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Loire Valley 2009 and 2010 Vintage
report and offer
Timing: after another cold winter and a perfectly
normal summer, picking started in Muscadet mid-September on almost exactly at
the same date as in 2009. One month later, all the dry whites and reds were in
and even the sweet wines in the Layon were all safely in before the end of
October.
2010 Muscadets from the better domaines are at
least as good as last year, maybe even better; they have great
ripeness, concentration and balanced acidity.
2010 Sauvignon blancs: in the Touraine and up in Sancerre and Pouilly
Fume, picking started a week later than last year. Rain around the 24th
September frightened some growers but gave clear proof of the advantage of
grassing through the vines as water went into the grass and not into the
grapes. The best sauvignons are delightful with lovely typical aromas and great
freshness.
2010 Chenin blanc: for the Chenins, as always there is
a big difference between Vouvray and the Layon, with a touch more rain in
Vouvray soaking into the richer soil and causing problems early in harvest days, though even here the sun and wind more than saved things in the second week,
giving some growers the chance to make some fine and pure moelleux to add spice
to some fine dry and demi-sec wines. In the Coteaux du Layon, things could hardly have been
better. A few days of rain could have pushed things either way, but the
sunshine throughout October concentrated things wonderfully. We have some
fabulous dry whites, and some of the most impressive liquoreux we have seen in
ages as passerillage and botrytis combined to give huge ripeness and purity.
2009 Cabernet franc: the comparison with the truly great vintages holds for the
reds too, with the summer heat and drought blocking the vegetation for the
Cabernet Franc vines just as in 1989, when there was 120 days between flowering
and harvest. This time growers got even luckier, with those 4 days of rain in
September restarting the vegetation and pushing the crop to real maturity -
despite a really late harvest that didn't commence until early October, with a
few of the bravest growers gambling on continuing sunshine and hanging on until
Oct.19th before picking.
The results are outstanding - seemingly with more fruit than 1989, so maybe
more on a par with 1990 !
Loire wines:
unique and special
Rather than adapt to the tastes of export markets and
international fashions, the Loire
Valley has kept its own
style. In the 1930s, with the introduction of Appellation Controlee legislation,
the winemakers of the Loire Valley began, once more, to realize the potential
excellence and unique character of their wines. Since then, the wines of the Loire Valley
have only grown in popularity. Between 1995 and 2005, imports to the USA grew by
272%, from 16,255 hectoliters to 45,000 hectoliters. Whether white, red, rose,
dry, sweet, still or sparkling, Loire
Valley wines are fresh,
elegant and clean tasting. Whether enjoyed as part of a meal or on their own, Loire Valley
wines are part of the "art de vivre" that the French made famous. They
are made for the dinner table, and may be some of the most French of French
wines.
Direct Import Loire
offering
We are offering all Loire
valley wines (mostly 2009 and 2010) on a pre-sell basis.
Despite the Euro at 1.40 vs.the dollar, prices are still very moderate for the
quality offered. All on stock items are available now on our web site or at the
store. All DI wines are offered by the case of 12 bottles, only through this email or by phone 914 271 3200
A deposit of 25% of
your total order will be collected at time of ordering. Anticipated arrival:
mid to end of April, unless noted otherwise. Offer ends 04/30/11
Tasting notes are mine. Listed from East to West.
Domaine Langlois, Pougny
Coteaux du
Giennois '10: 100% Sauvignon blanc on limestone-clay soils, not far from
Pouilly-fume; expressive and complex nose, wild broom, elder, citrus and zippy
minerality; this is fresh and lively with a long finish; Michel Langlois
bottles 3-4 times a year but keeps the wine on the lees between bottlings,
hence the zippy-fresh, lighter-colored, laser-sharp '10 (1st
bottling) and the fatter, richer and more complex '09 on stock now (from the
last mise) $13.99 '10 DI
138/case
Valery Renaudat, Reuilly
Quincy
'10: Sauvignon blanc grown on
sand and gravels, full of refreshing flavors; more flowery than Reuilly with
nuances of minerals, flint; generous, focused with a light lifted palate and
grabbing acidity. Delicious already.
$150/cs
Reuilly '10:
Sauvignon blanc grown on clay and chalk soils; an explosion of tropical
fruit, lychee, with an smoky, flinty note in the background; forward, long,
rich palate offers more weight and texture.
$150/cs
Reuilly rose '10: All Pinot gris for this bold, one of a kind
rose; refined nose mixes earth and a delicious forest fruit fragrance. Juicy,
fresh and filling. $150/cs
Marechal (Monmousseau), Montrichard
(Domaine Maison) Cheverny white '09: A blend of Sauvignon and Chardonnay from
Eastern Touraine; surprisingly complex nose of leeches, acacia flowers and ripe
lemon, displaying more of its Chardonnay attributes at the moment along a whiff
of minerals; the rich palate is fleshy, refreshing and balanced; overall
delicious. DI $126/cs
Touraine
Chenin blanc '09: Light robe and
palate with fresh figs and pear notes; juicy bright with a mild, dry finish and
a youthful bitterness that flushes away after aeration. DI $120/cs
Rose d'Anjou '10: 70% Cabernet franc, 30%
Grolleau; a little candy, mild palate with no hard edges and just the right
fruitiness on the finish; an easy sipper.
