Loire Valley Wine

This rich, sweet, liqueur made from blackcurrants macerated in alcohol originated in Burgundy in the 1840s where it soon found its way into glasses of tart Aligote (a “Kir”) and then frothy Champagne (a “Kir... Read More

Lower ABV Just straight-ahead, classic, bone dry, Melon de Bourgogne with a touch of amplitude and texture from time spent “sur lee” after fermentation. Granny Smith apple, green melon and lime zest aromas and flavors... Read More

Organic/Bio Pure, fresh, flavorful Sancerre grown organically and made all in cool stainless steel. There’s a lot going on here, with swirling aromas and flavors of white grapefruit, lemon, tangerine skin and the traditional... Read More

Organic/Bio Lower ABV A stunning value in top-notch Muscadet from the important Chateau Thebaud Cru. Antoine Delaunay farms his vines organically, uses no sulfur in the winery until a tiny touch at bottling, and gives all his... Read More

Lower ABV I certainly wouldn’t try to tell the 2023 Chauveau Pouilly Fume La Charmette apart from a $40+ Sancerre when tasting blind. Not surprising: its from the same Sauvignon Blanc grapes, Kimmeridgian marl and limestone... Read More

Organic/Bio Just a short distance from Sancerre, Pouilly Fume showcases the smokier, gunflint, side of Sauvignon Blanc. Especially at this outstanding estate run by 8th generation winegrower Katia Mauroy-Gauliez working with some... Read More

Lower ABV All about fresh. Fresh white flowers, freshly squeezed citrus and zest, fresh cut grass, and juicy green grapes all jump from the glass to your nose as soon as you take a sniff. Scents of lemon zest and a little chalky... Read More

Tucked in among Loire River tributaries, the Chenin Blanc vineyards of Coeaux du Layon see autumn morning fog followed by sunny afternoons – the perfect conditions for botrytis and great sweet wines. Here the shriveled grapes... Read More

Lower ABV Think of Coteaux du Giennois as the front door to Sancerre (technically the “back door” since it’s down river, but that doesn’t sound nearly as good!). The limestone soils here were given over... Read More

Lower ABV It’s always tempting to refer to Sauvignon Blanc from the eastern Loire Valley as coming from “near Sancerre” to take advantage of that brand. And Menetou-Salon really is not far from Sancerre, just... Read More

A Loire Valley Malbec that is frankly funky (maybe the chicken on the label is THE funky chicken?). Cot as it's called in the Loire Valley was the go-to bistro red in Nantes as late as the 1930s before it was crowded out... Read More

Venture off the beaten Loire Valley path to discover the DELICIOUS Sauvignon Blanc. The Coteaux de Giennois appellation is small - under 200 acres in total - and tends to get lost in the shadow of nearby Sancerre and Pouilly-Fume.... Read More

Organic/Bio Lower ABVThe small vineyard Laurent Charrier calls “The Wind in the Willows” were well known for giving good wine in the 19th century, so when Laurent’s grandfather was able to buy the abandoned... Read More

Lower ABV Domaine du Salvard has been a working domaine since 1898, through five hardworking generations of the Delaille family. We know them best for their Unique Sauvignon Blanc and lovely Sauvignon/Chardonnay Cheverny Blanc.... Read More

Organic/Bio The most famous producer in Vouvray for the past 100 years and the first to be certified biodynamic (1993!) captures the essence of Loire Valley Chenin Blanc like no one else. From the original Huet vineyard, this... Read More

This small (20 acre) family-owned estate makes delicious wines that studies the interaction of Sauvignon Blanc and Sancerre's diverse soils. Here you’ll taste the impact of Sancerre’s famed “terres blanches,”... Read More

Lower ABV Southwest of Sancerre along the river Cher, Quincy's pure limestone soils and warm climate gives Sauvignon Blanc of remarkable richness and delightful fresh minerality. Vincent Siret's Quincy is especially elegant... Read More

Saumur-Champigny is arguably the best place to grow Cabernet Franc in the Loire Valley and certainly the most famous - at least within France. The fame is because Parisians began using the motorway to reach weekend houses in the... Read More

Lower ABV Basically a “baby Sancerre”, this exciting young Sauvignon Blanc is grown on the same chalky slate soils you’ll find across Sancerre from 10-40 year-old vines, fermented in stainless steel and allowed... Read More

Powerful, rich, mouthwatering and delicious Sancerre from vines planted in 1936 and wine aged 12 months in old French oak. As Suckling says in the 93 point review, “A well-rounded, precise, succulent and minerally white... Read More

Lower ABV Jean-Pierre Vacher, his son Jerome and daughter-in-law, Karine, are making classic, focused, Sancerre that hold on to Sancerre's freshness year after year. Done all in steel, this delivers fresh white citrus and... Read More

Organic/Bio Lower ABV Jeremie Huchet has emerged as one of Muscadet's young stars, and this single-vineyard, organically farmed, Melon de Bourgogne shows why. As Wine Advocate says in the 91 point review, aromas of crushed... Read More

About a half-hour southwest of Sancerre, Menetou-Salon offers essentially the same soils and climate as Sancerre, but is enough off the beaten path to escape all of Sancerre's hype. Historic Sancerre producer Joseph Mellot... Read More

Organic/Bio Lower ABV What happens when you grow the Gamay of Beaujolais, the Pinot Noir of Burgundy and the Malbec of Cahors on the flint and silex soils of Valencay in France's western Loire Valley? Well, if the grower/winemaker... Read More

Loire Valley Cabernet Franc can be thin, green and smelling of Band-Aids. Or, in the hands of a good grower and in a nice vintage, it can be like this! Lovely redcurrant and black cherry fruit here with a nice dash of fresh herb... Read More