Loire Wines@Waitrose (part 2)

2009 Le Petit Salvard, Cheverny, Domaine du Salvard

Further notes from yesterday's Waitrose press tasting.

Le Petit Salvard (£7.99) is mainly Sauvignon Blanc with a small amount of Chardonnay as required by the AC Cheverny regulations. This gives the wine an attractively citric attack with a touch of softness provided by the Chardonnay along with some of the richness you would expect from the 2009 vintage.

2008 Vignes de Ratier, Menetou-Salon, Morogues, Domaine Pellé

More evidence here that Domaine Pellé is on good form with this 2008 Vignes de Ratier (£11.99) a single vineyard planted on marne kimméridgienne. With yellow plum aromas this has good weight and concentration allied with the vibrancy associated with the 2008 vintage. I'd buy this in preference to the two Sancerres on show: Waitrose 2009 Sancerre La Franchotte from Joseph Mellot (£11.99) and the 2008 from Domaine Naudet (£12.49) in Sury-en-Vaux.

2007 Le Haut Lieu sec, Vouvray, Domaine Huet

Le Haut Lieu is the heavier of the three Huet vineyards as it has more clay, deeper soil and is just beyond the première côte. The 2007 sec (£18.49) has just a hint of honey on the nose with the precision and clean flavours typical of 2007, although it is rather in a closed up phase at present. Needs to be cellared a while to show its best.

2009 Les Andides, Saumur

Youthful and quite exuberantly floral, this crisp, lemony 2009 Saumur Blanc (100% Chenin Blanc – £6.99) from Alliance Loire would make a good apéro as well as matching shellfish. Over the next year or so likely to take on a little more weight.