DI $120/cs
Touraine
rouge '09: 70% Cabernet franc,
25% Malbec, 5% Gamay; a gentle weave of fresh spicy fruit; juicy, bright and
pleasing with light tannins peeking; a friendly everyday red. DI $120/cs
Chateau Gaudrelle Vouvray '02: A classic style of dry Vouvray, flowery
and ripe fruit flavors; broad, expansive and structured palate with lovely
roundness and freshness; this is really at its best now and is perfect with a
fatty fish or some poultry/white meat in sauce. One truly great expression of
Vouvray and a bargain under $20! DI $174/cs
(Domaine Maison) Cheverny rose '09: on stock $11.99
Marechal Touraine
JM Brut rose NV: on stock $12.99
Marechal Touraine
JM Brut NV: on stock $12.99
Xavier Frissant, Mosnes
Touraine Chenin blanc '09: Grown near Amboise on clay subsoils and silex
rocks on surface; deliciously fragrant, flowery, showing a lovely harvest, ripe
and textured, well rounded with gutsy notes of minerals and a light sappy
quality on the finish; this will improve over the next 5 years. Avail. End of
May $120/cs
Touraine
rose '10: Superb vivid color; a
basket of fresh fruit, mildly acidic, fresh, round, gouleyant. Very seductive
lingering fruit; irresistible. DI
$117/cs
Touraine
Cot '09: Young vines Malbec, cold maceration and fermentation in cool temp. Fragrant nose; very supple and bright palate with flavor
intensity building to a broad finish; seamless with lots of freshness
throughout; this will be the quintessential party/BBQ wine. Avail. End of May DI $120/cs
Touraine
Sauvignon blanc '09/'10: On stock $10.97
Touraine
Fiet gris '09: On stock $13.97
Gilles Gaudron, Vernou-sur-Brenne
All on stock, see web site for full listing.
Domaine de la Chapelle (P.Pichard),
Cravant-les-Coteaux
Chinon rose '09: Pale salmon color for this 100% Cabernet franc,
very fresh and lightly mineral; a delicacy, attractively crisp with a zippy dry
finish. DI $120/cs
Chinon " les Gravinieres" '09: Typical, unique fragrance of dark fruit and terroir; round and textured with a solid
core of blue fruit and finely extracted tannins; whiff of refreshing acidity on
the finish. A bistro-type Chinon. DI $138/cs
Chinon "3 Quartiers" '09: Old vine Cabernet
franc on clay/silica sub-soils, aged 12 months in barrels; captivating nose of
dark spicy fruit, forest floor and earth; superb palate, straightforward,
filling, silky yet full of temperament, long and refined. A great expression of Chinon. DI $168/cs
Chinon "l'Arcestrale" '06: On stock $19.97
Maison Audebert, Bourgueil
Bourgueil Rose '09/'10: On stock $11.99
Bourgueil "Grand rangs" '08/'09: Superb nose, earthy and very lightly herbal;
classy palate, very typical; round and silky with good presence and
temperament; the '09 has a spicier, bramblier fruit. '08 on stock $10.97
St-Nicolas de Bourgueil "la Contrie" '08: On stock $12.97 '09 in the Fall
Bourgueil "Clos Senechal" '06: From an old vines parcel, on clay soils,
known to be one of the best in the appellation; lovely cherry color; Burgundian
nose, combining spicy cherry fruit and forest floor; earthy, leathery and warm
palate, generous, really superb of intensity and character; smooth and elegant
tannins. DI $198/cs
Bourgueil "Grand Clos" '05: On stock $16.99
Domaine de la Lande (Delaunay), Bourgueil:
Saint-Nicolas de Bourgueil '08/'09: Made of young vines on gravely and sandy
soils; very focused nose, brambly fruit and earth; very gently extracted, young
and firm with ripe tannins; the '09 possesses a dark blueish robe and a more
intense, riper fruit palate. '08 on
stock $11.97 09 DI $138/cs
Bourgueil "Domaine" '08/'09: An enormously enjoyable wine and a fine
introduction to Bourgueil; distinctive brambly, earthy notes, with a very
amicable structure, joyful and focused; the '09 is spicier with a jammy note
and more hump-ff. No hard edges. '08 on stock $11.97 '09 DI
$138/cs
Bourgueil "Prestige" '00: Very refined, a weave of succulent,
soil-inflicted and suave fruit, ripe plums; not very powerful but charming and
beautifully balanced; earthy, lightly minty, sappy finish is generous and
typical of a well-made, well-aged Bourgueil. Think Bordeaux
with a more genuinely down-to-earth expression, like Burgundy DI $186/cs
Bourgueil "Prestige" '07: on stock $16.97 '08 in
the Fall
Chinon '08:
On stock $11.97
Moulin de Chauvigne, Rochefort-sur-Loire
Rose de loire '10:
100% Grolleau on sand and schist; meaty, bold and rich with a
vinous palate and a dry finish marked by a touch of acidity; always our best
selling rose. DI $120/cs
Savennieres "Clos Brochard" '09: Old vines Chenin blanc on schist and volcanic
rock; great palette of aromas: dried flowers, quince, candied apricot,
minerals; bold on the palate, exuberant and harmonious throughout; superb now
and will reward extended cellaring. A fantastic 2009, probably the best of the
recent vintages. DI $222/cs
Coteaux du Layon "Croix blanche '09/'10: On
stock $16.99
NEW! Recently discovered estates to look for on our shelves soon:
Chateau de la
Roulerie: Anjou
rouge '10 and Rose d'Anjou10
Domaine des Sables verts: Saumur-Champigny '09
Domaine des Champs fleuris: Saumur blanc '09
and Saumur-Champigny '10
La Seigneurie, Saumur: Saumur
blanc '09, Saumur-Champigny VV '09, Coteaux de Saumur '09
Domaine Cogne, Pays nantais: Sauvignon
blanc '10, Chardonnay '10, Gamay '09, Cabernet franc '09, Pinot noir '09,
Cabernet franc '08
Domaine de la Chauviniere, Pays nantais: Clos les Montys Muscadet SM sur lie
'10 and Chateau de la
Bretesche Muscadet SM sur lie '10
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