Loire

At the easterly end of the Loire river are the central vineyards, so called as they are roughly the centre of France rather than the centre of the Loire Valley district.

Most would agree this is the spiritual home of the Sauvignon blanc grape, now appearing in so many 'new world' wine producing countries. So for those who are tiring of the acid attacks of those new world sauvignons, or for pure traditionalists, we have two wines from classic appellations produced by two of the most respected wine makers in the area.

Domaine Jean Claude Chatelain

The Chatelain family started wine making on their Domaine in 1630, Jean Claude being the latest to take the helm, the eleventh generation. Tradition is a keyword here as befits a Domaine of this age and the wines from each parcel of land are vinified separately. They are then blended to produce wines of the highest quality.

Pouilly-Fume		2003 £9.99
A very elegant, very dry crisp wine, hints of apricot and grapefruit combined with the prized classic gunsmoke which is found only in the best wines of the Pouilly-Fume.

Sancerre (Blanc)		2003 £9.99
A rich nose of ripe lemon and grapefruit, good texture and an almost lightly menthol and earthy taste, a return to the more subtle sauvignon blanc.

Domaine Serge Laloue

This is one of the rising stars of the appellation. A family estate of 17 hectares based in the village of Thauvenay in the heart of the Sancerre appellation. The soil is 70% chalk and 30% flint, the vines an average of 25 years old.

Sancerre (Blanc)		2003 £11.99
Dry and clean with hints of green fruits, citrus and minerals that are found only in the finest Sancerres due to soil composition of the vineyards. This wine is kept on fine lees for 6 to 8 months to enhance the flavour and complexity of the wine. A beautiful balance between fruit and acidity, worth the little bit extra.

Domaine Guy Allion

Sauvignon blanc "Haut Perron"		2005 £6.99
Touraine
A very affordable and credible alternative to the pricier offerings of Sancerre and Pouilly-Fume from the nearby Central Vineyards. Made with total respect for the vineyards, very pure and fresh.