FRANCE: Loire
2016 Gold: 7 Silver: 8 Bronze: 3 Commended: 4
2015 Gold: 4 Silver: 7 Bronze: 7 Commended: 11
Given that it’s the longest river in France at more than 1000km (bonus pub quiz fact for you there), it’s perhaps not surprising that the Loire is able to produce an interesting array of wine styles, from super-light through aromatic and crunchy to rich and exotic, with the odd winsome Cabernet Franc thrown in for good measure.
Usually, you wouldn’t know that from the results in this competition – we tend to get ‘Chenin years’ or ‘Sauvignon Blanc’ years and not much else. So 2016 represented a real step up, with places on the Gold List for Muscadet, affordable Loire Sav, Sancerre, red and white Saumur and a couple of more ambitious and expensive Sauvignons.
Ranging from under £7 to just over £20 it was a beautifully balanced, wide-ranging and nicely laddered selection. Special congratulations to both Levin Wines and Château de Fosse-Sèche (another Top Selection Gold-winning winery), who managed two Golds each.
FROM THE TASTING TEAMS
‘Loire reds are an ongoing challenge. There’s no varietal labelling, so it needs a hand sell, and it doesn’t have the clout of Burgundy or Bordeaux.’ Mya Brown, The Ledbury
‘The Loire Sauvignons were a very strong flight.’ Kelvin McCabe, Yauatcha City
‘With Sauvignon Blanc’s current popularity, these are something you’re really looking seriously at putting on the list.’ Richard Brooks, Caroline Catering
‘The Sauvignons are a very good example of white wines for food, they have richness, intensity, ripe fruit. Sometimes people think Sauvignon Blanc is just for easy drinking but it does work well with food.’ Ivan Vegas, Fox Fine Wines & Spirits
‘They were very good wines, but I wouldn’t necessarily have picked them out as Sancerre.’ Andrés Ituarte, Avenue Restaurant‘
The acidity [in the Chenins] was lower than I would have expected for the Old World.’ Harry Crowther, M Restaurants
“I’d match these Sauvignon Blancs with sushi, sashimi and the more delicate robata foods.” Nausicaa Rotoloni, Roka Mayfair
“Sancerre is a must-have on a wine list. It’s good to have Sauvignon from both the Old World and New World.’ Ignacio Campos, Hawksmoor Seven Dials
“All the leading proponents of natural wine are in the Loire. They’re totally on the hipster bandwagon. As funky as you like…’ Jade Koch, team leader