The Centre-Loire sub-region is located in the Loire Valley region, southeast of the Paris Basin. Its surface area is difficult to determine and the vineyards are made up of plots that vary in Size and are isolated, but also of plots of several hundred hectares. On a limestone base, the Centre-Loire has at least four types of soil: the terres blanches, Deep brown calcareous soils, which give the wines firmness, vivacity and fullness; the caillotes, Hard limestone soils, which give the wines pleasure, tenderness in their youth and a characteristic fruitiness; the grillotes, of friable limestone from which the wines take notes of candied fruits and honey; and the chailloux, siliceous with fine and coarse elements (clays, silts and sands, gravels, and pebbles), giving the wines firmness, persistent aromas, a Spicy nuance and a note of gunflint The caillotes and grillottes are shallow, stony soils, which Warm up quickly in the spring and have good rainwater Runoff, resulting in early ripening of the grapes for the production of fine, Soft, fruity wines. The semi-continental climate with microclimatic variations is ideal for the Sauvignon grape variety which gives white wines a rare harmony and perfection, and also ideal for the Pinot Noir which produces little known but no less surprising red wines.
The Centre-Loire region has nine appellations but is particularly well known for its AOC Sancerre, Quincy, Reuilly and Menetou-Salon. These appellations include those from the Auvergne vineyards (Saint-Pourçain, Côte-Roannaise and Côtes-du-Forez).
The wines produced in the Vendôme region are of excellent quality thanks to an exceptional grape variety: pineau d'aunis. For example, the red wines of the region, with their aromas of ripe red fruit and sweet spices, are a blend of Pineau d'Aunis, Cabernet Franc and Pinot Noir. The Vendôme hillsides are less than 200 km southwest of Paris. Pineau d'Aunis, a vigorous black grape variety, was first cultivated in the 9th century. It is characterized by a late budburst. Moreover, its foliage partially reddens in autumn. Although it is difficult to grow, Pineau d'Aunis is a high-yielding grape variety, producing between 40 and 80 hectolitres per hectare. It produces a wine with low alcohol content, supple, light-coloured and very aromatic. The "Pineau d'Aunis" grape variety is used as a single variety for the production of Coteaux du Vendômois. On the other hand, it is used in blends for Anjou, Rosé d'Anjou, Crémant de vallée de la Loire, Rosé de vallée de la Loire, Saumur, Saumur Champigny, Coteaux du Loir and Touraine. Finally, it is an accessory grape variety for Valençay.
pink wines from the region of Centre Loire go well with generally quite well with dishes of beef, lamb or spicy food such as recipes of burger roll, leg of lamb with baked potatoes or banh mi sandwich.
On the nose in the region of Centre Loire often reveals types of flavors of strawberries, pepper or spices and sometimes also flavors of red fruit.
Château La Tour Carnet said it will expose an experimental vineyard to artificially higher temperatures to replicate some of the conditions the Bordeaux 2050 vintage may face due to climate change. It’s part of the ‘Oracle’ project at the fourth growth estate, which is among those in Bordeaux seeking to understand how well classic grape varieties like Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot can adapt to climate change. At La Tour Carnet, warming cables more commonly used in aeroplanes will be employed thi ...
Heritage Auctions said a single bottle of Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars’ ‘SLV’ Cabernet Sauvignon 1973 – representing the Napa Valley red wine that beat top Bordeaux in the landmark 1976 Judgement of Paris tasting – fetched $12,300. That marks a new record auction price for the wine, said Heritage. It was sold to a bidder who wished to remain anonymous during an auction of nearly 4,000 wines from Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars’ ‘legacy collection’. Steven Spurrier’s 1976 Judge ...
Vinsobres Though it often sits in the shadow of Cairanne and Rasteau, Vinsobres performed relatively well this year, and many of the wines have a good sense of freshness. The characteristic angular tannins are quite marked, however, so give them a year or two, which will also help to further integrate any new oak, which has frequently been applied liberally here. Scroll down to see tasting notes and score for top Rasteau, Cairanne & Vinsobres 2021 wines {"content":"PC9wPgo8aDM ...
