Wine Outlook

I’ve been quite amiss with reporting my wine study group’s findings. Several co-workers and I meet up every other week or so to deepen our understanding of different wines and to keep our palates in practice. A couple months ago, we explored the Loire Valley and learned quite a bit about the styles of wine produced there. First up was the Champalou Vouvray Brut, made in the Methode Traditionelle at 12% alcohol. It had an interesting nose of fresh rain on pavement and apple, then a little dirty sock, and finally a taste of doughnuts. Next was the 2005 Andre’ Michel Bregeon Muscadet Sevre’ et Maine. A tad musty, it also showed chalk, grass, and orange zest.

Then we tasted the 2006 Domaine du Salvard Cheverny. It tasted quite like a New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc (which I seem to recall Tom saying he didn’t like very much) with its passion fruit, grapefruit, grass, and minerality. The 2005 LeMont Vouvray had an initially bad smell, akin to body odor but that faded into minerality and Cheerios and had great acidity. The 2002 Domaine Du Onfeuilles Vouvray was a crowd favorite with its honey, melon, peach flavors that started sweet and finished dry. We also had the 2005 Thomain Mollet Sancerre that had honey and apricot but less acidity than the 02 Vouvray.

For reds, we had the 2002 Catherine & Pierre Breton Bourgueil which had low levels of brett, the 2005 Cuvee de la Cave Chinon which was heavy on the vegetal characteristics and cigarette ash, and the 2003 Domaine de Nerleux Saumur-Champigny which had the most fruit and a little sweetness, possibly from American oak.

Overall, we had a good discussion and tasted through some typical Loire wines. But looking to the present, I can say we’ve (ok, maybe I’ve) come quite a way from my first couple tastings.

Quick Loire Valley cheat sheet

Vouvray:made only from Chenin Blanc
Sancerre: Sauvignon Blanc
Saumur Champigny:Cabernet Franc, may be blended with Cabernet Sauvignon or Pineau d’Aunis (grape unique to the Loire)
Chinon: Cabernet Franc only, known locally as Breton

Vouvray, Muscadet Sevre’ et Maine, Cheverny, Vouvray, Sancerre, Breton, Chinon, Saumur-Champigny