Summer wines: 5 Loire whites
1000 km. That's the length of the river we invite you to follow in just five bottles. So we had to choose and leave the wines of Auvergne and Vendée on the bank. The journey begins in central France and follows the course of the river to Muscadet, just outside Nantes. Here we come across Sauvignon, Chenin and Melon B grapes (no longer called Melon de Bourgogne, it was confusing). What all these wines have in common is their fresh, easy-to-digest character, which makes them ideal for summer drinking.
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Florian Mollet - Domaine Roc de L'Abbaye (1)
White
Pouilly-Fumé
2021
A pretty Pouilly that smells of chalk right from the start. With aeration, notes of citrus and warm stones emerge. On the palate, the Sauvignon grape takes over, producing a well-balanced, straightforward wine with a lively, sharp finish. It's best served young, with a few oysters.
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Domaine Les Souterrains (2)
White
Touraine Sauvignon
2021
A young Touraine that's still pearly, offering classic boxwood and blackcurrant bud notes on the nose with finesse and elegance. On the palate, it's just as aromatic, fresh and long, with clean fruitiness and hints of licorice on the finish. Very long and persistent, it should be opened as an aperitif with this frankness.
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Domaine Arnaud Lambert (3)
Saumur white
Les Perrières
2020
This Chenin has a straightforward, fine nose of fresh quince, pear and ripe apple. The palate is beautiful, balanced, silky and perfectly taut on the finish. The bitter finish makes it ideal for a contrasting pairing with creamy fish.
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Domaine Asseray (4)
Blanc d'anjou
Boxer Blanc
2019
A lovely, very ripe nose for this pure Chenin offering a hint of white honey, yellow fruit and mineral notes. On the palate, the barrel ageing, without marking the wine, opens it up perfectly, giving it fullness and roundness to best express its pineapple and roasted fruit notes. Good length, with minerality and exotic notes once again. A few gambas sautéed with spices will be a perfect accompaniment this summer.
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Domaine de Bellevue (5)
White muscadet-sèvre-et-maine
Gabbro - Clos des Bouquinardières
2018
Jérôme Bretaudeau delivers here the cuvée "Gabbro", a muscadet that must be tasted to know what a great Nantes wine is. Full-bodied, lively and vibrant, it retains great balance even though it is uncommonly fat. To be opened and served blind to preach the good word to friends who are resistant to the region.
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