The Loire Valley Wines marketing groups poured an interesting assortment of wines at the Expo last weekend. They had separate tables for Vouvray, Muscadet, Sauvignons, and reds, among others. Overall, I was impressed at heir selection of wines, and particualrly enjoyed the 2006 Domaine Lucien Crochet Sancerre Rouge La Croix du Roy.
2007 Château Moncontour Vouvray Demi-Sec
Light to medium-bodied, off-dry, elegant, well balanced, with good underlying acidity; shows peach, apricot, floral, and mineral notes. Very nice.
2009 Domaine de Vigneau-Chevreau Vouvray Cuvée Silex
Medium-bodied, elegant, dry, well balanced, with good underlying acidity; somewhat earthy, very mineral, with herbal and wet wool notes. Very good.
2008 Les Caves Monmousseau Vouvray Sec Tendre
Light to medium-bodied, off-dry, well balanced, with moderate acidity. Peachy and lightly earthy, with notes of minerals and wet wool. Good.
2008 Charles Bove Vouvray
Light-bodied, off-dry, elegant, balanced, with moderate acidity; shows peach and mineral notes. Good.
2009 Château de la Ragotière Muscadet de Sèvre-et-Maine Sur Lie
Light in weight, dry, fresh, well balanced, with good underlying acidity. A fruitier Muscadet, with citrus, apricot, and apple notes along with a pleasantly mineral backbone. Very good.
2008 Domaine du Grand Mouton (Louis Métaireau) Muscadet de Sèvre-et-Maine Sur Lie “Carte Noire”
Light in weight, linear, bone dry, well balanced, fresh, with good underlying acidity. Very mineral, with saline and citrus notes. Very good.
2009 Domaine Claude Riffault Sancerre Les Boucauds
Medium-bodied, roundish, well balanced, with good underlying acidity. Mineral and lightly grassy, with citrus and tropical fruit notes. Very good.
2007 Domaine Henri Bourgeois Pouilly-Fumé “La Demoiselle de Bourgeois”
Nose is rather shy right now, and is more mineral than smoky or flinty. Light to medium-bodied, precise and focused, bone dry, nicely balanced, with strong acidity, and steely citrus and tropical fruit notes. Very good; one to watch over the next few years as it opens up.
2008 Domaine Sylvain Bailly Quincy “La Croix Saint Ursin”
Vegetal (overcooked asparagus?) nose. Light in weight, round, bone dry, linear, with good underlying acidity; citrusy and mineral. With a more attractive nose, this would be a pretty wine. As it is, I would hold out for a riper vintage.
2008 Domaine de la Chanteleuserie Bourgueil Cuvée Beauvais
Roasted pepper nose. Medium-bodied, moderately tannic, elegant, well balanced, with notes of cherries, spices, and minerals. Very good.
2006 Domaine Charles Joguet Chinon Cuvée de la Cure
Medium-bodied, focused, with good balanced and finesse; showing silky, floral, lightly spicy red berry notes. Very good.
2006 Domaine Lucien Crochet Sancerre Rouge La Croix du Roy
Perhaps my favorite wine at the Expo. Light to medium-bodied, focused, well balanced, with good underlying acidity; velvety, and full of finesse. Shows aromas/flavors of red berries, earth, minerals, fresh herbs, and mint. Excellent.
2007 Chateau de la Roulerie Coteaux du Layon
Lightly to moderately sweet, focused, well balanced, with good underlying acidity; fresh and mineral, with characteristic Chenin notes of peaches/apricots and wet wool. Very good.