2020 Domaine de Bellivière Coteaux du Loir Vieilles Vignes Eparses, France, Loire, Wine Review

This is 100% Chenin Blanc from vines ranging from 70 to 86 years old. Medium golden in color, clear and bright. The nose is nice with orange peel, minerality, and slight spice. Medium bodied. Slightly viscous texture. Nice acidity. On the palate, this is slightly sweet with notes of orange peel and nice minerality. Complex and deep. Long finish. This is excellent on its own and will work well with foods that can match. It would be nice with chicken salad. Drink over the next ten to fifteen years.

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Score:

Vintage:

2020

Current Price:

$70.00USD

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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NV Charles Bove Vin de Pays du Loir-et-Cher Brut, France, Wine Review

Score:

Grade:

A-

Current Price:

$18.00USD

Had this at a local wine shop and was told it was a sparkling Vouvray. I don't see that on the label as it appears to Vin de Pays though that is not on the label either. The importers web site states that this is "Based heavily on Chenin Blanc with a dollop of Chardonnay" from vineyards in Touraine. In any event, I love Chenin Blanc and thought this was a very nice sparkler. How much one enjoyed it seemed to be directly tied to ones appreciation fro Chenin (at least at the store). Light gold in color with some green streaks. On the nose, this has a nice salinity with a bit of chalk, c

2002 Domaine des Baumard Coteaux du Layon Carte d'Or, France, Loire Valley, Wine Review

Vintage:

2002

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This is a dessert wine made from the Chenin Blanc grape. At age 17, this is doing great. Chenin is one of the longest lived wine grapes out there. Golden in color. The nose is great with sea air, orange peel, crushed shells and honey. Medium bodied. This is sweet, not cloying or even very sweet but more than off dry. There is also a bitter note on the finish which complements the sweetness nicely. In between, some citrus and lots of minerality. Nice acidity. This would work with citrus based desserts well or in a small glass on its own. No hurry, this has at least a decade left i

2003 Domaine de la Fontainerie Vouvray Coteau Les Brules Moelleux, France, Loire, Wine Review

Vintage:

2003

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Current Price:

$54.00USD

This is a late harvest wines made from Chenin Blanc grapes in the Loire Valley, France. 12% abv. Very pretty in the glass with a deep golden color, clear and bright. The nose has orange zest, honey apricots and sea air. Full bodied. Good acidity. On the palate, this is sweet and is probably best served as a dessert wine. Not cloying. Notes of apricots and slight honey. Long finish. Deep and complex. This will drink well on its own, but would work great with less sweet dessert such as a simple cookie or a Polenta Cake. Sweet Chenin Blanc wines can last a long time. This is alrea

2020 Domaine Huet Vouvray Demi-Sec Le Haut-Lieu, France, Loire Valley, Wine Review

Vintage:

2020

Score:

Grade:

A+

Current Price:

$38.00USD

Domaine Huet makes some of the best Chenin Blanc wines anywhere in the world from dry to sweet to sparkling. This one is semi-dry and is wonderful. Light golden in color, clear and bright. The nose is great with citrus (lemons and slight tangerine), salinity and chalk. Medium bodied. Light tannins. Good balance and acidity. On the palate, citrus with nice minerality. This is sweet but not at dessert levels. The acidity balances it nicely. This drinks great on its own and will work well with spicy Thai food. Drink over the next fifteen to twenty years.

2020 Domaine de Bellivière Coteaux du Loir Vieilles Vignes Eparses, France, Loire, Wine Review

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