I was very pleased to get invited to last week's tasting in San Francisco of Sauvignon Blancs, mostly from 2006, organized by the Loire Valley Wine Bureau. Similar tastings are coming up if you're in the trade in Boston, New York, and Chicago. See their website for more information.
As usual, in the interest of keeping the info-noise to a minimum, I'm just going to call out the ones that I was most impressed with. Really, there wasn't a dog in the bunch, but although the styles of many Sancerres are similar, some did really stand out. I've already bought a few of them since the tasting over at the Wine House.
Sancerre Henri Bourgeois Grand Réserve 2006 - round with a very earthy, dark finish, almost tarry.
Sancerre Daniel Chotard 2006 - this had a surprising bit of orange peel on the nose. At Kermit Lynch
Pouilly Fumé Régis Minet Vielles Vignes 2005 - very light bodied, nicely smokey. Also at Kermit Lynch.
Pouilly Fumé Domaine Eric Louis 2005 - very earthy and full of dense minerality
Pouilly Fumé Domaine des Berthiers Cuvée D'Eve 2005 - made by the father of Loire rebel Didier Dagueneau, Jean Claude Dagueneau and named for his mother, Eve. This is a really fine Fumé, loads of terroir and beautiful ripeness from the old vines grown high up on the slopes. One of my favorites.
Sancerre Domaine Hubert Brochard Unfiltered 2006 - rich and unctuous with explosive minerals. Another favorite.
Pouilly Fumé Domaine Alain Cailbourdin Les Cris 2006 - Named for the pebbles (I think cris is slang or regional French) in the soil, this one had a hint of baked gingersnaps and smoke - very interesting.
Sancerre Domaine Thomas et Fils Ultimus 2006 - all lime soil and 50-70 year old vines, this wine was fussed over and it shows, the body super creamy. Recommended. At the Wine House.
Quincy Jean-Claude Roux 2006 - This was smokier than most of the Quincy, and my favorite.
Pouilly Fumé Claude Michot Les Berthiers 2006 - Very fragrant with stones and flint. Lemony tartness dominates.
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