Loire Valley Wine Month Sampler #2 - The Whites

Domaine Saint Landor 2017 La Legende Saumur Brut - We've been big fans of Saint Landor's "regular" sparklers for years and we're really excited to be able to offer their top bubbly, La Legende, for Loire Valley Wine Month at a great price.

A 50/50 blend of hand harvested, estate grown and organically farmed Chenin Blanc and Chardonnay.  This exhilaratingly fragrant, Champagne method bubbly suggests spring blossoms, honeysuckle, acacia, and crunchy green apple and pear fruit.  Its fine mousse comes from a second fermentation in the bottle after which it rests for 4 years before release.

Domaine Bellevue Touraine Sauvignon Blanc - At his immaculate estate in the Loire’s Touraine, close to Sancerre, Patrick Vauvy waits until the last moment to start the harvest. So his fruit is always riper, making Domaine Bellevue the most concentrated, citrus charged Sauvignon from Touraine.  Citrusy with underlying roundness.

Paul Buisse Muscadet Sevre et Maine Sur Lie - Muscadet Sèvre et Maine is one of the freshest, thirst-quenching wines on earth. Muscadet, also known as Melon de Bourgogne, grows on hillsides between the rivers Sèvre and Maine, tributaries of France’s Loire River. Here, a mix of rocky and sandy soils on sloping vineyards provide excellent drainage and heat retention in a region known for its cool and damp climate due to its proximity to the Atlantic Ocean.  “Sur Lie” is a French term meaning “on the lees”. This technique is mostly used in the making of the best quality Muscadet to increase the flavor and texture of the wine and to balance its naturally high acidity.

Delicate, textural, and lively with notes of white grapefruit and melon. Once sipped, notes of lemon peel, lime and briny minerals flood the palate. There's no better wine for serving alongside freshly shucked oysters!  

Domaine du Petit Clocher Rose de Loire - Domaine du Petit Clocher is in Anjou, which lies on the lower bank of the Loire River. Vincent Denis and his two cousins, Julien (winemaker) and Stefan (viticulturalist) run the family winery, founded by their great-grandfather in 1920 and named after the clocher (church tower) adjacent to their vineyards.  They farm their Cabernet Franc in volcanic microgranite soil, which they call “hot stone” because it retains more warmth for better ripening the red grape.   The other half of the blend for this delicious Rose is Grolleau, a local varietal favored for making vin gris.  This rose of Cabernet Franc and Grolleau was medium pink in color with medium aromas of watermelon, raspberry, watermelon rind, saline, pink grapefruit, red cherry, strawberry, orange peel, lemon, and lime. On the palate, it was dry with medium-plus acidity, medium alcohol, body, flavor intensity, and finish. We had simple fruit notes like red raspberry, lemon, lime, watermelon, strawberry, and a subtle wet stone note on the finish.

Le Garenne Sancerre - Crafted by Laurent Reverdy, a 6th generation of Sancerre winemaker from one of the Valley's most important winemaking families. The Garenne label is dedicated to organic and sustainable winemaking and has been garnering lots of critical praise in its short life. A delicate and complex Sancerre with great depth of fruit; the boisterous green aromatics often found in Sauvignon Blanc have been skillfully restrained, allowing fruity layers of green apples and lemons to show through.