WTN: Let me Loire it

A couple of 2009 Loire reds with dinner.

2009 Clos Roche Blanche Cuvee Cot Touraine
Made of Cot which when googled is Auxerrois. Dense tongue-staining purple color. Herb and dry earth on the nose. Tannic and young but fruit is still at the forefront with acidity from raspberry. Mineral and stones. Cab franc’ish. Chalky finish. The last couple of pours were better than the first. B

2009 Domaine de l’Amounier Touraine Rouge
100% gamay. Great nose with floral, meat and rustic components. High acidity, but bad with fresh tomatoes appetizers, yet good with salmon teriyaki. Very savory and almost like a big Beaujolais. Good length. This is pretty good. B+

A couple of 2009 Loire reds with dinner.
2009 Clos Roche Blanche Cuvee Cot Touraine
Made of Cot which when googled is Auxerrois....

Very confusing. From the Winegrape Glossary: http://www.wineloverspage.com/wineguest/wgg.html#pgris

AUXERROIS:
French local name for the Malbec, a.k.a Côt red wine grape species grown in the Cahors region of France and also, confusingly, an important white-wine producing variety in the Alsace region called the Auxerrois Blanc that is distinct from another locally grown white-wine producer variety called the Auxerrois Gris that is actually the Pinot Gris variety grape. Another grape, bearing the alias name Gros Auxerrois was once found widely grown in the south of France and, currently known as Napa Gamay in some vineyards of California, is actually the variety Valdiguié.

Very confusing.

No more confusing than America's regional variation in nomenclature. I.E. sprinkles vs. jimmies, soda vs. pop, heros vs. hoagies vs. subs, etc.

[David M. Bueker]

Auxerrois?

I thought Auxerrois was that Pinot Blanc-esque grape of Alsace.

Looking at various links, most just say that Cot is Malbec.

Confusing, indeed. I used to think that Auxerrois was a white wine from Alsace, too.

Here's a quiote from Louis Dressner's, the importer, on Clos Roche Blanche:

"The varietals grown are Cabernet (Sauvignon and Franc), Gamay, Côt (or Auxerrois, the grape of Cahors) and Sauvignon Blanc. "

I've had previous vintages of this and it's definitely white:

http://www.weygandtwines.com/cgi-bin/co ... n&key=2095

Could it be two grapes using the same name?

Could it be two grapes using the same name?

Yes. The key is that the name is used differently in different regions.

I don't know the history. Perhaps it's on Walt's chart.

Isn't the Alsace version referred to as "Pinot Auxerrois"---to signify that it is within the Pinot family (Pinot Noir, Pinot Blanc, Pinot Gris...), whereas the "Auxerrois" does not have the Pinot designation?

And it is not altogether uncommon for different grapes to have different local/dialect/colloquial names.

There are two guys named Kevin in one of my classes. I have no problem telling them apart

Auxerrois?

I thought Auxerrois was that Pinot Blanc-esque grape of Alsace.

Looking at various links, most just say that Cot is Malbec.

Malbec was known as Auxerrois in Cahors (or perhaps only in parts of it?). Yes, it is endlessly confusing what with (Pinot) Auxerrois being white and all... Good thing that Zinfandel, Petite Sirah, Gamay Beaujolais and Grey Riesling have never had such problems!

Mark Lipton