BIN ENDS WINE-TASTING GROUP
“A Cruise along the Loire
Tuesday, 28th June 2011
At St. Augustine’s Church Hall

Although the Loire Valley is regarded as a single entity, it is a collection of individual and diverse wine regions, almost continuously following the course of the river, for hundreds of miles. To the east is Sancerre in the Upper Loire, with Muscadet to the west, at the estuary. In between, there is the Middle Loire, comprising Anjou, Saumur and Touraine.

Tonight, we focussed on 6 major varieties, three white and three red, which are rearely, if ever, blended. Nevertheless, if there is one common theme, it is the prodouction of light, refreshing, good-value wines, all made in three colours, and all ideal for summer drinking.

FLIGHT 1: Muscadet/Melon de Bourgogne

1. Domaine Des Ratells 2009 Muscadet Sevre et Maine Sur Lie (Wine Soc £6.75)
Flinty, minerally, developing yeast and cream. Bone-dry, but some sweetness on the fruit. A really splendid example. (CHP 16+ Bin Ends 4 votes)

2. Le Clos du Chateau L’Oiseliniere 2004 Muscadet Sevre et Maine (Wine Soc £11.95)
More depth and concentration of flavour, minerally and flinity, but flatter and less vibrant than the above. There was a bitter note on the finish, and the length was disappointing, as was the wine. (CHP 15, Bin Ends 0 votes)

FLIGHT 2: Sauvignon Blanc – Varietal v Terroir Expression
3. Domaine Guenault Sauvignon 2009 Touraine (Wine Soc £6.95)
Fresh, grassy, elegant, racy and clean. Lovely elderflower characters and good length. Delightful expression and great value. (CHP 16+ Bin Ends 7 votes)

4. F. & J-M. Cherrier Les Chailloux 2008 Sauvignon Sancerre (Wine Soc £12.50)
Minerals, gunflint and smoke, with passion fruit and white grapefruit. Richer, deeper, more profound and layered. Lovely weight, balance and length of finish. Very good. (CHP 17+, Bin Ends 3 votes)

FLIGHT 3: Dry Chenin Blanc – Young v Old
5. Jacques Lurton Chenin Blanc 2009 VdP Val de Loire (Wine Soc £5.95)
Minerally, pear fruit, developing some cream. Very fresh and well-made, but relatively simple. Good quaffer.
(CHP 16, Bin Ends 3 votes).

6. Chateau de Berrye 2002 Saumur (Wine Soc £8.95)
Boot polish, cheese and a slight whiff of sulphur. Not so bad on the palate, but no great character. It develops some cream and has good length, but disappoints. (CHP 14, Bin Ends 0 votes)

FLIGHT 4: Loire Reds - Gamay, Pinot Noir & Cabernet Franc

7. Henry Marionnet Premiere Vendanges Gamay 2009 Touraine (Wine Soc £9.95)
Jammy loganberry fruit. Very soft, easy and forward. Pleasant, but lacks complexity.
(CHP 15, Bin Ends 3 votes)

8. Domaine de Villargeau “Lagarde” 2008 Ctx du Giennois (Wine Society £8.50)
A satellite commune to the north of Sancerrre, which permits Pinot Noir as well as Sauvignon Blanc. Very fresh, fine and delicate. Delicious red fruits, fine acidity, silky texture and good length. Great value and a great discovery. (CHP 16+ Bin Ends 8 votes)

9. Clos des Cordeliers 2009 Saumur-Champigny (Wine Soc £9.95)
Jammy raspberry fruit, with soft furry tannins, with good length and satisfying raspberry finish. Developed mintiness and a bitter finish. (CHP 16.5 (before corkiness became apparent, Bin Ends 0 votes)

FLIGHT 5: Sweet Chenin – Vouvray v Coteaux du Layon

10. Clos de Nouys 2007 Vouvray Demi-Sec (Waitrose £9.99 & Costco)
Pineapple, dried honey & spice. Medium off-dry style, with persistent sweet finish, with a hint of bruised apple. Lovely sine of acidity. Quite elegant and fine. (CHP 16+, Bin Ends 2 votes)

11. Chateau de la Roulerie “Les Grandes Brosses” 2009 Coteaux du Layon (Costco £7.07 50cl btl)
Sweet luscious, quince pear, marmalade and honey. Soft and cuddly. An enormous hit.
(CHP 17, Bin Ends 13 votes)

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Summary
Although there were several disappointments along the way, the tasting proved, beyond question, what great value the Loire has to offer. The Ratelles Muscadet, Guenault Sauvignon, Lurton chenin and Villargeau Pinot Noir demonstrated this in spades. I particularly liked the Sancerre and Vouvray, but the biggest surprise of the night was the popularity of the Roulerie Coteaux du Layon, which everyone agreed was ridiculously underpriced. Such was the clamour that Derek has now cleared out the remaining stock at Costco! Your help was greatly appreciated, Dek – many thanks!

No doubt about it, some of these wines will make ideal drinking over the rest of the summer.

UPCOMING DATES FOR YOUR DIARY ...

Saturday, 16th July 2011
The now legendary Bin Ends Barbecue
to be held at the home of Kate and Tony in Moseley, Birmingham.
Tickets (£20 per head) can be purchased from Derek & Barbara Lamb
(tel: 07879 110022) or e.mail: deklamb@lineone.net.
All the barbie food and wine you can eat and drink under one roof!

Tuesday, 23rd August 2011 (one week earlier because of Bank Holiday)
“Brands versus Independents”
We’ll be blind-tasting a selection of 10 wines
side by side, from leading brands or supermarkets, against a set of wines
garnered from independent merchants.
Who’s going to offer the best value?
(£15.00 per head)

Tuesday, 27th September 2011
“Wines with Curry”
At “Bengal Delight” restaurant
(207 Hagley Road, Edgbaston, B16 9RE – Near Monument Road)
£20.00 per head includes the meal, service, VAT and all wines)
You can pay on the night, but please book directly with
Clive on: info@clives-wines.com

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And please find below the dates of Bin Ends tastings
For the rest of this year ….

Tuesday, 25th October
Tuesday 29th November
Tuesday, 20th December (1 week earlier, because of Bank Holiday)

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