Loire Valley
Spanning from the Central Vineyards in the east to Nantes in the west, passing through Torraine and Anjou-Samur, the Loire Valley is a vast and varied wine region shaped by the river's influence. The region's diverse terroir is characterized by a continental climate in the east and a maritime climate in the west.
Renowned for its exceptional dry white wines made from Sauvignon Blanc and Chenin Blanc, the Loire Valley offers a captivating selection with crisp acidity, expressive fruit flavours, and mineral notes. Notable white wine appellations in the Loire Valley include Sancerre, Pouilly-Fumé, Vouvray, and Savennières. Leading producers of white wine in the region include Domaine Vacheron, Domaine Huet, and Domaine Didier Dagueneau.
In addition to its white wines, the Loire Valley produces charming red wines made from Cabernet Franc. Ranging from light and fruity to more complex and age-worthy, these red wines are known for their vibrant acidity, subtle tannins, and bright red fruit flavours. Key appellations for red wines in the Loire Valley include Chinon, Bourgueil, and Saumur-Champigny. Notable producers of red wine in the region include Domaine Bernard Baudry, Catherine & Pierre Breton, and Domaine Charles Joguet.
The Loire Valley also produces excellent sweet wines and sparkling wines. Sweet wines are made from Chenin Blanc grapes affected by botrytis, a fungus that concentrates the sugars in the grapes, resulting in luscious sweetness, honeyed flavors, and vibrant acidity. The most famous sweet wine appellations in the Loire Valley include Coteaux du Layon and Quarts de Chaume. Sparkling wines, known as Crémant de Loire, are made using the traditional method and offer excellent value for money with finesse, delicate bubbles, and refreshing character.
Loire Valley
| Product Name | Region | Qty | Score | Price | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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Loire | 1 | - |
Inc. TAX
€125.95 |
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Loire | 1 | 94 (VN) |
Inc. TAX
€106.75 |
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Vinous (94)The 2020 Sancerre La Grande Côte is a fine wine with a piercing nose of floral and flint. While it may be dry, it offers a sensation of sweet fruit and high alcohol (14.5%), which Cotat compares to the ripe 2009 and 1990 vintages. Being late-picked and on a south slope, these grapes get ripe, and in this vintage, I can't help but think that the balance has been slightly knocked by this ripeness. That said, it offers delectable texture and sinew and remains an impressive wine. Tasting the 2009 Cul de Beaujeu soon after, high alcohol (15%) remains evident with bottle age. |
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Loire | 1 | - |
Inc. TAX
€131.33 |
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Loire | 1 | - |
Inc. TAX
€116.35 |
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Loire | 1 | - |
Inc. TAX
€172.75 |
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Loire | 1 | - |
Inc. TAX
€140.35 |
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Loire | 1 | 94 (VN) |
Inc. TAX
€113.95 |
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Vinous (94)There's a gentleness to the 2020 Sancerre Caillotttes and a sensation of sweetness despite its evidently being a dry white. Open, seductive and textural, it offers delightful floral characters and ripe fruit. There's a touch of alcoholic warmth on the finish, but that’s nitpicking. |
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Loire | 1 | - |
Inc. TAX
€121.15 |
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Loire | 1 | - |
Inc. TAX
€97.88 |
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Loire | 1 | 95 (VN) |
Inc. TAX
€540.94 |
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Vinous (95)An idiosyncratic, intriguing wine that is about as far from standard Sancerre as you'll get, and for that, Cotat will be relieved. The 2019 Sancerre Culs de Beaujeu has great concentration, and the gentle handling translates into delicacy of fruit. However, it’s far from a fruity wine; you'll find floral notes, an iodine-like character and nutty nuances (old barrels, including large formats, are preferred). It retains a sense of freshness and an almost briny essence on the long finish. |
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Loire | 1 | - |
Inc. TAX
€142.60 |
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Loire | 1 | - |
Inc. TAX
€134.93 |
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Loire | 1 | 91 (VN) |
Inc. TAX
€438.86 |
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Vinous (91)Light yellow. Sumptuous nose shows ripe pear, yellow plum and woodsmoke. Rich, slightly sweet pear and pit fruit flavors are held firm by a bitter lemon zest quality that packs a real punch. The finish lingers with excellent persistence, boasting a touch of talc, salty quinine and anise on the back of the palate. |
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Loire | 1 | - |
Inc. TAX
€103.88 |
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Loire | 1 | 96-97 (VN) |
Inc. TAX
€137.95 |
