Loire
The Loire valley is, perhaps, better known for white wines but has some charming reds to offer too. From way upstream there is Pinot Noir grown at Sancerre making very light soft reds, akin to Burgundy but lighter and simpler.
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PAIRING
2018 BOURGUEIL Cote 50 Domaine Yannick Amirault
Loire France 13% Red
Cabernet Franc. Low-sulphite, Organic
From sand and gravel soils this pure Cabernet Franc is the main production of the domaine. The cuvée used to be called 'La Coudraye', but the name change reflects the fact that La coudraye is only one of five parcels on the same slope. Crunchy with red berries and peppy red juice bu...(read more)
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PRESS
2018 SAINT NICOLAS DE BOURGUEIL La Source Domaine Yannick Amirault
Loire France 13% Red
Cabernet Franc. Low-sulphite, Organic
We actually visited the Amiraults on a busy day during the 2018 harvest. Basket after basket of perfect grapes came in and tasting this you can sense that bountiful, beautiful harvest. Benoit Amirault who oversees the winemaking now, with his father Yannick, has an allergy to Sulphur so th...(read more)
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2018 CHINON Domaine Bernard Baudry
Loire France Red
Cabernet Franc. Organic
Light purplish red. Warm vintage. Garden aromas of tomato, flower stem and olive. In the mouth, lower acidity and swirling minerality at midpalate. The thrill rises toward a fresh finish full of stoniness. Thirteen months in cement tank.
Jason Wilson, vinous.com
2019 ANJOU ROUGE Sur La Butte Château de Plaisance
Loire France 13% Red
Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc. Bio-dynamic, Organic
We could hardly contain ourselves when we first tasted this sumptuous, pretty and delicately perfumed red. The perfect balance between ornate high-toned complexity and delightfully pleasing, soft red-fruit flesh is perfect. At once indulgent and then thought provoking. Wine it is hard to s...(read more)
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2018 SANCERRE Chavignol Rouge Domaine Vincent Delaporte
Loire France 13.5% Red
Pinot Noir. Organic
Located in Chavignol, this domaine has been handed down from father to son since the 17th century. Today Vincent’s grandson, Mathieu Delaporte, is in charge and he’s taking the wine to another level. 2018 was 'the perfect vintage' here and the family's Pinot Noir is a real winner. Really p...(read more)
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2019 SANCERRE Chavignol Rouge Domaine Vincent Delaporte
Loire France 13.5% Red
Pinot Noir.
The beautiful deep ruby-violet colours of this pinot noir wine give way to aromas of very ripe red fruits (cherry, blackberry and raspberry). The nose is intense and wellintegrated, with odours of cooked red fruits and roasted coffee beans. There are also hints of graphite and cinnamon. Ve...(read more)
Winemaker's notes
2018 SANCERRE ROUGE Silex Chavignol Domaine Vincent Delaporte
Loire France 13.5% Red
Pinot Noir.
Forty-year-old vines, planted in 100 per cent flinty soil, they are cultivated sustainably, following traditional methods, in order to give maximum respect to the environment. These soils retard the maturation of the grapes, which allows for a later harvest and healthier grapes. This soil...(read more)
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2018 SAINT NICOLAS DE BOURGUEIL Les Malgagnes Domaine Yannick Amirault
Loire France 13.5% Red
Cabernet Franc. Bio-dynamic, Low-sulphite, Organic
We were lucky to be visiting the Amiraults the day they were harvesting this impressive Saint Nicolas de Bourgueil. Amongst the vines Benoit was overseeing a brilliant operation get this organic fruit in at exactly the right time - back at the winery Yannick was in charge of getting all th...(read more)
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2017 BOURGUEIL La Petite Cave Domaine Yannick Amirault
Loire France 14% Red
Cabernet Franc. Low-sulphite, Organic
From a 1.5 Hectare vineyard planted 50 years ago and within view of the estates original cellar. Soils are sand and clay over a limestone base, hand harvested and double sorted prior to fermentation in tapered wooden vats. The wine is then aged for between 12-24 months dependent on the vin...(read more)
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2018 SAINT NICOLAS DE BOURGUEIL Les Malgagnes Amphore Domaine Yannick Amirault
Loire France Red
Cabernet Franc. Bio-dynamic, Low-sulphite, Organic
This Cuvée is fermented and aged in Amphora and it gives the wine a distinctive feel. Pure and lithe, the aromatics are pushed forward, blueberry, cherry and smoked tea, concise and taut. In the mouth that pure feel continues, fresh cool currant and cherry fruitiness, tea and tobacc...(read more)
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