France

Loire Valley

The Loire Valley is scattered over 175,000 acres stretching from the Atlantic Ocean across to central France.

Covering such a large region it is natural that it’s been broken down into sub-regions that specialise in the growing of specific varieties.

Whites

The 3 main varietals are Melon de Bourgogne, Chenin Blanc and Sauvignon Blanc.

Other varietals include Folle Blanche, Chardonnay, Chasselas, Romorantin Sauvignon Gris and Tressalier.

These are made into dry, semi-sweet, sweet and sparkling wines, mostly single varietal.

Melon de Bourgogne

Native to: Burgundy (Bourgogne). Introduced by monks in the 17th century.

Principal AOCs: Muscadet, Muscadet-Coteaux-de-la-Loire, Muscadet-Sèvre-et-Maine, Muscadet Côtes-de-Grandlieu. Muscadets Crus Communaux: Gorges, Clisson, Le Pallet, Loire Valley PGI

Chenin, also known as: Pineau de Loire

Native to: The Loire Valley. Around the 10th century, this variety was known as “Plant d’Anjou.” The current name was popularised by Rabelais in the 15th century.

Principal AOCs: Anjou-Blanc, Bonnezeaux, Quarts-de-Chaume-Grand-Cru, Coteaux-du-Layon, Coteaux-Du-Layon-Premier-Cru-Chaume, Savennières, Savennières-Roche-Aux-Moines, Coteaux-de-l’Aubance, Anjou-Coteaux-de-La-Loire, Coteaux-de-Saumur, Crémant-de-Loire, Saumur-Blanc, Saumur-Brut, Touraine, Touraine-Amboise, Touraine-Mesland, Chinon, Jasnières, Coteaux-du-Loir, Vouvray,  coteaux-du-vendômois, Loire Valley PGI

Sauvignon Blanc

Native to: Loire Valley

Principal AOCs: Perhaps the most famous AOCs are Pouilly Fumé and Sancerre. Other AOC’s producing Sauvignon Blanc include Touraine, Touraine-Mesland, Touraine-Oisly, Touraine-Chenonceaux, Haut-Poitou, Loire Valey PGI, Quincy and Reuilly.

Reds

The 3 main varietals are Cabernet Franc, Gamay and Pinot Noir.

Other varietals include : Grolleau, Cabernet Sauvignon, Pineau d’Aunis, Côt and Négrette.

Used to make reds, rosés and sparkling wines, mostly as single varietals.

Cabernet Franc , also known as: Breton

Native to: the Nantes region, but thought to come from the Basque Country in Spain. It is the Loire region’s chief red varietal, introduced in the 11th century.

Principal AOCs: Anjou-Rouge, Anjou-Villages, Anjou-Villages-Brissac, Cabernet-d’Anjou, Cabernet-de-Saumur, Rosé-d’Anjou, Rosé-de-Loire, Crémant-de-Loire, Saumur-Rouge, Saumur-Champigny, Saumur-Puy-Notre-Dame, Saumur-Brut, Touraine, Touraine-Amboise, Touraine-Chenonceaux, Touraine-Azay-le-Rideau, Touraine-Mesland, Coteaux-du-Loir, Saint-Nicolas-de-Bourgueil, Chinon, haut-poitou, Loire Valley PGI

Gamay

Native to: The Centre-East region of France.

Principal AOCs: Anjou-Gamay, Rosé-de-Loire, Rosé-d’Anjou, Touraine, Touraine-Azay-Le-Rideau, Touraine-Mesland, Coteaux-du-Loir, Loire Valley PGI

Pinot Noir

Native to: Burgundy.

Principal AOCs: Touraine, Touraine-Noble-Joué, Loire Valley PGI

Domaine Roche Neuves

The White

Domaine des Roches Neuves Samur Blanc 'l'Insolite' 2021

Chenin Blanc from Saumur, D'Anjou-Saumur

Domaine des Roches Neuves Samur Blanc ‘l’Insolite’ 2021

Pretty, fine, long, textured & rich. Quince fruit with lovely caressing phenolics & a refreshing finish. A faint lick of green leafy herbs chervil or tarragon. Fine, a lovely pithy finish cleansing with a little bitterness. Wild ferment in 1200 stockingers 600 barrels. Fresh & thirst-quenching. Opened beautifully in the glass. Yum! Out to play now with plenty to come.

