Thierry tasting down in his cellar

Early last Friday morning Nigel and I headed off to Saumur with a first stop with Thierry Germain (Domaine des Roches Neuves) in Varrains. First off we tasted the 2010 whites where Thierry continues to look for freshness and minerality, very different in style from the rich whites he made when he first arrived in Saumur back in the early 1990s. Solitaire 2010 Saumur Blanc, the second wine has minerality and balance. Isolite 2010, which is vinified and aged in a mix of 12 hl foudres and 500/600 litre barrels, has more ripeness and weight than Solitaire, although the finish is quite austere.

Thierry demonstrating how the vines are curled into each other

Before we started tasting we had a quick look at the Cabernet Franc vines by the winery. Thierry explained that they now have a trellis system with five wires to maximise the leaf area, and so maximise photosynthesis. He explained that they no longer trim the tops of the vines as is common practice throughout most of France. Instead the vine shoots are curled into the foliage, which appears to top them growing.

Then onto the reds. Firstly the 2010 Domaine des Roches Neuves, Saumur-Champigny with its vivid, easy drinking primary fruit from a short maceration. This cuvée has been bottled, while the rest of the reds we tasted from barrel. The 2010 Franc de Pied from ungrafted vines has an attractively soft texture and very pure black fruit flavours.

We finished down in the Roches Neuves extensive and warren-like cellars where the still unbottled , richly opulent and complex 2009 Marginale was particularly impressive.

 Further cellar shots

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Château de Villeneuve

From Thierry Germain's Roches Neuves in Varrains we crossed from the south of the Saumur-Champigny appellation to the north that overlooks the Loire. To Jean-Pierre and Florent Chevallier's Château de Villeneuve in Souzay-Champigny. Jean-Pierre is a close friend of Thierry's and his wines continue to be among the top wines from the Loire, although JP's quality tends to get less media coverage than they deserve.

We started with the yet to be bottled rich and lemony 2010 Saumur Blanc with its pure and mineral finish. JP said that due to a hail storm on 2nd May they will only have a very small harvest of Chenin Blanc this year. The 2009 Les Cormiers, which was vinified and aged in 12 hls foudres, needs time with the wood still showing a little but it has a fine mineral tension in the finish.

The new spring cuvée, 2010 Clos de la bienboire, is exactly what it is designed to be – deliciously, fruity. 2010 is the first commercial release, although JP made some in 2008 and 2009 as an experiment. The wine has no added sulphur, so needs careful handling and most of it will be sold locally. The 2009  domaine Saumur-Champigny is quite closed and tight needing time, so enjoy the Clos why this comes round. In contrast the floral and elegant 2009 Vieilles Vignes is more open and accessible. We finished with the finely structured 2009 Le Grand Clos with its silky texture. Presently closed in comparison to the VV, this has greater potential. Now 18€ a bottle from the domaine, it remains a bargain particularly in relation to Bordeaux wines of similar quality.       

Although Villeneuve has been effectively organic for the last nine years, JP is now seeking certification so the domaine is now in its second year of formally converting to organic viticulture. Jean-Pierre talked about the improvements Saumur-Champigny over the past 20 years. How he had been ashamed of them in comparison to Bordeaux back in the early 1990s but that now was certainly not the case anymore. The days of picking unripe and adding sugar have gone for good producers. Jean-Pierre stopped chaptalising in 1993 and hasn't added sugar to any of his cuvées since then. 

He spoke also of the influence on him of Charles Joguet, especially the wines from 1989 and 1990, which had convinced him of what was possible here.     

The church of Souzay-Champigny close to Villeneuve 

Chinon to follow separately tomorrow.

  (Originally posted on Les 5 du Vin)

 

 

On Saturday I went along to Vitiloire (http://www.tours.fr/vitiloire/index.php). This is a consumer wine fair held in the centre of Tours, which celebrates Loire wines from Nantes by the Atlantic to the Côte de Forez deep in the Auvergne.  

Vitiloire 2011 is the 9^th edition and somehow it is the first one that I have managed to attend – a shame because it was brilliant with 116 producers showing their wines. It helped, of course, that the weekend was warm and sunny.

Time for lunch – an opportunity to graze from the many food stalls

Among the 116 producers present there were a good number that I did not know, so it was an excellent opportunity to try their wines rather than sticking with vignerons whose wines I already know. This worked very well as there were a number that impressed me.

Pierre Van Den Boom

 

First off was Pierre Van Den Boom (Domaine de l’Enchantoir) in Le Puy Notre Dame. I was impressed by his two Saumur Blancs (100% Chenin Blanc). The 2009 Domaine (6€) has lightly floral aromas with a hint a honey and an attractive texture with some weight.  The 2007 Cuvée Madeleine (8.50€), which is vinified in oak, is more complex and mineral with the precision and austerity associated with the 2007 vintage. I also liked his 2009 Le Pied à l’étrier (7.20€), a red with the new Saumur Le Puy-Notre Dame appellation with its black fruits and structure. I thought this cuvée was more successful then the 2008 Clos du Petit Chavannes, a cuvée prestige where the oak dominated the fruit.

Pascal Janvier

There were several producers from Jasnières and the Coteaux du Loir illustrating that, although this small area is nevertheless one of the Loire’s most dynamic. Pascal Janvier has a total of 9.5 hectares – six in Jasnières. His 2010 Coteaux du Loir (100% Chenin) is charming as well as precise and balanced with its 13 grams of residual sugar. The 2010 Cuvée des Silex, Jasnières is more austere with only 3.5 grams of residual sugar but has character, greater minerality and length. To finish the 2010 Cuvée Sainte Narcisse a delicately sweet Jasnières with 55 grams of residual sugar. This would make a very attractive aperitif or to serve with blue cheese even foie gras but not a dessert.

Régis Breton

 

My next new Jasnières producer was Régis Breton (Domaine Percheron), whose first vintage was 2008. Previously he had been maître de chai for Michel Boulay. Régis has five hectares – 3.5 in Jasnières. His wines are clean, precise and well made with my favourite being the quite austere 2008 Coteaux du Loir with 6 grams of residual.

Finally another Rémi but not from Jasnières but instead one of the small number of Noble Joué producers. Noble  Joué has its own Touraine appellation and is made from three Pinots – Noir, Meunier and Gris. Rémi Cosson has four hectares of vines. His 2010 Noble Joué would be a delightful apéritif with its youthful, floral aromas, ripe texture balanced by crisp acidity. Cosson's Noble Joué is on the list of the Agnès Sorel restaurant in Genillé, where the 22€ menu is a bargain.

 

Rémi Cosson

Over its two days Vitiloire attracts some 20,000 visitors. I noted a high proportion of young enthusiasts – there to discover the Loire’s diversity and no sign of people out to get drunk.

The organisers of Vitiloire say that the 2011 edition attracted 25,000 visitors and that 7000 tasting glasses were sold@5€ each. Attendance was up by 20% on 2010.  

 

Prize Presentation

Report on the 16th edition on Les 5 du Vin here.