On the Road with the Grape Guy
Loire Valley – Day 2 (3 Events)
26 Jan 2024- Details
- Category: On the Road with the Grape Guy
(April 27, 2023) ... There were three event today - and ...
Morning: Cabernet Franc in the Loire Valley, 2000 years of history (Masterclass)
Today, we dove deep into the realm of Cabernet Franc – these are some point form notes about the class and tasting.
- Cabernet Fran’s presumed origin is in Northern Spain and there it takes its name “Biturica”; the name comes from the people who inhabited the land “Bituriges” who controlled Northern France (including the Loire) …Another name for the grape is Breton, which appears in Anjou and Tourain.
- Cabernet Sauvignon / Merlot and Carmenere are all descendents of the grape (this was proved positive in 2012).
CF ... presumed origin Northern Spain - originally called "Biturica" ... C.S. / Merlot / Carmenere are all descendants of the grape (testing proved in 2012) - Bituriges people controlled Nothern France including Loire ... Cabernet Franc was called Breton in Anjou and Touraine.
All wines are 100% Cabernet Franc
Château de Passavant 2021 Anjou Rouge (Anjou)
Light and earthy - nice acidity - playful dark fruit with tobacco notes
Domaine des Rochelles 2019 Breton (Brissac)
Nice fruit and floral, along with hints of mocha and a long lingering finish.
Domaine Fabien Demois 2020 Domaine de Doulaye (Chinon)
Tobacco and spice dominate the palate with subtle smoke and medium dark fruit; Notes of herbal on the finish.
Domaine du Mortier 2020 Dyonisos (St Nicolas De Bourgueil)
Rich texture and mouthfeel; new world in style: plum, blackberry with subtle white pepper; high-toned and a tobacco finish – there is a kind of paint thinner note I found really distracting and detracting.
Domaine des Sanzay 2020 Vieilles Vignes (Saumur Champigny)
Fresh and fruit driven, nice minerality - red fruits dominated by currant and cherry.
Domaine Saint Landor 2019 L'Oblige (Saumur Puy Notre Dame)
Smoked-cherry, hints of oak, blackberry, cassis and tobacco.
Domaine de la Paleine 2020 Saumur Rouge Paleine (Saumur Rouge) 
Herbal-tobacco nose ... with raspberry, black cherry and woodsy notes linger to the finish - nose goes one way, palate goes another - palate wins for favourability.
Maison Nau 2021 Bourgueil (Bourgueil)
More red fruit expression with some chalky, mineral components, good acidity and a Pinot Noir like finish.
Afternoon:
Theme: Fresh & Fruity
Feature: Different Muscadet Cru wines, IGP Val de Loire Chardonnay wines
GOOD
Bedouet Vigneron 2020 Muscadet Sèvre et Maine Le Pallet - (100% Melon Blanc)
Domaine de la Renne 2021 IGP Val de Loire - (100% Melon Blanc)
Domaine de L'Epinay 2019 Muscadet Sèvre et Maine Clisson - (100% Melon Blanc)
Domaine des Hautes Ouches 2020 Chardonnay Fût de Chêne IGP Val de Loire - (100% Melon Blanc)
Domaine Henri Poiron et Fils 2015 Muscadet Sèvre et Maine Monnières St Fiacre - (100% Melon Blanc)
Fief de la Brie 2019 Muscadet Sèvre et Maine Gorges - (100% Melon Blanc)
Vignoble Cogné 2022 Chardonnay IGP Val de Loire - (100% Chardonnay)
Vignoble de la Patelière Chardonnay IGP Val de Loire - (100% Chardonnay)
BETTER
Château Briace 2014 Muscadet Sèvre et Maine Goulaine - (100% Melon Blanc)
Château du Cleray 2018 Muscadet Sèvre et Maine Vallet - (100% Melon Blanc)
Domaine de Chaintré Chardonnay IGP Val de Loire - (100% Chardonnay) 
Domaine de la Bougrie 2022 Val du Lys IGP Val de Loire - (100% Chardonnay)
Domaine du Moulin Chardonnay Sensation IGP Val de Loire - (100% Chardonnay)
Domaine du Petit Clocher Chardonnnay IGP Val de Loire - (100% Chardonnay)
La Tour Gallus 2015 Muscadet Sèvre et Maine Gorges - (100% Melon Blanc)
Vignoble Delaunay 2018 Muscadet Sèvre et Maine Goulaine - (100% Melon Blanc)
An Evening with Vouvray
From still to sparkling, a diverse and interesting grape leaves its mark.
Fine Bulles (Bubbles)
GOOD
Domaine Champalou Brut
Domaine Damien Pinon Le Brut 2019
Domaine de Beauclair Brut
Domaine de la Robinière Extra Brut
Domaine des Aubuisières Fines Bulles Brut - Méthode traditionnelle
Domaine Sylvain Gaudron Blanc de Chenin - Brut
Maison Darragon Cuvée Antique - Brut
Maison Darragon Brut
Vignoble Alain Robert Fines Bulles - Extra Brut
BETTER
Château de Valmer Fines Bulles Brut - Méthode traditionnelle
Domaine d'Orfeuilles Feuilles d'Or 2013 Brut non dosée
Domaine Yves et Denis Breussin Extra Bulles - Extra Brut non dosé
Still Wines
GOOD
Château de Valmer 2016 Demi-Sec
Château de Valmer 2016 Moelleux
Domaine de la Croix des Vainqueurs Le Bouchet 2018 Moelleux
Domaine des Lauriers Sec 2021
Domaine du Margelleau Demi-Sec 2021
Domaine Sébastien Brunet Les Pentes de la Folie
Domaine Vincent Carême Le Peu Morier 2021 Sec
François et Julien Pinon Les Trois Argiles 2020 Demi-Sec
Le Capitaine Florian Les Aumônes 2021 Sec
Vignoble Alain Robert Les Charmes 2021 Sec
Vignoble Alain Robert Les Charmes 2021 Sec
Vignoble Brisebarre Sec 2021
BETTER
Château de Valmer 2020 Sec
Château Gaudrelle Le Sec 2021
Christophe Gaudron Cuvée Elisée 2011 Moelleux
Clos de la Meslerie Tendre 2018 Demi-Sec
Domaine Aubert Sec 2021
Domaine de la Chataigneraie Argilex 2022 Sec
Domaine Denis Meunier Inattendu du Clos Franc
Domaine des Aubuisières Silex 2022
Domaine Huet Le Haut Lieu 2020 Demi-Sec
Domaine Sébastien Brunet Renaissance
Pierre Champion 2018 Moelleux