Vintage 2021
$95
$91ea in any 3+
$87ea in any 6+
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Domaine des Roches Neuves Samur Blanc 'Clos de l'Échelier' 2021
Bone Dry!

Chenin Blanc from Saumur, D'Anjou-Saumur

Domaine des Roches Neuves Samur Blanc ‘Clos de l’Échelier’ 2021

Stunning Chenin Blanc to Rival the Drinking Pleasure of 1er Cru White Burg & the Worlds Best Dry Rizza!So fine. Superbly textured. Stunning acid of epic length, piercing long and lovely. Fruit length and depth continue to build epically long after swallowing. Incredibly complex & layered. Such depth. Citrus, lemon, a little white grapefruit, pear & quince, garrigue woody herb. When the acid settles and generosity builds with time in bottle this will be an absolute ripper. Wait 3-5 years.

Vintage 2021
$177
$170ea in any 3+
$163ea in any 6+
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Domaine des Roches Neuves Samur 'Clos Romans' 2018
Bone Dry!

Chenin Blanc from Saumur, D'Anjou-Saumur

Domaine des Roches Neuves Samur ‘Clos Romans’ 2018

Chenin. Take the syrup from poached quince and mix it with Créme pâtissière. Entrancing. Lovely, feel like I’m cooking quince. Long fine, excellent acid, draws you in, alive with personality. Bone dry! Phenolics here are interesting, dusty rather than oily. They have a wonderful cleansing feel. Savory with a little oxidative character just enough to add intrigue. Fun. Very good.

Vintage 2018
$212
$205ea in any 3+
$198ea in any 6+
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The Red

Roches Neuves Samur-Champigny 2021

Cabernet Franc from Saumur-Champigny, D'Anjou-Saumur

Roches Neuves Samur-Champigny 2021

Beautiful, plump yet linear fruit average 25 up to 70 years. Wild and tank only ferment. Bright lovely balance and flow. Great way to start the range. A little spice woody herb a little violets and blue fruits. A herbal note in a refreshing & very nice way. Moderate weight and length. Restrained crunchy and delicious. As per Gibb's note could easily be drunk with a couple of degrees knocked off it.“The 2021 Domaine des Roches Neuves is made in a light bodied, delicate and fragrant

Vintage 2021
$59
$56ea in any 3+
$53ea in any 6+
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Theirry Germain (Roches Neuves) Samur-Champigny 'Les Roches' 2019

Cabernet Franc from Saumur-Champigny, D'Anjou-Saumur

Theirry Germain (Roches Neuves) Samur-Champigny ‘Les Roches’ 2019

Lovely plump juice that caresses the palate. Loads of energy here. Crunchy fruits perfumed with violets and baking spice. The texture here is exceptional incredibly fine tannins even tannins. Line and length of juicy acid. Loving the finesse here. Superb drinking. Sate the deepest of thirsts!

Vintage 2019
$61
$58ea in any 3+
$55ea in any 6+
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Domaine des Roches Neuves Samur-Champigny 'La Marginale' 2019

Cabernet Franc from Saumur, D'Anjou-Saumur

Domaine des Roches Neuves Samur-Champigny ‘La Marginale’ 2019

Deceptive in it’s depth and length. There is a trick exceptional wines manage, they appear weightless yet have incredible depth and layer after layer of intrigue. This is such a wine. Funny, Thierry’s wines remind me in so many ways of Yarra Yering. When I made wine there we were focused on two things, texture and complexity, building in layer after layer of intrigue. As with Thierry’s fruit we had incredible acidity. We aimed to make wines that you’d drink half a bottle, think, shit tha

Vintage 2019
$128
$123ea in any 3+
$118ea in any 6+
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Terre de l'Elu

Terre de l'Elu Vin de France 'Bastingage' 2021

Chenin Blanc from Anjou, D'Anjou-Saumur

Terre de l’Elu Vin de France ‘Bastingage’ 2021

Flow and shape here is excellent. A blend of 4 terroirs. Vinified separately. Seamless, rich textural wine with an acid cut and a little bitterness keeping it fresh.Pear and fresh quince cooked to blush as on a cake. A lovely core of fruit. Delicacy playing with the richness.  A little white flower hint of that marzipan and gentle silvery sweep of bitterness.Fermented in 500L oak with a discrete positive influence from 10% new wood. Terre de l’Elu have been working carefully on the qu

Vintage 2020
$95
$91ea in any 3+
$87ea in any 6+
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Terre de l'Elu 'Magellan' Cabernet Franc 2020

