Gilbert 2020 Menetou-Salon Blanc

 Philippe Gilbert makes beatiful wines in Menetou-Salon, which abuts Sancerre, including lovely rosé and red from Pinot Noir and superb Menetou-Salon blanc from Sauvignon Blanc, certified Biodynamic by Demeter. The living soils are evident in this  lovely wine, showing elegant aromas of pear, fig, citrus peel, lime flower, anise and stone. The palate is very mineral with firm chalky acidity unerlying pear, almond, citrus, stone and herbal flavors. The wine shows extra richness and complexity due to the 14 month sur-lie aging.  This is a great pairing with any mild fish preparation and goat cheeses and it's far superior to most Sancerres in this price range.

Gilbert 2020 Menetou-Salon Rouge

From 30 year-old vines planted at 10,000 vines per hectare, on clay over Kimmerigjian limestone in Menetou-Salon. Mostly de-stemmed, 3 week wild yeast fermentation in tronconic wood foudres. 12 months aging on the lees followed by 10 - 12 months in concrete vats. Philippe Gilbert's red Menetou-Salon, entirely from Pinot Noir, offers  tremendous  purity  of  fruit  tied  to  the  irrepressible  chalk-iness  and  steely  zip  of  the  area's  Kimmeridgian  soils.  The 2020 shows a bright red/black color and pure, ripe aromas of black cherry with hints of earth and citrus, really lovely. On the palate there is nice density of chalky black raspberry/cherry fruit, beautifully balanced, with nice sappy fruit and mineral length. Really a great Pinot Noir at this price, serve cool and enjoy! David Lillie

Gilbert, Philippe 2021 Menetou-Salon Rosé

Once again, Philippe Gilbert has produced an elegant and refreshing Pinot Noir rosé  from his vines in Menetou-Salon, in the commune of Morogues, in biodynamic farming since 2006. Very pale pink color. Subtle, lovely aromas of floral-tinged raspberry with citrus and peach. The palate is very light but with good concentration of pure berry fruits. The finish is long and elegant. This is really a superb rosé for those seeking subtlety and balance - highly recommended for year-round enjoyment!

Lamé Delisle Boucard 2018 Bourgueil Vieilles Vignes

Lamé-Delisle-Boucard’s “Vieilles Vignes” is pure Cabernet Franc exclusively from vines over 40 years of age in the commune of Ingrandes de Touraine—part from the sandy gravel terraces of the lieu-dit Louys, and part from hillside plantings in the clay-limestone of Mont Sigou. This cuvée undergoes alcoholic fermentation in tronconic oak casks with a 10-day maceration, then spends a year in large, very old 25-hectoliter foudres.The 2018 Vieilles Vignes shows a dense red/purple color with bright rim with ripe, floral aromas of black raspberry with earth and citrus, very typical "Bourgueil." The palate is ripe and dense but nicely balanced for a 2018 with deep black raspberry/cassis fruit with firm acidity and chalky minerals in the finish. This is a lovely Bourgueil to drink over the next five years.

Lamé Delisle Boucard 2016 Bourgueil Prestige

The domaine’s outstanding “Cuvée Prestige” comes from three steep hillside parcels of Cabernet Franc planted in clay-limestone: Beauvais, Brunetières, and Bézards. Alcoholic fermentation takes place in old wooden tronconic vats, with both punch-downs and pump-overs performed over the 20-day maceration, and it spends a year in very old foudres before bottling. "A quite classic aromatic style here, filled with smoked fruit, peppercorn and tobacco, with some little notes of violets. The palate shows a broad, tense and sinewy texture, filled with grippy tannins, and a fine, pointed acidity at its heart as well. Quite a traditional structure, but there is substance to it, and it certainly has potential. All in all an attractive wine." thewinedoctor.com

Lamé Delisle Boucard 2018 Bourgueil Brunetieres

 A new cuvée parcellaire which appeared for the first time in the 2014 vintage, from a vineyard richer in clay. This is aged partly in barrique and partly in foudre. The 2018 Brunetieres showed beautifully at a recent tasting with quite complex and intriguing aromas very floral and ripe, with a lovely melange of red and black fruits on the palate with hints of dark chocolate, earth and the ever present chalky minerality of a good Bourgueil. This should age beautifully but is cetainly enjoyable now.

Lamé Delisle Boucard 2015 Bourgueil Martinieres

Bourgueil “Martinière”: From a single southwest-facing limestone-rich parcel in the village of Benais, “Martinière” is pure Cabernet Franc vinified in tronconic oak casks with an 18-day maceration, then spends 14 months in a combination of 85% foudre and 15% new barrique. "There is more limestone and less clay in this vineyard compared to Les Brunetières. This is aged partly in barrique and partly in foudre. This was a sample drawn from foudre. A dark and less intense hue, but more perfumed, with violets and rose petals. A vinous texture on the palate, with full fruit and a slightly saline minerality. Full, with a roasted grip in the end, yet it remains supple and succulent. Very good potential." thewinedoctor.com

Lamé Delisle Boucard 2005 Bourgueil Prestige 1.5 L

(Magnum) We enjoyed tasting older vintages of Lamé Delisle Boucard 25 years ago at the Salon des Vins de Loire, sometimes a bit funky but always interesting and quite complex on the palate in the style of Olga Raffault. Here's a review of the 2005 done in 2016  "...it has a great and very convincing presence of fruit on the palate, which remains bright, with a firm structure. And it feels quite elegant too. I get some dried black fruits here, as well as notes of black truffle, all quite savoury, with a dusting of tobacco leaf. A very good style overall. It feels like it might be starting to fade a little bit, although having tasted older vintages that may be a little pessimistic. While evolved, it certainly still has a very firm and upright frame, and perhaps this is enough to carry it forward another decade or two. Or three. Or four." 2016 the wine doctor