Tried these two over the weekend:
1. Dom. des Huards Cour-Cheverny (100% Romorantin; 12%; www.JonDavidWine.com) 2010: Med.gold color; rather ripe/pineapply/apple pie/stewed apples some chalky/mineral slight minty slight phenolic/skin-contact rather interesting nose; quite tart/tangy/citric bit ripe/pineapply/stewed apples rather chalky/mineral somewhat watery/vapid flavor; quite tart/tangy/gtapefruity appley/pineapple/stewed apples somewhat mineral/chalky/stony bit watery finish; quite interesting/attractive nose but doesn't deliver much but mineral on the palate. $18.00 (AV)
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2. TerraLaura AC: Cheverny (12%; 60% Gamay/35% PinotNoir/5% Malbec; 15-80 yr old vines; www.TheSortingTable.com) LauraSemeria/Cheverny 2010: Med.color; rather earthy/loamy/dusty slight strawberry/floral attractive/grapey/perfumed/Gamay nose; rather tart/lean/tangy pretty earthy/loamy/dusty/bit mushroomy grapey/Gamay/slight strawberry flavor w/ light/tangy tannins; long earthy/loamy/dusty quite tart/tangy/lean somewhat grapey/Gamay/strawberry/cherry finish w/ light/bitey tannins; not the effusive fruit of a Beaujolais or EdmundsStJohn and loys or earthy/loamy character; a pleasant/rustic Loire red. $24.00 (AV)
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a wee BloodyPulpit:
1. Romorantin: This is a cross between GouaisBlanc & Pinot teinturier, making it a sibling of Chard and Aligote. The only existent plantings in France are in the Cour-Cheverny. Based on this one data point, there is zero evidence that the grape should be planted all up & down the coast of Calif.
Tom