Cabernet Franc from Anjou, D'Anjou-Saumur

Terre de l’Elu ‘Magellan’ Cabernet Franc 2020

This is excellent. Lovely perfume super fine linear long layered tannins. Layered complex flavours of bramble, mulberry, orange skins and florals. Complete harmonious, flowing. The tannins are very impressive so sophisticated superb. Already building a feel of secondary development. Moving into the next phase of development.Charlotte and Thomas’s approach to handling Cabernet Franc is impressive. Where many in the Loire are making green, hard, reduced and Bretty wines, they have succeede

Vintage 2020
$152
$147ea in any 3+
$142ea in any 6+
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Terre de l'Elu 'Parfum d'Eden' Chenin Blanc 2021

Chenin Blanc from Anjou, D'Anjou-Saumur

Terre de l’Elu ‘Parfum d’Eden’ Chenin Blanc 2021

New Cuvée from 2021 – A parcel in chaume worked separately. This terroir is often used for sweet wines. Makes a great dry according to Thomas (...and Me!) highlighting again the importance of the flavour and phenolics from the skins.Yields of just 15-20Hl/Ha from very old vines give us a wine that is a delight in the glass! Half to ⅓ of DRC's yields! Fermentation in new wood aged in the same wood for 1 year then 5 months in stainless. This is the same as for the Bastingage.F

Vintage 2021
$158
$153ea in any 3+
$148ea in any 6+
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Domaine du Closel

Domaine du Closel Savennières 'La Jalousie' Chenin Blanc 2020

Chenin Blanc from Savennières, D'Anjou-Saumur

Domaine du Closel Savennières ‘La Jalousie’ Chenin Blanc 2020

A delicious Jalouise. Quince and Fejoa with a little baking spice. Building in depth with decent length in the glass. Textural phenolics play nicely with chalky acid complexed by hazelnut and crème pat from lees. Vivacious and refreshing. It’ll be lovely to see this fill out with a little more bottle age. Lemon oil and zest at play. Let it warm a little. The perfect intro to the fresher styles of Savennières. It will offer load more with time in bottle!

Vintage 2020
$94
$90ea in any 3+
$86ea in any 6+
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Domaine du Closel Savennières 'Le Clos du Papillon' Chenin Blanc 2020

Chenin Blanc from Savennières, D'Anjou-Saumur

Domaine du Closel Savennières ‘Le Clos du Papillon’ Chenin Blanc 2020

A complex, textural and thrilling Chenin Blanc. Two parcels, one picked earlier and devoid of botrytis, one later with a little botrytis marry seamlessly presenting us with an entrancing creature. Dry Chenin of this standing is truly something special.There’s a certain composure and harmony here. A fine example, the textural elements show a leaning to less alcohol and higher perceived acidity than its sibling ‘La Caillardières’ adding a degree of restraint and sophistication to thi

Vintage 2020
$145
$140ea in any 3+
$135ea in any 6+
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Domaine Arnaud Lambert

Domaine Arnaud Lambert Samur Brézé 'Clos de Midi' 2023

Chenin Blanc from Brézé, Saumur

Domaine Arnaud Lambert Samur Brézé ‘Clos de Midi’ 2023

Looking good! Fresh, style with a nice phenolic grip and cleansing astringency with crunchy mineral acid. Spiced pear and quince with citrus rind and fresh marmalade are balanced by silvery almond lining. Building generosity in the glass.Give this a year in bottle to settle a little and drink over 5 years.

Vintage 2023
$72
$69ea in any 6+
$66ea in any 12+
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Domaine Arnaud Lambert Samur Brézé 'Clos David' 2021

Chenin Blanc from Brézé, Saumur

Domaine Arnaud Lambert Samur Brézé ‘Clos David’ 2021

Serious Chenin here. A big jump from the Midi. Lambert appears to be working with a little more phenolic extract adding a playful grip and cleansing astringency. Very complete and flowing. David’s extra time in old oak and a 2nd winter in tank give it harmony and refinement, flowing with a real step up in sophistication.Super zippy, mineral acid with the core of fruit to support it. Building generosity and freshness in the glass on a fine crisp acidity. Heading more strongly down the quinc

Vintage 2021
$111
$107ea in any 3+
$103ea in any 6+
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Showing of wines

