Category Archives: Loire Valley

Tasting new whites in Florida

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First of all, I have to apologize. I haven’t been very productive lately and didn’t keep up with my blog.  The reason was our big out of state move. I don’t know, it feels like the older I get, the harder the moving becomes.  We have moved so many times before, even over seas – but this time was especially hard. Probably also because of my physical condition and the fact, that we were moving from the north all the way down to Florida. Sounds exciting, right?

I am not going to bore you with the stories about never ending packing, missing stuff that is already packed, crashed down computer in the middle of it, throwing tuns of stuff away and giving to charity, still realizing we wouldn’t fit on the rented truck, then long tiring trip down south – to come to a house that needs to be deep cleaned and emptied of bunch of useless stuff, left behind by the previous owner. Wow. I just did, didn’t I?

I am still waiting for my new wine cellar /credenza to be delivered to our new home, but I did bring two of my small wine refrigerators. I was aware that the time I could use my natural basement as a cellar, is definitely over in Florida.  I also knew that I needed some refill, especially in white wines department.

So after we settled  a little, I paid another visit to the largest local wine shop Total Wines. See my blog about my first visit there. This time we came on lazy Sunday morning, when the store was almost empty and I randomly picked case of different white wines to explore and enjoy.

I will try to review all of them because it seems that so far I had a lucky hand. We loved them all. The latest that stood out for us was Château du Jaunay – Muscadet  Sèvre et Maine, Sur Lie. Lovely, crisp white from Loire Valley of central France perfectly accompanied our light summer dinner of spiced shrimp and sauteed green beans. We couldn’t put the bottle down. Full of lemony flavors, beautifully balanced with just right acidity, that leaves that teasing feeling on the tongue. What a pretty wine! Full of fruit and long, very elegant finish.

I am glad I picked this wine – I might go back for a case. This is just a perfect seafood wine, as most Muscadets are, but not all of them are created equally. This one was made with love and passion. That’s what I fell from that bottle. It made me smile. And lucky me, I have another one on hand before I would have to have another trip to the wine store.

If you are tired of Chardonnay and Pinot Grigio, give this wine a try. It will make you smile too! Summer is almost here!!!!

Oh, did I tell you I love our new backyard? I do, it’s like heaven on Earth! Well worth all of the trouble.

Domaine de la Pépière Muscadet Sèvre et Maine sur Lie 2009

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Winemaker: Marc Ollivier
Grape: Melon de Bourgogne
Region: Loire, France

I love this Muscadet! And I was thrilled to find this wine on the Boston Legal Seafood’s wine list. And, for a very reasonable markup! You can’t find better wine to accompany their selection of oysters. This is one of those “perfect matches”. Kudos to their sommelier!

This delicious, crisp white wine comes from one of the three “Muscadet” regional sub-appellations: Muscadet-Sèvre et Maine, officially established in 1936. Wikipedia informs that the grape variety used for Muscadet – Melon de Bourgogne, was initially planted in the region sometime in or before the 17th century.

Grapes for Ollivier’s Muscadet are sourced from vineyards over 40 years old. All the vineyards are from original stock: he is the only grower in the Muscadet who does not have a single clonal selectionin his vineyards.

Marc Ollivier is taking a very special approach when it comes to his wines. Unlike many in the region, who are speeding up their fermentation process in order to release their wines as soon as possible, Marc is not rushing. He is one of not many that harvests by hand (to assure that only perfectly ripe grapes will end up in the fermentation tanks).

He then only uses natural yeasts and wait for the nature to do its work and completes the fermentation naturally, interrupting wine as little as possible. Basically, Marc’s wine is being bottled usually about 4-5 months later than most of his competitors in Loire.

Letting the wine age on its natural yeast cells (must) until it is bottled, gives this already excellent wine, another dimension. The result is a white wine with unbelievable flavor profile, depth and characteristics. Marc’s approach might not be so important to the most wine consumers – until they get the chance to taste Domaine de la Pépière Muscadet against any other.

Tasting notes:
Lovely light golden color and amazing aroma of wild flowers and citrus fruit. On the palate this wine is mineral, crisp and fresh with hints of lemon, lime and aromatic violets. Light to medium in the body, it brings symphony of flavors to your palate.

Perfectly balanced acidity makes it perfect match for shellfish or other seafood. Long finish makes you long for more. Thanks to a quality vines, low yields and very special vinification process, this wine can age for decade or more. And that can’t be said about every Muscadet.

