Half of the dozen importers were showing some Loire wines at yesterday's tasting. To respond to Chris Kissack's comment, I'd better start with H2Vin. On this occasion they were showing just two. Firstly the 2010 Les Roses du Clos (£8.00), AC Touraine from Xavier Frissant. Attractively mineral and long, Les Roses du Clos is made from Fie Gris (Sauvignon Rose/Sauvignon Gris). This has a delicacy that many Touraine Sauvignon Blancs do not have and once again underlines the lunacy of the INAO's plans to ban 100% Fie Gris from the right to the Touraine appellation.

2009 Génération X1X, Sancerre, Alphonse Mellot 

 

Les Alphonses' barrel fermented Génération Sancerre Blanc (£26.50) is far from your typical crisp Sauvignon Blanc. Rich, weighty, concentrated and long it gives more than a nod in Burgundy's direction. Its concentration in part reflects the warm summer of 2009 but also that the Mellot's along with many vignerons with vines around Sancerre town and Bué were severely hit by hail that year.   

Jacky Preys during the 2009 harvest

I’m not at all surprised that Jacky Preys doesn’t mince his words about the stupid and nonsensical reform of the Touraine Appellation to make it ready to become an appellation d'origine protégée.

 

Read the rest on Les 5 du Vin here.

Sunday night's apero: 2007 Cuvée de Fié Gris VV Touraine Domaine Jacky Preys. Made from Sauvignon Rosé (also called Fie Gris and Sauvignon Gris) which is more gentle and less assertive than many a Sauvignon Blanc. Jacky has been in the forefront of the revivial of interest in this grape variety. The vines are planted in flinty soil.

Unfortunately I understand that the new AC Touraine regulations will not permit 100% Sauvignon Rose. Just another example of how daft the new rules are.   

Off to Les Caves de Pyrène tasting later today. Will be interesting as always and interesting to see how many producers will have been able to make it over.