Thibaud Boudignon Anjou Blanc Grey Label 2021

Chenin Blanc from Anjou, D'Anjou-Saumur

Thibaud Boudignon Anjou Blanc Grey Label 2021

The Anjou Blanc was previously produced from bought-in fruit, but the 2021 vintage was made up of 50% of the estate's fruit. Tasted after being opened for three days, it has taken on an added richness and roundness that wasn't previously there. There's a mere soupçon of flinty character. Intense and precise, with laser-like acidity flying through the mouth like an arrow. The finish is nutty, pastry and lightly salty, lingering with the merest tonic-like bitterness.Rebecca Gibb MW, Vinous 91

Vintage 2021
$114
$109ea in any 3+
$104ea in any 6+
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Huet Vouvray Sec 'Clos du Bourg' 2021
Dry 3g/L

Chenin Blanc from Vouvray, Touraine

Huet Vouvray Sec ‘Clos du Bourg’ 2021

“The 2021 Clos du Bourg Sec is an ample, full bodied wine with a stream of acidity. Pure, floral and fragrant with aromas of pineapple, violets and fresh grapes. While rich, it is light in sensation, like a cloud of Chenin filling the mouth, and finishes with a fine, almost powdery and chalky texture.”Rebecca Gibb, Vinous 95 Points

Vintage 2021
$115
$110ea in any 3+
$105ea in any 6+
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Huet Vouvray Demi Sec 'Clos du Bourg' 2020
Off Dry 18-25g/l sugar

Chenin Blanc from Vouvray, Touraine

Huet Vouvray Demi Sec ‘Clos du Bourg’ 2020

“Drinking the 2020 Clos du Bourg Demi-Sec is like taking your shoes off at the end of a long day of walking and soaking them in warm water: there's just satisfaction and relaxation. The 2020 has a sense of volume but not weight, filling the mouth with depths of pure fruit before the acid pours forth like a canal lock being opened. You can expect a hint of spice and crème caramel alongside apple and florals. I am utterly seduced.”Rebecca Gibb, Vinous 97 PointsSR 95

Vintage 2020
$116
$111ea in any 3+
$106ea in any 6+
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Domaine des Roches Neuves Samur-Champigny 'La Marginale' 2019

Cabernet Franc from Saumur, D'Anjou-Saumur

Domaine des Roches Neuves Samur-Champigny ‘La Marginale’ 2019

Deceptive in it’s depth and length. There is a trick exceptional wines manage, they appear weightless yet have incredible depth and layer after layer of intrigue. This is such a wine. Funny, Thierry’s wines remind me in so many ways of Yarra Yering. When I made wine there we were focused on two things, texture and complexity, building in layer after layer of intrigue. As with Thierry’s fruit we had incredible acidity. We aimed to make wines that you’d drink half a bottle, think, shit tha

Vintage 2019
$128
$123ea in any 3+
$118ea in any 6+
Add to cart
Alphonse Mellot Sancerre Satellite 2020

Sauvignon Blanc from Sancerre, Centre Loire

Alphonse Mellot Sancerre Satellite 2020

The Satellite comes from vines in Chavignol that are spread of five separate parcels, including the reverred terroirs Le Cul de Beaujeu and Les Monts-Damnés. The low cropping Sauvignon Blanc vines here are between 40 and 80 years old. The juice was naturally fermented and raised in large, mature oak barrels and bottled without filtration. The resulting wine harnesses both the famed texture and natural chalky electricity of the slopes of Chavignol, offering intensity, precision, elegance and

Vintage 2020
$143
$138ea in any 3+
$133ea in any 6+
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Domaine du Closel Savennières 'Le Clos du Papillon' Chenin Blanc 2020

Chenin Blanc from Savennières, D'Anjou-Saumur

Domaine du Closel Savennières ‘Le Clos du Papillon’ Chenin Blanc 2020

A complex, textural and thrilling Chenin Blanc. Two parcels, one picked earlier and devoid of botrytis, one later with a little botrytis marry seamlessly presenting us with an entrancing creature. Dry Chenin of this standing is truly something special.There’s a certain composure and harmony here. A fine example, the textural elements show a leaning to less alcohol and higher perceived acidity than its sibling ‘La Caillardières’ adding a degree of restraint and sophistication to thi

Vintage 2020
$145
$140ea in any 3+
$135ea in any 6+
Add to cart
Terre de l'Elu 'Magellan' Cabernet Franc 2020

