|
In comparison
to the rest of French, the Loire has a cool climate. The area is capable
of producing a wide range of wines, from light, dry, and crisp whites,
to rosé, medium-bodied reds, and luscious dessert wines. It is also a
region where extremely good sparkling wines are made. It was not until
the mid 1940s that the Loire's wines began to gain a reputation outside
their local markets but since then, the region's white wines, in
particular, have featured on many restaurant wine lists.
The Loire is
the longest river in French and provides an entry to four main wine
areas which lie between the Atlantic and the centre of French. Around
Nantes (Muscadet country), the influence of the sea is evident, while
inland, the so-called central vineyards, including Sancerre and
Pouilly-Fumé, have a continental climate. Anjou-Saumur and Touraine lie
between these two extremes. The vast size of the region means that there
are many different soil types, but chalk and clay are the most
prominent.
The most
important grape varieties are Muscadet, Chenin Blanc and Sauvignon Blanc
for white wines, and Cabernet Franc for red wines, with a little Pinot
Noir grown in and around Sancerrre. Muscadet, is a dry, fresh and crisp
white wine, and a seafood wine 'par excellence'. The term 'sur lie',
usually associated with better-quality Muscadet, indicates that the wine
has spent time maturing on the lees and is bottled directly, to give
added concentration and a faint prickle of carbon dioxide.
In
Anjou-Saumur, mostly dry or medium sweet white wines are produced from
the Chenin Blanc grape. As well as having a bearing on the wines, the
local chalk soil (known as 'Tufa') is evident in the extraordinary
buildings typical of the area, where the white stone has a striking
effect.
Many of the
sweet wines come from the sheltered area around the river Layon, a
tributary of the Loire and are affected by noble rot. They are some of
the hidden gems of the wine world and, like many of the white wines made
from the Chenin Blanc, can age amazingly well.
The best red
wines of the Loire are made from the Cabernet Franc grape, in the
subdistrict of Touraine. Generally medium-bodied, these delicious and
elegant wines are made to drink young, but can also surprise with
mid-term cellaring. Chinon, Bourgueil, Saint Nicholas de Bourgueil and
Saumur Champigny are four appellations to look out for. Frustratingly,
there's some variation with the quality of wines from Vouvray and
Montlouis but the best white wines are magnificent expressions of the
Chenin Blanc grape.
Sancerre wine
takes its name from the hilltop town of the area. The district's wines
are arguably the world's most famous appellation connected to the tangy,
piquant wines made from the Sauvignon Blanc grape. Across the river
Loire and just a few miles away, is Pouilly Sur Loire, home to
Pouilly-Fumé, where the white wines are produced from Sauvignon. Tending
to be a little sterner, they are very good with food. Due to its
proximity to the top end of Burgundy, the red wines of the central
vineyards are made from the Pinot Noir grape. Look out too, for the
wines of Quincy, Reuilly, and Menetou Salon.
"Many of the
white wines of the Loire Valley age remarkably well, changing in
character from the mineral, flintlike flavors of youth to an almost
honey-and-apricot textured complexity. Even 50-60 year old wines can be
in perfect shape!"
#Ads - Get the above cooking ingredients here at discounted price
|
