Ah Loire Valley, I am fascinated with this area, maybe its because of bloggers like Living the Life in Saint-Aignan and Jim's Loire and can not forget The Winedoctor. Or maybe its the incredible deals you find on wines here, from Muscadet, Which By the way I would drink over Chablis, and to think its 1/3 the price easily.
Did this class after doing a Chilean tasting went and tasted everything about 70-90 wines, yeah Sauvignon Blanc totally destroyed my tongue and whatever was left over was done in by the reds hah.
WSET WEEK 6 LOIRE VALLEY - Downtown Vancouver [AI School] (5/11/2010)
Loire Valley Week from Muscadet to Pouilly Fume, with a Rose thrown in!
- 2007 Gaec Jeannot Père et Fils Pouilly-Fumé Les Riaux - France, Loire Valley, Upper Loire, Pouilly-Fumé
Pale Lemon Green, Clean Med+ Intensity, green tropical notes Kiwi, Mineral, Herbascious. On the Palate High Acid, Med Alc, Med body, med+ intensity, long finish, lemon, stone, gooseberry. Conclusion Very Good Balance expresses tipicity, 2-3years aging potential(87 pts.) - 2007 Huët Vouvray Demi-Sec Le Mont - France, Loire Valley, Touraine, Vouvray
Med- Lemon w/Green. med+ intensity developing on the nose with Mineral, Apple, Lemon Zest, Melon, Honey, Dried Fruit, Lanolin.
On the Palate High Acid, Alc Med, Med+ body, med+intensity, med finish, Rich/oily, Lemon 'Spritz', Green Apple
Conclusion Very Good quality, initial hit of Residual Sugar [8g/l] but the acid makes it finish bone dry(90 pts.) - 2008 Domaine Michaud Touraine - France, Loire Valley, Touraine
Pale to Med- Salmon, Low+ Intensity on the Nose Youthful, Strawberry, mineral, earth/funk/stemy
On the palate Dry Med+ Acid, Med- Alc, Med-- Tannin, Med Body, Med Intensity, Med Length. Strawberry Cream, Steely, Spice
Conclusion, Very Good, Shows what a Loire Rose is all about. Expressive(91 pts.) - 2007 Domaine Guion Bourgueil Cuvée Prestige - France, Loire Valley, Touraine, Bourgueil
Med+ Purple, No Change at Rim. Nose Med+ Intensity, Woody/Pencil Shaving, Raspberry/Cherry, Minty, Dry Flowers/Roses/Violets
On the Palate, Med Acid, Med Tannin, Med Alc, Med Body, Med Intesnity, Spicy, Woody, Ripe Red fruit, cherry sour, Med+ Finish
Conclusion, Grippy Tannins, Solid Good(88 pts.) - 2007 Domaine Pierre Chauvin Coteaux du Layon - France, Loire Valley, Anjou-Saumur, Coteaux du Layon
Med+ Gold, Med+ Intensity of Mushroom, Earthy Botrytis, Developing, Honey , Dried Fruit
On the Palate, Sweet, high acid, Alc med, med- body, med+ finish, Tropical, Mango, Banana[dried]
Conclusion: Good, but not super complex or anything to blow me over(87 pts.) - 2007 Domaine Pierre de la Grange (Luneau-Papin) Muscadet de Sèvre-et-Maine Sur Lie - France, Loire Valley, Pays Nantais, Muscadet de Sèvre-et-Maine
Watery to Pale Lemon, Med+ Intensity, Confectioners Sugar, Green Frut, Clean/Fresh, Ctirus/Yellow Grapefruit, Mineral, Lanolin
on the palate, dry, med+ acid, med body, med intensity, med length, red apple, round, textured
Very Good, Simple but so Satisfying(90 pts.)
THE 100-POINT RATING SCALE (Robert Parker of the Wine Advocate describes this in more detail.)
• Extraordinary (96-100 points)
• Outstanding (90-95)
• Very Good to Excellent (85-89)
• Good (80-84)
• Average (75-79)
• Below average (70-74)
• Avoid (50-70)
