Cheverny isn't a region that I am terribly familiar with. Until now, the only wines that I had tried from this region were white - Sauvignon-based Cheverny Blanc, and Romorantin-based Cour-Cheverny. Hervé Villemade's Domaine du Moulin is considered one of the top names in this lesser-known part of the Loire Valley, and I had enjoyed one of his Cour-Chevernys in the past, so these seemed to be worth a try. I was fortunate enough to get a closeout bargain on the Les Ardilles.
At any rate, these are definitely worth trying if you enjoy Pinot Noir- and Gamay-based wines from the Loire, or if you like to experiment with "natural" and/or minimally sulfured wines, as I do.
2010 Domaine du Moulin (Hervé Villemade) Cheverny Rouge
50-50 blend of Gamay and Pinot Noir; no added sulfur in bottling. Gamy nose. Light-bodied, earthy, with cranberry, spice, and leather notes. Well balanced, with moderate acidity. Good/very good. One to drink in the near term.
2004 Domaine du Moulin (Hervé Villemade) Cheverny Rouge “Les Ardilles – Mise d’Automne”
80% Pinot Noir/20% Gamay; no added sulfur in bottling. Apparently, there was both a Mise d’Automne and a Mise de Printemps in 2004. Although Louis/Dressner currently imports Villemade’s wines, this bottle was imported by Jenny & Francois.
Quite leafy/pungently herbal nose, with some pine, green tea, and damp earth. Light to medium-bodied, with good underlying acidity; rather mineral, with cranberry, cherry, cinnamon, and purple basil notes, plus some VA. I read that Villemade was influenced by the late, great Marcel Lapierre, and that influence is certainly evident here in terms of the minerality and finesse on the palate. Very good+; unlikely to improve at this point, though.