Seccotine oversees the tasting

Tasting today of the current vintages available at the Clos Roche Blanche under the watchful eye of Seccotine, La Châtelaine of the estate.

Apparently comfortably perched on the lip of a conical wooden vat

With Seccotine's approval we tasted the floral, clean, fresh and precise 2010 Sauvignon Blanc Cuvée No 2. Although it only has 5 grams of sulphur per litre (the norm is 20-25 grams), there is no trace of oxidation. 

The richly opulent and concentrated Cuvée No 5 from 2009 is a contrast with its echoes of some of the Cotat Sancerres. Tasted blind I'm sure I could mistake it for a restrained Viognier with its light apricot character. The 2010 Pineau d'Aunis Rosé is light with less d'Aunis character than usual. However, the 2010 l'Arpent Rouge is delicious as I have recently posted – great investment for summer drinking! The spicy, soft and concentrated 2010 Gamay is also very good with more complexity than most Touraine Gamays have. Drinking well now it will also last a good three or four years.    

Pif guards the entrance to cellar

The last 2010 was Cuvée Pif (one third Côt and two thirds Cabernet) again lighter in style than the 2009. Catherine and Didier didn't make a pure Côt in 2010. We finished with the lovely 2009 Côt, once again demonstrating how successful this variety can be in the Cher Valley. Deep coloured and richly textured with a long finish, this needs a good three or four years to show its best. Doubtless will still drink well in 10 or 15 years time.  

PS Drought postponed for the moment – heavy but steady rain in Epeigné-les-Bois yesterday evening for a good three hours or more. However, it will take days of rain to bring the water table back to normal. Some gentle rain this morning.

 

Busy tasting

Today we held a big tasting of the wines of the Clos Roche Blanche arranged in several verticals with the oldest wine from 1987. A total of 42 wines were shown. Although impressive verticals are relatively common in parts of the wine world, today's tasting was a fairly unique event for a Touraine producer in the Cher Valley.

It is a testament to quality of the Clos Roche Blanche wines that although a few of the older wines were drying out there was hardly a complete dud. Even the 1987 Côt from a very difficult year was still there as a pale phantom. Otherwise perhaps the 1995 Gamay was closest to being off its perch – disappointing as the 1996 Gamay is still there are giving pleasure.

The wines 

Arpent (Chenin Blanc, Arbois etc.): 2000, 1999, 1998

Sauvignon: 2001 2000, 1996 1995

Sauvignon n°2 : 2007 2006 2004, 2002

Gamay: 2005, 1999, 1996, 1995, 1990 (Première Vendange, Henry Marionnet)

Côt: 2007, 2006, 2005, 2004, 2003, 2002, 2001, 2000, 1999, 1997, 1996 1995, 1994, 1987

Closerie (blend of Cabernet, Côt and Gamay) : 2006, 2004, 2002, 2000, 1999, 1998, 1997, 1996, 1995, 1993

Cabernet: 1996, 1989 (Domaine Michaud)

Further details to follow.

Some of the bottles

1989 Cabernet, Touraine, Thierry Michaud

Although I was pretty confident that this 1989 would show well I was pleased by how well it showed with still quite young colour and good, medium weight evolved fruit and fair length. I used to visit Domaine Michaud in Noyers-sur-Cher quite frequently but have got out of the habit – not because the wines weren't good. I should go back again. I have no idea what I paid for it – probably the equivalent of £3-£4. proof again that the Loire offers very good value and that you don't have to pay the high prices demanded by Bordeaux to have a Cabernet that will age well.

 

2001 Côt

This Côt was a pleasant surprise from La Gourmandière– the Cave Cooperative of Francueil. In my time I have had some poor wines from this cooperative. However, this Côt, although not a heavyweight, had aged well with attractive mature fruit and that touch of rusticity that tends to be Côt's hallmark.