2023 Loire Valley Wine

There’s a good argument to be made that the best place in the world to make dry Chenin Blanc is Savennieres, on the north side of the Loire river across from Coteaux du Layon (where sweet wines reign). This is a benchmark... Read More

Lower ABV Ch Marie du Fou wines showcase the traditions of the Mourat family and the tiny region of Fiefs Vendeens at the end of the Loire River as it flows into the Atlantic Ocean. A blend of Pinot Noir, Cabernets Franc and Sauvignon... 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

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

Lower ABV Melon de Bourgogne grown on schist soils gives more cut, energy and freshness than pure limestone, and schist around 15 inches under the top-soil is the secret to this delicious seafood and sipping white. Green apple,... 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

In the deep south of Languedoc, growers discovered that flooding their vineyards for 40 days in spring could kill the phylloxera louse, and that's how Ferrandiere still farms it's own-rooted vines just 12 miles from Carcassonne.... Read More

Lower ABV There's a lot going on here if you want to geek out and try to describe it, but the top -line is that it's really good Chenin with a touch of barrel that goes down almost too easily. The flavors of quince, apple,... Read More

From vines north of Sancerre, this is mostly Pinot Noir with a splash of Gamay and while calling it a charming Bistro Pinot is accurate, it undersells the quality here by a fair bit. The cherry and mulberry fruit flavors are dark... Read More

Lower ABV Grolleau Noir is one of the Loire Valley's most widely planted grapes, but it mostly ends up in pink wine, especially Rosé d'Anjou. Here an excellent Saumur producer turns Grolleau into an utterly delicious,... Read More

Organic/Bio With folks like Francois Cotat and Gerard Boulay, Vaceron sits at the very top of any informed Top Sancerre lists. Organic farming, low yields, native fermenation and large cask aging give Sancerre of uncommon volume... Read More

Lower ABV A classic Loire Valley Cabernet Franc done all in steel to capture the crunchy fruit and wild herb aromas. Wine Advocate says, The 2023 Trézeillières exhales a fruity, gourmand bouquet of cassis, raspberries,... Read More

Organic/Bio Francois Chidaine is most famous for his brilliant Chenin Blancs from Montlouis on the north side of the Loire River where he lives and has his winery. He makes equally astonishing wines across the river in Vouvray,... Read More

Organic/Bio Sancerre was red wine country until the mid-20th century, and within Sancerre, Francois Crochet's Pinot Noirs are highly revered. He doesn't make this wine every year, but when the season gives him ripeness... 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 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

Organic/Bio Wine Advocate calls Thibaud Boudignon one of France’s foremost vignerons and winemakers today for his ultra pure, intense, Chenin Blancs from Savennieres and Anjou. Here 35 year-old vines on schist and volcanic... Read More

A joyful, red-fruited, lightly floral and sappy red that’s just a joy to drink solo, with bistro fare and, especially, with raw, grilled/roasted or sautéed veggies. The vineyard was planted 25 years ago from cuttings... Read More