Perth Area Wine Tasters
Previous Tasting
Tuesday 10th February 2009
The Beautiful Loire
with
Peter Stewart (Inverarity Vaults)
Cremant de Loire Carte Turquoise Brut NV Baumard £9.49
A great way to start any tasting, this blend of Chenin Blanc and Cabernet
Franc is quite Champagne-like yet still intrinsically from the Loire.
Wonderfully citrussy, light and fresh. Good bubbles and a nice, dry finish.
Savennieres Domaine des Baumard 2001 £11.99
Savennieres...the unsung hero of the Loire, and one of the greatest white
wines of France. Historically made mostly in a demi-sec style, the fashion
nowadays tends more towards the dry. Tasters agreed they experienced the
"peacock's tail" effect normally associated with more expensive
wines particularly from Burgundy.
Pouilly Fume Cuvee Les Benedictines 2002 £16.99
The extra bottle age has resulted in an attractive richness which unfortunately
goes some way to mask the wonderful flinty character. Still a very decent
and interesting wine, though.
Sancerre La Vigne du Larrey 2003 £18.99
Probably the surprise of the night with a lovely honeyed, buttery edge
from the oak. Rich, with a wonderful balance. Great stuff! Try with smoked
cheese, or a smoked fish pie.
Les Carisannes Pinot Noir Rose 2007 £7.99
A great quaffer from the Upper Loire, fresh and light with loads of strawberryfruit.
Anjou Rouge Logis de la Giraudiere 2004 £5.99
Made since 1964 as an everyday glugger for the Baumard family to enjoy
as an aid to digestion! Cherry and leather notes with a nice earthy quality.
Amazing value for money.
Sancerre Rouge Hubert Brochard 2007 £14.99
The red Sancerre...only available from the good hot vintages when the
Pinot Noir ripens well. Full of elegance and finesse, and another G.I.W.
(Good, Interesting Wine.)
Domaine Bernard Baudry Chinon 2005 £10.99
Bernard resembles one of the Thomson Twins (technically both of the Thomson
Twins!) from the Tintin books and he makes fabulous wines in the Middle
Loire. This is Peter's favourite from his range and it comes from the
unbeatable 2005 vintage. In my opinion, the red of the night.
Quarts de Chaume 2000 (13.99 for a half bottle.)
A wonderfully lush sweet wine from the Chenin grape which lends itself
particularly well to the noble rot. This has a Sauternes-like complexity
and a wonderfully fresh acidity which balances the sweetness. A great
way to finish.
Inverarity One to One, 185a Bath Street, Glasgow, G2
4HU, Scotland
Phone 0141 221 5121
www.inverarity121.com
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