Abel Osorio (Nau Frères, Bourgueil)

The very fine 2008 Vieilles Vignes, Bourgueil, Nau Frères

Alphonse Mellot, jnr with Génération XIX

Edouard de la Palme with his AC Touraine Blanc (100% Chenin) 

Sebastien du Petit Thouars with the 2008 Reserve AC Touraine (100% Cabernet Franc)

Both the wines pictured from Edouard and Sébastien will be outlawed from AC Touraine if the idiotic reforms of the appellation come into force. Why you might ask. Simple! They are made respectively from 100% Chenin Blanc and 100% Cabernet Franc. The new regulations will not permit Touraine wines to be made from pure Chenin or pure Cabernet Franc. That these wines come from very close to  the birthplace of François Rabelais, the great promoter and lover of wines made from these two varieties, and that they are archetypal Loire varieties doesn't matter a jot to the Ayatollahs of eastern Touraine!

Frédéric Filliatreau (Domaine Filliatreau, Saumur and Saumur-Champigny)

Gérard Cherrier (Château de Sancerre)


Comte Henry d'Assay pouring his Château de Tracy (Pouilly-Fumé)

Henry Marionnet (Domaine de la Charmoise)

 

I have recently received a review copy of Jonathan Ray's 64-page new book: How to buy wine – all you need to know to choose the right bottle every time published by Ryland Peters & Small £9.99

I was dismayed to read on the Loire page:

'Not so good for: Big, full flavoured reds. Forget it, there are none.'

Jonathan I'll give you that there aren't any Barossa style reds but there are plenty of full flavoured reds including some from your recommended producers such as Filliatreau and Vacheron (La Belle Dame).'

Very disappointing to see such nonsense continues to be written and published.

Neil Sommerfelt MW, buying director for the Jeroboams Group UK, makes
his final offer to Florent Baumard, Domaine Baumard

Arnaud and Yves Lambert, Domaine de Saint-Just, Saumur and Saumur-Champigny

Saumur and Saumur-Champigny producers Frédéric Filliatreau
and Patrice Retif share a joke with Bernard Sirot,
one of Belgium's most eminent wine journalists.

Antoine Sanzay, one of Saumur's rising stars, behind his stand

Saumur-Champigny: Jean-Luc Mary (Domaine de la Cune)
and Alain Duveau (Domaine des Sables Verts )

Vini-be-Good stand

Touraine

Olivier Poussier, famous sommelier and consultant,
passing through Anjou-Brissac area à grand vitesse.

The Roblin brothers from Maimbray, Sancerre and a friend modeling a rather vivid cardigan

Vouvray stand

Various caves-cooperatives inc Châteaumeillant

Neil and Florent: negotiations continue......