Cabernet Franc from Anjou, D'Anjou-Saumur

Terre de l’Elu ‘Magellan’ Cabernet Franc 2020

This is excellent. Lovely perfume super fine linear long layered tannins. Layered complex flavours of bramble, mulberry, orange skins and florals. Complete harmonious, flowing. The tannins are very impressive so sophisticated superb. Already building a feel of secondary development. Moving into the next phase of development.Charlotte and Thomas’s approach to handling Cabernet Franc is impressive. Where many in the Loire are making green, hard, reduced and Bretty wines, they have succeede

Vintage 2020
$152
$147ea in any 3+
$142ea in any 6+
Add to cart
Terre de l'Elu 'Parfum d'Eden' Chenin Blanc 2021

Chenin Blanc from Anjou, D'Anjou-Saumur

Terre de l’Elu ‘Parfum d’Eden’ Chenin Blanc 2021

New Cuvée from 2021 – A parcel in chaume worked separately. This terroir is often used for sweet wines. Makes a great dry according to Thomas (...and Me!) highlighting again the importance of the flavour and phenolics from the skins.Yields of just 15-20Hl/Ha from very old vines give us a wine that is a delight in the glass! Half to ⅓ of DRC's yields! Fermentation in new wood aged in the same wood for 1 year then 5 months in stainless. This is the same as for the Bastingage.F

Vintage 2021
$158
$153ea in any 3+
$148ea in any 6+
Add to cart
Thibaud Boudignon Anjou Blanc à Francois(e) 2022

Chenin Blanc from Anjou, D'Anjou-Saumur

Thibaud Boudignon Anjou Blanc à Francois(e) 2022

Made from a small parcel in the village of Saint-Lambert, the 2022 Anjou Blanc à Francois(e) is a mouth-filling style without any heaviness. The generosity of the 2022 season has been curbed, and there's a nervousness and slightly reductive nature that keeps it tight. Expect an attractive sourness from the acidity and salinity. The finish has a nice twist of savory character with 20% new oak (500-liter and cigar format). Time is needed here to ameliorate.Rebecca Gibb MW, Vinous 93 Points

Vintage 2022
$173
$166ea in any 3+
$159ea in any 6+
Add to cart
Domaine des Roches Neuves Samur Blanc 'Clos de l'Échelier' 2021
Bone Dry!

Chenin Blanc from Saumur, D'Anjou-Saumur

Domaine des Roches Neuves Samur Blanc ‘Clos de l’Échelier’ 2021

Stunning Chenin Blanc to Rival the Drinking Pleasure of 1er Cru White Burg & the Worlds Best Dry Rizza!So fine. Superbly textured. Stunning acid of epic length, piercing long and lovely. Fruit length and depth continue to build epically long after swallowing. Incredibly complex & layered. Such depth. Citrus, lemon, a little white grapefruit, pear & quince, garrigue woody herb. When the acid settles and generosity builds with time in bottle this will be an absolute ripper. Wait 3-5 years.

Vintage 2021
$177
$170ea in any 3+
$163ea in any 6+
Add to cart
Huet Vouvray Moelleux Première Trie 'Le Mont' 2017
1st Pick Botrytis Berries. Sugar 77 g/l

Chenin Blanc from Vouvray, Touraine

Huet Vouvray Moelleux Première Trie ‘Le Mont’ 2017

77 g/L. This sports a flamboyant edge, with apple crumble, ginger cream, quince paste, green tea and honeysuckle notes forming a wide panoply of aromas and flavors, while sweet and racy accents contrast, creating a lengthy finish where everything hangs in harmony. A stunning show of fruit and precision.James Molesworth, Wine Spectator 97 Points

Vintage 2017
$185
$180ea in any 3+
$175ea in any 6+
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Huet Vouvray Moelleux Première Trie 'Le Mont' 2020
1st Pick Botrytis Berries. Sugar 90 g/l

Chenin Blanc from Vouvray, Touraine

Huet Vouvray Moelleux Première Trie ‘Le Mont’ 2020

The intensely yellow colored 2020 Vouvray Le Mont Moelleux Première Trie is highly concentrated and complex on the nose that exhibits candied lemon zest and chutney aromas along with calcareous and walnut notes. Sweet (really sweet!) yet refined and elegant on the palate, this is a full-bodied, rich and generous yet piquant and firmly structured, greatly tensioned and salty 1ère Trie with pineapple flavors on the finely tannic and energetic, very sustainable finish. The 2020 has great aging po

Vintage 2020
$193
$186ea in any 3+
$179ea in any 6+
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