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Vinous (96-97)A pure and refined expression with intense concentration and laser-like precision. If you're looking for stereotypical Sauvignon fruit, go elsewhere, as the 2019 Sancerre Monts Damnés is a wine that's all about delicacy and structure. While there's a sense of richness on the mid-palate, a rod of acidity runs through the wine, providing a mouthwatering stream of freshness. There is loads of structure here, holding the wine together. Balanced, with a briny character on the long finish. |
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Loire | 1 | 92 (VN) |
Inc. TAX
€186.68 |
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Vinous (92)While the 2021 Sancerre Les Monts Damnés is a light bodied wine with a sense of roundness at first, there's no mistaking this is a forceful, grippy style. In its youth, it remains relatively restrained with a touch of green jalapeño and herbs reflecting the cooler season, as well as an almost spicy and salty edge. A little more fleeting than expected. |
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Loire | 1 | - |
Inc. TAX
€460.78 |
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Loire | 1 | - |
Inc. TAX
€113.48 |
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Loire | 1 | - |
Inc. TAX
€351.13 |
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Loire | 1 | - |
Inc. TAX
€710.63 |
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The Gerard Boulay Sancerre Clos Beaujeu 2022 is an exquisite embodiment of fine French winemaking. Produced by Gerard Boulay, a stalwart and highly-respected vigneron, this Sancerre hails from Chavignol, France's terroir-rich region distinguished for its unique Kimmeridgian clay and limestone-based soils. Cherishing traditional techniques, hand-harvested and fermented using only indigenous yeasts, the vines for this vintage age nearly 70 years. In the glass, the Clos Beaujeu 2022 reveals a luminous, golden hue and unparalleled aromatic expression - an intricate bouquet of crisp citrus, ripe gooseberry, and nuanced flinty minerality. On the palate, it boasts structured acidity, embodying a harmony of richness and freshness. Its fruit-forward character accented by a mineral-edge, elegantly imprints a lingering finish. This Sancerre is a testament to Gerard Boulay’s meticulous craftsmanship and charming sophistication of Sancerre whites. Experience the exceptional legacy - the Gerard Boulay Sancerre Clos Beaujeu 2022, a standout in its league. |
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Loire | 1 | 94 (VN) |
Inc. TAX
€861.07 |
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Vinous (94)The 2018 Sancerre Comtesse is the most aromatic of the 2018s I tasted. The bouquet is redolent with Sauvignon Blanc white flower signatures. There is plenty of citrus, white orchard fruit, mint and tomato leaf, and yet the wine is quite soft, with no angular edges, and exceptional balance. |
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Loire | 1 | - |
Inc. TAX
€106.13 |
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Gerard Boulay Sancerre Cote 2018 epitomises the elegance and precision characteristic of the esteemed Sancerre appellation. Crafted from meticulously selected Sauvignon Blanc grapes grown in the limestone-rich terroirs of Cote, this vintage benefits from the ideal climatic conditions of 2018, resulting in exceptional concentration and vibrancy. Under the expert guidance of Gérard Boulay, renowned for his commitment to sustainable viticulture, the grapes undergo cold fermentation in stainless steel tanks to preserve their pure fruit expressions. The wine reveals a pale straw hue, accompanied by enticing aromas of citrus, flint, and subtle floral notes. On the palate, Gerard Boulay Sancerre Cote 2018 offers crisp acidity balanced by mineral undertones, culminating in a lingering, refined finish. Perfect for pairing with seafood, goat cheese, or light poultry dishes, this exceptional Sancerre underscores Boulay’s dedication to producing wines of remarkable finesse and authenticity. |
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| Product Name | Region | Qty | Score | Price | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
Loire | 1 | - |
In Bond
€101.00 |
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|
|
Loire | 1 | 94 (VN) |
In Bond
€85.00 |
|||||
Vinous (94)The 2020 Sancerre La Grande Côte is a fine wine with a piercing nose of floral and flint. While it may be dry, it offers a sensation of sweet fruit and high alcohol (14.5%), which Cotat compares to the ripe 2009 and 1990 vintages. Being late-picked and on a south slope, these grapes get ripe, and in this vintage, I can't help but think that the balance has been slightly knocked by this ripeness. That said, it offers delectable texture and sinew and remains an impressive wine. Tasting the 2009 Cul de Beaujeu soon after, high alcohol (15%) remains evident with bottle age. |
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|
Loire | 1 | - |
In Bond
€106.00 |
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Loire | 1 | - |
In Bond
€93.00 |
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|
|
Loire | 1 | - |
In Bond
€140.00 |
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|
|
Loire | 1 | - |
In Bond
€113.00 |
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|
|
Loire | 1 | 94 (VN) |
In Bond
