Loire
The Loire Valley, famous for its magnificent châteaux, is home to probably the most varied collection of appellations and styles of any wine producing region of France. These include the crisp and mineral Sauvignons of Sancerre and Pouilly Fumé, the richly sweet whites (Chenin Blanc) of Montlouis and Vouvray, and the intense, earthy reds (Cabernet France) of Chinon and Bourgueil to name just three pairs of appellations. We work regularly with three producers in the region: the Château de Tracy for Pouilly Fumé, Henry Natter for Sancerre, and Pascal Cotat whose Sancerres are utterly unique in their capacity for very long ageing, and should therefore be viewed quite separately.
Red
Domaine Pascal Jolivet
The website for domaine Pascal Jolivet can be found at http://www.pascal-jolivet.com/
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2004 Sancerre Rouge Sauvage, Domaine Pascal Jolivet x 62007-20136 Bottles£175.50£225.00
- Delicate and beautifully fragrant Pinot Noir from the Loire Valley.
Rosé
Domaine Pascal Cotat
The Cotat family in Chavignol is legendary for its wines - Sauvignon grown in the heart of the Sancerre appellation, but which is not really Sancerre in the everyday sense. These are profoundly complex and can be incredibly long lived, being made from very old vines planted on the incredibly steep slopes above the village - the vineyard names themselves (Monts Damnés and La Grande Côte) tell of their steepness. Quantities available are generally very small and much sought after.
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Rosé Lot 2008, Vin de Table, Domaine Pascal Cotat2010-201512 Bottles£236.00£312.00
- When Pascal refused to sell this section of his vineyard to the local council to be turned into a parking lot, they took away its appellation status – hence it is a Vin de Table. And Vin de Table is not permitted to carry a vintage (though a ‘lot number’ is permitted!). Pure Pinot Noir gives a pale pink colour. Very floral white and pink flowers and raspberries. Confit grapes. Sweet and yet very precise nose. The palate is dominated by ripe crushed raspberries with hints of white pepper spice and attractive grapefruit notes. Very crisp and dry – a structured very grown up rosé. This has to be the purest most precise and floral rosé any Cotat has made in at least 10 years. Stupendous!
White
Domaine Pascal Cotat
The Cotat family in Chavignol is legendary for its wines - Sauvignon grown in the heart of the Sancerre appellation, but which is not really Sancerre in the everyday sense. These are profoundly complex and can be incredibly long lived, being made from very old vines planted on the incredibly steep slopes above the village - the vineyard names themselves (Monts Damnés and La Grande Côte) tell of their steepness. Quantities available are generally very small and much sought after.
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2007 Sancerre La Grande Côte, Domaine Pascal Cotat2011-202012 Bottles£278.00£362.40
- Great wine from Cotat's greatest vineyard site. The complexity and depth of flavour is extraordinary.
Domaine Henry Natter
Henry and Cécile Natter own this fine Sancerre estate in the village o fMontigny-les-Vignes, about 20 miles from the cathedral city of Bourges. They began with half a hectare in 1974, and through their hard work and commitment to quality have built up a domaine which today consists of more than 20 hectares. The vines for this cuvée average 25 years of age, the fruit is hand-picked, and the wine is fermented in large (50 hectolitre) oak barrels where it is aged for 6 to 9 months on its lees, before being transferred to stainless steel prior to bottling.
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2011 Sancerre, Domaine Henry Natter2013-201612 Bottles£123.50£177.00
- Pale lemon colour. Easy ripeness of fruit on the palate, underpinned with lovely firm, citrus acidity and structure.
Château de Tracy
Comte Henri d’Estutt D’Assay owns one of the Loire Valley’s most stunning wine producing properties. The Château de Tracy is everything that a Loire château ought to be, and has been in Henri’s family since the 14th century. Today, the estate is famous for producing one of the greatest wines of the Pouilly Fumé appellation. Apart from the ‘grand vin’ Henri produces a second cuvée from some of the estate’s younger parcels of vines, to make the vibrant and earlier drinking Princes Ermites.
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2011 Pouilly Fumé, Les Princes Ermites, Château de Tracy2012-201512 Bottles£120.00£172.80
- Delicious crisp, lemony Sauvignon from this great estate.
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2011 Pouilly Fumé, Château de Tracy2013-201812 Bottles£163.50£225.00
- Fabulous wine - full of zesty, complex, mineral citrus fruit character. Wonderful breadth on the palate and terrific length.
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