Touraine 2011

For Touraine dry whites, the 2011 vintage was, let’s say, ‘Very good’, scoring a 3.6. A slightly confusing year, it’s true, with that scorching spring followed by a cooler summer, which slowed down ripening after a flying start. But the savvy winemaker knew how to manage, preserving a lovely aromatic freshness despite sometimes slightly soft acidity. The wines, particularly the Sauvignons, offer nice citrus aromas and a lively palate, characteristic of the terroir. Let’s be honest, 2011 didn’t necessarily create a marked hierarchy among Loire appellations for dry whites; Touraine falls into this category of a solid year, without excess but offering clean, pleasant-to-drink wines, with average volumes. A safe bet for simple pleasure.