Clos de Roche Noire: Chenin Rooted in the Schist Soils of Anjou
Somewhere between a Loire Valley morning mist and the loamy pages of a Balzac novel, a white wine with lineage and just the right salinity…
Ansodelles: the precise elegance of a great Bourgueil wine
In the communal hush of a Loire Valley cave, glass in hand, one could imagine Louis XI himself pausing between two intrigues, inhaling deeply from…
Vingt Mars: a high-flying Sauvignon from Pierres d’Aurèle
In the golden hour of a late spring afternoon, when the shadows of château towers stretch languidly across the Loire’s shimmering surface, the idea of…
L’Esprit des terriens “Silices” by Pascal Lambert: Chinon tuned to the pitch of the soil.
As Colette once quipped between two sips of Quincy, “It is not drinking, it is cultivating memory.” A notion that gains unexpected depth over a…
Golden Harvest at Mosny: Autumn Leaves Montlouis Sings the Loire Story
They say Rabelais drank wine on the banks of the Loire to think more clearly… I suspect he simply couldn’t resist the siren song of…
Funambule: A Perfect Balancing Act by the Marchesseau Brothers!
I picked up this bottle of Funambule 2020 a couple of years ago at Vitiloire, after a warm and memorable tasting with one of the…
Discover the Hidden Gem of Abbaye de Bourgueil
I knew the Abbaye de Bourgueil—its centuries-old history, its deep roots in the Loire Valley’s winemaking heritage. But I had no idea that hidden within…
12 Arpents: A Dozen Reasons to Fall in Love with Cabernet Franc
I recently had the great pleasure of continuing my exploration of the wines from Domaine de la Chopinière du Roy with Sophie and her son…
Le Clos 2016: A Rare Vintage from Château de Parnay
Among the great Loire reds, Saumur Champigny holds a special place—often more refined than powerful, more subtle than bold. Yet, with Le Clos 2016 from…
Uncovering Montlouis: Les Javelles 2018 from Domaine de la Croix Mélier
While Vouvray often steals the spotlight in Loire Valley wines, across the river lies a hidden gem: Montlouis-sur-Loire. Here, Domaine de la Croix Mélier crafts…
A Divine Drop from the Loire: François Chidaine’s ‘Chenin d’Ailleurs’
In a year that challenged Loire Valley vintners with spring frosts, François Chidaine has crafted a masterpiece that defies the odds. His 2016 ‘Le Chenin…
Clos de l’Echo: A Legendary Wine by Couly Dutheil
There are wines that leave a lasting impression, and this Clos de l’Écho 2014 from Domaine Couly Dutheil is undoubtedly one of them. Enjoyed with…
Mérieau’s Cent Visages: Loire Malbec You Can’t Miss
I finally opened the bottle I had been saving for two years, waiting for the perfect occasion. And let me tell you—it was well worth…
Discover “Sous la Robe “: A Must-Try Saint-Nicolas de Bourgueil!
Just before the holiday season, I had the pleasure of welcoming Sophie and her son Camille from Domaine de la Chopinière du Roy to my…
Domaine de la Grange, Patrimoine : superb full-bodied red!
I always have a few bottles of Domaine de la Grange in my cellar … ever since I first discovered Bruno Curassier and his wines…
