WTN: Salvard Cheverney '07

Melon on the first whiff, tropical fruit with citrus as time went on. Great match with an onion/mushroom quiche. Second night with chicken soup, the sort of scratchy edge I detected before turned out to be oak. Not much and not unpleasant. Good value.

Having no idea what "Cheverney" is, I looked it up in my ancient Parker. It seems to be another obscure grape variety grown in the Loire Valley. Ok, the bottle said Loire, I knew that much before research. To my palate, it comes somewhere between Chenin Blanc and Cabernet Sauvignon in profile, but with a definite rusticity. Or maybe that's the oak.

12% alcohol, $13.99 at Beltramo's, 7/09.

John

Having no idea what "Cheverney" is, I looked it up in my ancient Parker. It seems to be another obscure grape variety grown in the Loire Valley.

????

I thought this was mostly Sauvignon Blanc with a bit of Chardonnay. Never heard of a 'Cheverney' grape although I have heard of the Cheverny appellation, and Salvard makes wine there. Is this a typo?

To my palate, it comes somewhere between Chenin Blanc and Cabernet Sauvignon in profile

Is this another typo? Because there sure is a lot of stuff inbetween those two grapes!

There's usually a little confusion around the Cheverny, John.

Cheverny---as Rahsaan says, and he certainly knows his stuff---is a small and relatively little known AOC in the Loire Valley (Cher-et-Loire). If the white wine from their is labeled "Cheverny", it's a Sauvignon Blanc/Chardonnay blend. This is likely what you had.

If it's labeled "Cour-Cheverny", however, then it's a different wine: then it is made totally from Romorantin, a very obscure---but I think incredibly delicious---winegrape.

I think you've confused the "Cour-Cheverny" description with the "Cheverny" that you had. As I said, it has been done before and the confusion is not uncommon.

I must have misread in Parker - the bottle is "Cheverney", and Sauvignon Blanc with a bit of Chard would fit.
Yes, Rahsaan, I mistyped; I meant to say between Chenin Blanc and Sauvignon Blanc. I have no idea how red wine got into my head, except that my head is often full of it.
Thanks for furthering my education.

John

John, now go out and look for a Cour-Cheverny. They are not always easy to find...but they are definitely worth experiencing. (Rahsaan is a big fan of Romorantin/Cour-Cheverny too.)

the bottle is "Cheverney"

Another typo!!!!

I had this very wine (same vintage) last year: excellent wine, and I thought it was a great value in Loire Sauvignon.

>> Another typo!!!!

Damn! You're right. I imagine all this fancy French wine with the low alcohol affects my few remaining brain cells that are well-pickled in Zin.


John