Dry – Off dry – Medium sweet – Sweet
Light – Medium – Full body
No oak – Aged in oak

Retail price: under $ 14.00

Ideal food pairing:

Oysters, oysters and oysters!!! Also, Seafood salad,  Shrimp Criolli, My Happy Tilapia,  Barquito de Anchoa and many more….

Henri Bourgeois Petit Bourgeois 2009

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Produced by: Domaine Henri Bourgeois
Grape: Sauvignon Blanc
Region: Loire Valley, France

Before I started to write this review, I spent hours looking for a business card I got few years back, when I first met one of Henri Bourgeois’s sons.

Was it Jean-Marie or Arnauld? Unfortunately, I am not sure which one was there to present newest vintages of their wines from Sancerre as well as from New Zealand.

He came with his girlfriend (the same story, no name) – who was introduced to us as a winemaker for their New Zealand project.

But maybe the first names are not so important. What is more important fact to remember is that family Bourgeois wines, from the heart of Sancerre region were always highlights of our company’s French portfolio and I believe, top quality Sancerre wines from the region.

The Bourgeois family has been cultivating vines in the heart of the Sancerre region of France for 10 generations. This region, about 200 km to the south from Paris, is characterized by broken hills along the Loire River.

The main grape varietal here is Sauvignon Blanc (about 80% planted) and Pinot Noir for the red and rose wines.

Domain Bourgeois is located in the village of Chavignol known for its wine (vines here are grown on steep and well-exposed slopes) and also, perhaps even more, for its goat cheese “Crottin de Chavignol”.

Back in 1950, the family only owned two hectares of vineyards, but Henri and his sons increased to 65 hectares, 120 different vineyards, located on some best slopes of Sancerre and Pouilly-Fumé. Even an impressive 65 hectares, it provides about half of their needs. Domain Bourgeois has a long term relationship with some best  local growers and buys their fruit as well.

The family quickly became one of the most significant wine houses in Sancerre, operating both as a grower and as a négociant, As that wasn’t enough, the youngest generation of Bourgeois family wished to spread their wings even more. 11 years ago Henri’s son chose 109 hectares in Marlborough to continue his wine passion abroad. The first wine of Clos Henri in New Zealand was produced in 2003.

In Sancerre and Loire Valley the family produces many high quality Sauvignon Blancs from different block selections:

La Chantereine Cheverny Blanc
En Travertin Pouilly Fumé
Les Bonnes Bouches Sancerre Blanc
La Chapelle des Augustins Sancerre Blanc
Le MD de Bourgeois Sancerre Blanc
La Demoiselle de Bourgeois Pouilly Fumé
Jadis Sancerre Blanc
D’Antan Sancerre Blanc
Etienne Henri Sancerre Blanc

but also some Cabernet Franc wines in Loire – Le Petit Bourgeois Rouge, Saint-Nicholas de Bourgueil “Les Graviers” , Le Pigeonnier or Le Pigeonnier Vieilles Vignes.

Their Petit Bourgeois Sauvignon blanc comes from the slopes of Loire Valley known as “the Garden of France”. The wine was fermented in stainless steel tanks that are thermo-regulated, and then matured for months on its lees.

Tasting notes:
Sauvignon Blanc from Loire Valley to me taste little more delicate than the ones from New Zealand. It doesn’t have the strongly pronounced grapefruitty aroma and flavors up in your face.

Still, I get a beautiful aromatics of refreshing citrus, lemon grass, tropical fruits and green gooseberries, that reminds me of my parents garden.This wine is light, fresh and crisp, with a plenty of fruit characteristics and well balanced acidity. What else is good to know about this wine?

It’s very packet friendly (courtesy of missing the Sancerre appelation by a tiny bit). Just so you know other (exquisite) wines from Sancerre and/or Domaine Bourgeois are much closer to $ 20 -30 price range and over. Well worth it though!

Dry – Off dry- Medium sweet – Sweet
Light – Medium – Full body
No oak – Aged in oak
Retail price: about $ 12.00

Ideal food pairing:
Oysters, Shellfish,  Shrimp Criolli, Seafood salad, Angel Hair Pasta with Spicy Seafood, My Happy Tilapia.. and creamy goat cheese such as their local “Crottin de Chavignol”.