From the textural minerality of Muscadet, to the sweet zest of Chenin Blanc and refreshing acidity of Sancerre, the Loire Valley is simply an absolute treat to white wine lovers the world over.
Join us this Saturday (5th November) anytime from 12 to 2pm as we dip into what makes this region so revered! Below is the lineup of all these beautifully balanced and poised whites (as well as a sparkling) that will make for a delicious couple of hours in the store this weekend!
2021 Marc Bredif Vouvray - $29 per bottle ; $34 RRP
"The Vouvray Chenin Blanc is a beautiful crystalline pale yellow. A fine nose reminiscent of well-ripe yellow fruits (peach and pear), to which are added notes of exotic fruits such as pineapple and shades of citrus. The attack is full and rich, with a lot of volume, evolving on a lemony freshness and long and lively exotic fruit finish." - Winemaker Notes
NV Jo Landron Atmospheres Brut - $50 per bottle ; $58 RRP
"This Loire bubbles has been enjoying plenty of love among those who know the wine, and no wonder. It’s a hand-harvested, estate-grown, biodynamic, naturally fermented, low-dosage fizz that shows up many conventional Champagnes for both quality and value. Topping off an impressive package is the marvellous label designed by legendary French illustrator, Michel Tolmer (of Mimi, Fifi and Glouglou fame). Jo Landron is not a fan of using Muscadet’s Melon de Bourgogne for sparkling wine, preferring instead a blend of around 75% Folle Blanche (grown on sandy clay), with a balance of Pinot Noir (grown on gravelly soils). Vine age varies between 18 and 30 years. The yields are typically between 50 and 60 hl/ha—far lower than the average yields in Champagne. The base wines are fermented naturally and then go through a traditional second fermentation in bottle, where they remain for a minimum of 24 months. The dosage ranges from zero to a low five grams per litre (depending on the bottling). Moreover, the fruit for this cuvée is always from a single vintage
This list of attributes sounds like the winegrowing and making approach of a top grower in Champagne, not a humble Muscadet producer! It's no surprise then that the result is a wine of impressive depth and complexity. Expect a super-mineral, earthy, rocky wine with waves of racy citrus and fresh nectarine fruit and lots of flinty, talc-like, salty complexity, then a delicious lick of smoky Pinot breadiness to close. This is simply one of the finest sparkling bargains going around." - Importer Notes
Jo Landron Amphibolite Muscadet - $42 per bottle ; $49 RRP
// Biodynamic
"This cuvée derives its name from the greenish, metamorphic bedrock (amphibolite) that dominates the soils in which it is grown. Produced from vines aged between 35 and 40 years, this unique wine was vinified with only a short period on lees, as Jo Landron wanted to retain as much freshness and minerality as possible. Only minor doses of sulphur were used to block malo. Bottling occurred early (in March), and without filtration, to retain the earth-to-glass essence of the wine. With some lovely textural padding this year it's an ultra-pure, racy expression of Muscadet loaded with white floral notes and all kinds of citrus underpinned by the iodine minerality that is a hallmark of this cuvée." - Importer Notes
Thierry Germain Cep by Cep Coteaux du Layon Chenin Blanc - $43 per bottle ; $50 RRP
"The Coteaux du Layon is drawn from Philippe Germain’s estate vineyards in the heart of the Layon Valley, at Rochefort-sur-Loire. Unusually for the Loire, the clay and schist-rich soils here are cut into an amphitheatre of terraces. The grapes are harvested passerillé style (with little or no botrytis) and are naturally fermented and aged in neutral demi-muids. The fermentation was stopped, leaving around 80 g/L residual sugar which is balanced by the wine’s perky acidity and moderate alcohol. Compared to much of the appellation (and especially the wines of the Layon Crus of Bonnezeaux, Chaume and Quarts de Chaume) Germain’s wine showcases a more delicate, Germanic-style of Layon.
Scents of orange blossom, candied citrus, honey flower and marmalade flow from the glass. It’s weighted and generous, with an opulent mouthfeel, pure citrus fruit flavours and biscuity complexity. Both fleshy and seductive, it's packed with tangy, citric energy and finishes clean as a whistle. It can work with a wide range of foods, from soft cheese to fruit-based dessert." - Importer Notes
2021 Alphonse Mellot Pouilly Fumé - $75 per bottle ; $86 RRP
// Biodynamic
"Fizzing with energy and charm, there’s a ripple of ripe citrus fruits touched with a tropical note and a smoky/saline edge. It’s racy and pulpy, with lovely bitter phenolics, waves of fleshy texture and pithy grapefruit cut. A rocky antithesis to Pouilly Fumé’s often demure varietal norm." - Importer Notes
2021 Alphonse Mellot La Moussiere Sancerre - $87 per bottle ; $99 RRP
"Reminiscent of top flight Chablis, those who crave flesh, purity and tension in their white wines can expect great company here. From a cooler year that harks back to the incisive 2017, it’s charged with vivid citrus flavours and chalky texture, expertly offset by electric acidity and mouth-watering salinity. The wine unfolds on the palate not unlike a coiled white Burgundy. A great Moussière." - Importer Notes
"An impressive 2021 with quite ripe, rich, mouth-filling fruit with notes of grapefruit. Currently it is a little tight in the well-balanced finish, but I expect the young 2021 will develop further in bottle. The long established Alphonse Mellot domaine, with 52ha in the Sancerre appellation, has its cellars right in the centre of the town of Sancerre. La Moussière is a more than 30ha south-facing parcel planted on Kimmeridgian marne on the left hand side of the main road to Bourges. Around 50% of La Moussière is barrel fermented." - 91 Points, Jim Budd, Decanter
1983 Marc Bredif 'Grand Annee' Vouvray - $165 per bottle ; $189 RRP
Vouvray Grande Année is a selection kept for longer aging, the wine is sweet with a residual sugar level of between 30 and 70 grams. The wines age extremely well.
We're very excited to see how this 1983 opens up this Saturday - based on many positive vintage reports, it should be a cracker, full of beautifully pronounced fruit, floral and honeyed notes that have only grown stronger in the bottle over all these years.
(Limited stocks available - orderable on tasting day or via our email sales@thewineemporium.com.au)
To purchase any of the wines in today's newsletter please use the links above, or phone us on (07) 3252 1117, or email us at sales@thewineemporium.com.au - Prices valid until stock runs out or until Wednesday the 10th of November