Loire Valley Wins Gold!
Loire Valley Wins Gold!
The first 5 wines are from the New York Times article, followed by our additional picks!
*** Change the "VIEW AS" style below to see more info on the wines, and click on a wine for the full tasting note! ***
Combel La Serre 2022 "Pur Fruit du Causse" Cahors
100% Malbec. "Au Cerisier" comes from a single 1.2-hectare plot at 350 m. altitude, next door to a cherry orchard for which the Ilberts named this bottling. The certified-organic vines average 40 years old and are planted on red and...
$18.99
Lambert, Arnaud NV Cremant de Loire Breze
Arnaud Lambert is based in Brézé, in the heart of the Saumur appellation. He makes a series of excellent still and sparkling wines from Chenin Blanc and Cabernet Franc planted in quite porous chalk soils mixed with clay and sand....
$24.99
Mosse NV Vin de France "Moussamousettes"
A Chambers Street favorite, this years rendition is a blend of 70% Pineau D'Aunis amd 30% Grolleau Noir. The Moussamoussettes is HERE once again and it's clean, lively and bursting with fresh bright red fruit. Totally dry, with nice grit....
$27.99
Bonhomme, Pierre-Olivier 2022 Vin de France Le Telquel
This "poil dur" is wagging its tail again in 2022, showing the ripeness and balance of this good vintage in the Loire Valley, with juicy aromas of blackberry, rose, spice and citrus. It's Gamay with a bit of Cabernet Franc...
$21.99
Saillard 2023 La Pause (Gamay)
The cuvée "La Pause" comes from a plot Laurent Saillard originally rented since 2011 from Catherine Roussel of the famed natural wine domain, Clos Roche Blanche. These Touraine vines were planted in 1978, and have been organically farmed since 1991,...
$24.99
Villemade 2023 Bulle Rosé
We could drink this all Summer long! All Pineau D'Aunis in '23, the fresh and zippy Bulle Rosé from the Villemade family is delightful. Very pale pink, with a hint of red fruit on the palate and perfect acidity. Yum!...
$26.99
Guion NV (2022) VdF Methode Traditionelle Rosé "Bete de Benais"
Stéphane has made his first ever methode traditionnelle sparkling rosé from Cabernet Franc vines in a new parcel on clay/limestone soils in Benais. We can't say that it's equal to the Marie-Courtin "Indulgence," but it's a delightful wine! The color...
$16.99
Bonhomme, Pierre-Olivier 2022 Thésée Sauvignon Blanc
A Chambers Street Wines exclusive, brought in by the fine folks at Louis/Dressner/McKenna! Fresh and easy Sauvignon Blanc from Pierre-Olivier Bonhomme. Thésée is a small commune in the Loire-et-Cher department, famous for its gallo-Roman ruins (hence the name Thésée, from...
$24.99
Jousset, Lise et Bertrand 2022 Vin de France Menu Pineau
The Lise and Betrand Jousset 2022 Menu Pineau (aka Arbois or Orbois) is a balanced and beautiful expression of this unusual grape, complete with enigmatic label by Michel Tolmer. A probable native of the Loire, similar to Meslier according to...
$27.99
Garnier, Jean-Christophe 2022 Chenin Blanc 13 Vents
We don't remember this cuvée from the early days when Garnier's wines were in New York, but it's clearly a top wine for him, not just because it's the most expensive. The structure here and dry extract create a scintillating...
$39.99
Garnier, Jean-Christophe 2022 Chenin Blanc La Roche
From Jean-Christophe's older plot (around 70 years-old now). This is pressed slowly in Jean-Christophe's basket press, over the course of 2-3 days. Aged on the lees in old barrels. There are very slight oxidative notes here, and lovely structure. The...
$36.99
Garnier, Jean-Christophe 2023 Les Nouettes
Most likely a similar low and slow (more like long and slow) press, with Grolleau and Pineau D'Aunis. The Grolleau gives less grit and spice than the Gamay lends in the "Gamay-Aunis" cuvée. Instead it lends a delicious, very pure...
$21.99
Garnier, Jean-Christophe 2022 Les Tailles
Les Tailles is a blend of Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon, and also a blend of carbonically macerated juice and pressed juice aged in tank. Reminiscent of a good bottle of Chaffardon, this has the funk and earth and darker...
$29.99
Garnier, Jean-Christophe 2023 Gamay-Aunis
As the name suggest, this is a blend of Gamay and Pineau d’Aunis with a very short maceration, and very light press. Aged in tanks, with no additions of SO2. What a bright and juicy wine! We want to drink...
$22.99