€91.00 |
|||||
Vinous (94)There's a gentleness to the 2020 Sancerre Caillotttes and a sensation of sweetness despite its evidently being a dry white. Open, seductive and textural, it offers delightful floral characters and ripe fruit. There's a touch of alcoholic warmth on the finish, but that’s nitpicking. |
|||||||||
|
|
Loire | 1 | - |
In Bond
€97.00 |
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Loire | 1 | - |
In Bond
€78.00 |
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|
|
Loire | 1 | 95 (VN) |
In Bond
€427.00 |
|||||
Vinous (95)An idiosyncratic, intriguing wine that is about as far from standard Sancerre as you'll get, and for that, Cotat will be relieved. The 2019 Sancerre Culs de Beaujeu has great concentration, and the gentle handling translates into delicacy of fruit. However, it’s far from a fruity wine; you'll find floral notes, an iodine-like character and nutty nuances (old barrels, including large formats, are preferred). It retains a sense of freshness and an almost briny essence on the long finish. |
|||||||||
|
|
Loire | 1 | - |
In Bond
€115.00 |
|||||
|
|
Loire | 1 | - |
In Bond
€109.00 |
|||||
|
|
Loire | 1 | 91 (VN) |
In Bond
€345.00 |
|||||
Vinous (91)Light yellow. Sumptuous nose shows ripe pear, yellow plum and woodsmoke. Rich, slightly sweet pear and pit fruit flavors are held firm by a bitter lemon zest quality that packs a real punch. The finish lingers with excellent persistence, boasting a touch of talc, salty quinine and anise on the back of the palate. |
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|
|
Loire | 1 | - |
In Bond
€83.00 |
|||||
|
|
Loire | 1 | 96-97 (VN) |
In Bond
€111.00 |
|||||
Vinous (96-97)A pure and refined expression with intense concentration and laser-like precision. If you're looking for stereotypical Sauvignon fruit, go elsewhere, as the 2019 Sancerre Monts Damnés is a wine that's all about delicacy and structure. While there's a sense of richness on the mid-palate, a rod of acidity runs through the wine, providing a mouthwatering stream of freshness. There is loads of structure here, holding the wine together. Balanced, with a briny character on the long finish. |
|||||||||
|
|
Loire | 1 | 92 (VN) |
In Bond
€152.00 |
|||||
Vinous (92)While the 2021 Sancerre Les Monts Damnés is a light bodied wine with a sense of roundness at first, there's no mistaking this is a forceful, grippy style. In its youth, it remains relatively restrained with a touch of green jalapeño and herbs reflecting the cooler season, as well as an almost spicy and salty edge. A little more fleeting than expected. |
|||||||||
|
|
Loire | 1 | - |
In Bond
€365.00 |
|||||
|
|
Loire | 1 | - |
In Bond
€91.00 |
|||||
|
|
Loire | 1 | - |
In Bond
€269.00 |
|||||
|
|
Loire | 1 | - |
In Bond
€547.00 |
|||||
|
The Gerard Boulay Sancerre Clos Beaujeu 2022 is an exquisite embodiment of fine French winemaking. Produced by Gerard Boulay, a stalwart and highly-respected vigneron, this Sancerre hails from Chavignol, France's terroir-rich region distinguished for its unique Kimmeridgian clay and limestone-based soils. Cherishing traditional techniques, hand-harvested and fermented using only indigenous yeasts, the vines for this vintage age nearly 70 years. In the glass, the Clos Beaujeu 2022 reveals a luminous, golden hue and unparalleled aromatic expression - an intricate bouquet of crisp citrus, ripe gooseberry, and nuanced flinty minerality. On the palate, it boasts structured acidity, embodying a harmony of richness and freshness. Its fruit-forward character accented by a mineral-edge, elegantly imprints a lingering finish. This Sancerre is a testament to Gerard Boulay’s meticulous craftsmanship and charming sophistication of Sancerre whites. Experience the exceptional legacy - the Gerard Boulay Sancerre Clos Beaujeu 2022, a standout in its league. |
|||||||||
|
|
Loire | 1 | 94 (VN) |
In Bond
€670.00 |
|||||
Vinous (94)The 2018 Sancerre Comtesse is the most aromatic of the 2018s I tasted. The bouquet is redolent with Sauvignon Blanc white flower signatures. There is plenty of citrus, white orchard fruit, mint and tomato leaf, and yet the wine is quite soft, with no angular edges, and exceptional balance. |
|||||||||
|
|
Loire | 1 | - |
In Bond
€85.00 |
|||||
|
Gerard Boulay Sancerre Cote 2018 epitomises the elegance and precision characteristic of the esteemed Sancerre appellation. Crafted from meticulously selected Sauvignon Blanc grapes grown in the limestone-rich terroirs of Cote, this vintage benefits from the ideal climatic conditions of 2018, resulting in exceptional concentration and vibrancy. Under the expert guidance of Gérard Boulay, renowned for his commitment to sustainable viticulture, the grapes undergo cold fermentation in stainless steel tanks to preserve their pure fruit expressions. The wine reveals a pale straw hue, accompanied by enticing aromas of citrus, flint, and subtle floral notes. On the palate, Gerard Boulay Sancerre Cote 2018 offers crisp acidity balanced by mineral undertones, culminating in a lingering, refined finish. Perfect for pairing with seafood, goat cheese, or light poultry dishes, this exceptional Sancerre underscores Boulay’s dedication to producing wines of remarkable finesse and authenticity. |
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