish.  This is nice on its own but better with food.  Seafoods and lighter foods would be best.  A nice pairing would be grilled fish.  Drink over the next few years.