Loire leads for mid-priced endorsements

In our second instalment on press recommendations, the Loire Valley emerges as the source of France’s most mid-priced wine endorsements.

Jacky Blot’s Clos de Venise in Vouvray at his Domaine de la Taille Aux Loups. The producer’s pétillant was recommended in the tasting.

Having analysed 38 wines promoted by UK wine writers in the £8 to £15 retail price band for this year’s Absolutely Cracking Wines from France tasting, it appears that the Loire Valley gets the most mentions.

As many as seven labels came from the region, including one sparkling – a non-dosé, pétillant Chenin Blanc from Jacky Blot’s domaine in Montlouis.

Other recommendations from the region included a Sancerre, a Quincy, as well as a Touraine-Amboise and a Muscadet, ensuring Sauvignon Blanc and Melon de Bourgogne featured at the tasting, along with Chenin Blanc.

Looking elsewhere, once more, IGP d’Oc and AOCs within the Languedoc-Roussillon peppered the tasting, proving the quality and value available in this part of France.

Meanwhile, the Rhône was name-checked four times, just ahead of Alsace, which saw three wines recommended.

Other areas with more than one mention included Chablis, Bordeaux and Savoie, each seeing two wines endorsed by the UK press.

As for the source of the wines, once again, The Wine Society proved home to the most press recommendations, with four labels from the retailer featuring, followed by Slurp, which had three wines in the tasting.

Over the following pages are some of the wines recommended by the wine writers.

For a list of who contributed to the tasting, click here, and scroll to the bottom of the page.

Sally Easton MW gave a glowing Loire wine recommendation.

AOC Sancerre
André Dezat et Fils
Sancerre blanc
2011
12.5%
Sauvignon Blanc

£13.12, Tanners Wine

“Classic stuff. Under-rated Loire producing top whites, still the original Sauvignon Blanc, with the stoniness and linearity, along with fruit, that adventurous Kiwis are looking to emulate. André Dezet one of the best.”

Meanwhile, both Jim Budd and Richard Hemming recommended wines from the Loire’s Montlouis appellation.

Jim Budd’s recommendation:

AOC Montlouis-sur-Loire
Domaine de la Taille aux Loups
Triple Zéro 2009
12.5%
Chenin Blanc

£14.95, Slurp

“Excellent fizz – pétillant so only 2.5 atmospheres. No addition of sugar at any point in the process. Delicious now, but can age.” Jim Budd

Richard Hemming’s recommendation:

AOC Montlouis-sur-Loire
Domaine Frantz Saumon
Minéral & Sec
2011
12.8%
Chenin Blanc

£15, Wine Direct

“Chenin is such tremendous value, and this is an outstanding food wine – especially with veal.” Richard Hemming

Outside the Loire, Jancis Robinson MW endorsed a Gewurztraminer from Alsace and Steven Spurrier recommended a Jacquère from Chignin.

Jancis Robinson MW recommended:

AOC Côte de Rouffach
Domaine Rieflé
Gewurztraminer
Alsace
2009
13%

£14.95, Roberson Wine

“I loved the unusual combination of rose petals and dried citrus peel – a much more delicate and appetising Gewurz than most, with a dry finish. Just 13% alcohol.”

Steven Spurrier recommended:

AOC Chignin
Domaine Gilles Berlioz
Chignin Vin de Savoie
2010
11.5%
Jacquère

£10.95, The Wine Society

“A marvelously crisp and fresh example of this under-rated region.”

And finally, db recommended

AOC Faugères
Clos Fantine
2010
Syrah, Grenache, Carignan, Mouvedre and Cinsault.
14.5%

£13.50, Thorold Wines