They provided some great reading material and handouts and Ben walked us through each wine, providing anecdotes and technical information.
Huge thanks to the both of them for sourcing the wines and putting it all together in a logical fashion, providing a great insight to all in attendance.
Final line up was as follow with the broad groupings we use for each flight, also some of the fluent French readers may be quelle horreur at the missing aigu, grave, circonflexe and cedilla accents on the names, apologies for that.
Sparkling
Domaines de Baumard, Carte Corail Rose Brut NV, Cremant
Muscadet
2007 Domaine Pierre Luneau-Papin, Semper Excelsior Veilles Vignes, Muscadet Sevre-et-Maine
Sauvignon Blanc
2012 Francois Cotat, Les Monts Damnes, Sancerre
2012 Gerard Boulay, Monts Damnes, Sancerre
Drier Chenic Blanc
2008 Domaines des Baumard, Clos du Papillon, Savennieres
2011 Domaine Huet, Le Mont Sec, Vouvray
2009 Francois Chidaine, Les Tuffeaux, Montlouis
2009 Clos Rougeard, Breze, Saumur
Anjou-Saumer/Touraine Reds
2013 Clos de Tue Boeuf, La Caillere, Cheverny
2010 Vincent Pinard, Vendages Entieres, Sancerre
2013 Rocher de Viollettes, Cot Vieilles Vignes, Touraine
Cabernet Franc - 1
2009 Yannick Amirault, La Petite Cave, Bourgueil
2011 Domaine des Roches Neuves, La Marginale, Saumur-Champigny
2011 Bernard Baudry, La Croix Boissee, Chinon
Cabernet Franc - 2
2008 Olga Riffault, Les Picasses, Chinon
2009 Domaine Philippe Alliet, L‘Huisserie, Chinon
2008 Clos Rougeard, Poyeaux, Saumur-Champigny
Sweet Chenin Blanc
2004 Domaines des Baumard, La Paon, Coteaux du Layon
2010 Francois Chidaine, Montlouis Moelleux
2009 Domaines des Baumard, Quarts de Chaume
Domaines de Baumard, Carte Corail Rose Brut NV, Cremant
Lemon on the nose with a hints of menthol on the nose and palate (Sports Rub), with a somewhat alcoholic nose and finish to it (spirity). It finishes fairly short with the acidity fairly muted, a refreshing, somewhat simple drink. I think Champagne is safe for the time being.
2007 Domaine Pierre Luneau-Papin, Semper Excelsior Veilles Vignes, Muscadet Sevre-et-Maine
Grapefruit and spices, slightly reductive with matchstick aromas. Quite refreshing with good minerality, although once again it finishes quite short, good acid level non-withstanding. The structure belies its 8 years of age and should see it lasting a long time. Very soft on the palate (on lees?), can see it matching wonderfully with shellfish.
2012 Francois Cotat, Les Monts Damnes, Sancerre
Quite intense nose, pineapple, musky sweetness, with barley water and lemon cordial. The acidity drops off sharply on the back palate although it exhibits a very clean finish. Very interesting when you compare it with the Kiwi stuff.
2012 Gerard Boulay, Monts Damnes, Sancerre
Rockmelon, peach, musk, and some lemon with a hint of passionfruit. Stone fruits on the palate with a nice structure balancing it out, this was a bit more in line to the New World ones.
2008 Domaines des Baumard, Clos du Papillon, Savennieres
Nice oak and butter, caramel, with a real meatiness to the nose. In the mouth it came across as a bit metallic and primary which was at odds to the nose. Still very young.
2011 Domaine Huet, Le Mont Sec, Vouvray
Tropical fruits with a bit of cheesiness, and sesame seed. The nose is subdued in comparison, very linear, finely focused fruit which was a step up from the others in the flight. Nicely balanced and I’d be waiting until 2021 to try the next one.
2009 Francois Chidaine, Les Tuffeaux, Montlouis
The nose is heavier here with some oak and caramel nuances, very full and somewhat sweet on the palate (almost Chardonnay like). This is a big sumptuous wine compared to the others and probably the one I’d reach for if wanting something as a drink now proposition.
2009 Clos Rougeard, Breze, Saumur
Tomato leaf, cloves, tea tree oil with a quite tart nose which puts you in the mind of an oxidative Manzanilla. I kept on having flashbacks of the novel Marathon Man when drinking this.
2013 Clos de Tue Boeuf, La Caillere, Cheverny
A light colour which has you in the mind of a Beaujolais, black cherry, blackcurrant, dark chocolate, cherry liqueur and some cola. The palate is quite light with some tannins appearing at the back of the tongue and gums, it finishes quite hot.
2010 Vincent Pinard, Vendages Entieres, Sancerre
Dark fruits with some brandied characteristics and chocolate liqueur and red currant. The nose reminded me of a Chinon where it smells like it has secondary and tertiary characteristics although the palate is nothing like it.
2013 Rocher de Viollettes, Cot Vieilles Vignes, Touraine
Strange colour with it being almost a brown-purple hue. The nose has a dirtiness about it, mushroom, forest floor. Has heaps of acid and structure with a hint of heat. Very primary and crunchy fruit of blackberry and raspberry flavours. Finishes with a good length albeit very dry.
2009 Yannick Amirault, La Petite Cave, Bourgueil
Quite tart and acidic which as you smacking your lips. Plums, blackcurrant, truffles with a bit of funkiness and iodine. The tannins are quite coarse, so something I would be revisiting in another 10 years or so.
2011 Domaine des Roches Neuves, La Marginale, Saumur-Champigny
Blackberry, red fruits, cherry with some Dr Pepper. Good length, the tannins are prominent although not overt so showing a good balance. Real sense of freshness and very linear focus. Enjoyed this wine.
2011 Bernard Baudry, La Croix Boissee, Chinon
Having enjoyed the previous Baudry’s I’d had, I had high hopes for this. To be honest it was a bit of a disappointment. Dusty red fruits, stems, stalks and uncooked green beans, with very grippy tannins which swamped your whole mouth.
2008 Olga Riffault, Les Picasses, Chinon
Blackcurrant, plum with smooth grippy tannins, touch of heat, tomato sauce (ketchup). Had a touch of sweetness which seemed to really bring it together.
2009 Domaine Philippe Alliet, L‘Huisserie, Chinon
The Chinon nose I really love, smells older than it really is. Earthy, coffee bean, dark fruits, leather, and other tertiary characteristics, soft on the palate with the tannins seemingly integrated, really nice balance at 6 years of age really nicely focussed wine.
2008 Clos Rougeard, Poyeaux, Saumur-Champigny
Dark Cherry, soft entry on the palate, nice acidity without being hugely tannic (almost velvet like). Nice confected fruit with a good length. Nice no nonsense wine ready for drinking now.
2004 Domaines des Baumard, La Paon, Coteaux du Layon
Sweet lime marmalade, nose is quite reserved which it nothing like the palate where you are kind of half expecting a dry wine. Sweet but nice acid which gives it good length, hints of pineapple and rockmelon.
2010 Francois Chidaine, Montlouis Moelleux
Peach, Tropicana (old school cask wine), it is literally like biting into a fresh peach, table grapes and limes although strangely enough it finishes quite tart. Very interesting wine, could see it being a popular way to finish a meal if wanting something different to the ubiquitous Sauternes.
2009 Domaines des Baumard, Quarts de Chaume
Pineapple, sweet tropical fruits, very intense flavours on the palate almost like pure sugar/sucrose feel to it. Was missing something for me which made it seem a bit out of kilter.
