Caves Des Vignerons de Saumur LA CABRIOLE Rouge Saumur

This excellent cooperative under the guidance of managing director Claude Guichet is now producing some of the most consistent quality and value wines from the Loire. Long contracts and bonuses for quality grapes have meant it is now in the member interests to invest time and effort in producing the best grapes for the production of wine. Tufa soils, or limestone, are the key to the style of wines produced in this area. The soils stores heat and humidity during the day and releases it during the cool nights, while the grapes are picked both manually and mechanically and undergo severe sorting. Using a pneumatic press with short skin contact enables low temperature fermentation . After bottling, the wines are left to mature for between several months to a few years in the underground cellars Aromas of honey and honeysuckle can be found on the nose, on the palate it is light, dry and crisp, with well balanced acidity and a long lingering finish of quince, melon and honeydew. (12 x 75 cl)

This excellent cooperative under the guidance of managing director Claude Guichet is now producing some of the most consistent quality and value wines from the Loire. Long contracts and bonuses for quality grapes have meant it is now in the member interests to invest time and effort in producing the best grapes for the production of wine. Tufa soils, or limestone, are the key to the style of wines produced in this area. The soils stores heat and humidity during the day and releases it during the cool nights, while the grapes are picked both manually and mechanically and undergo severe sorting. Using a pneumatic press with short skin contact enables low temperature fermentation . After bottling, the wines are left to mature for between several months to a few years in the underground cellars Aromas of honey and honeysuckle can be found on the nose, on the palate it is light, dry and crisp, with well balanced acidity and a long lingering finish of quince, melon and honeydew.

Caves Des Vignerons de Saumur LES MEDAILLES Saumur Rouge from France, Loire, Saumur by Caves Des Vignerons de Saumur St.Cyr en Bourg (6 x 75 cl)

This excellent cooperative under the guidance of managing director Claude Guichet is now producing some of the most consistent quality and value wines from the Loire. Long contracts and bonuses for quality grapes have meant it is now in the member interests to invest time and effort in producing the best grapes for the production of wine. Tufa soils, or limestone, are the key to the style of wines produced in this area. The soil stores heat and humidity during the day and releases it during the cool nights, while the roots of the Cabernet Franc vines need to dig deep down into the granite-like mineral rich soils in order to find enough water. Once harvested the grapes benefit from being fermented in ultra-modern fermentation facilities at ground level. Once the fermentation process is complete the wines are wood matured some 25 metres below ground level in a maize like Cellar of rooms and corridors that stretch an amazing 10 km in length. There is no need for temperature control as it is already naturally cool at this depth. Ruby red in colour, with a refined and elegant nose. The palate is soft and ripe with the hints of green peppers, while the finish is long and concentrated, with fine ripe tannins. (6 x 75 cl)

Caves Des Vignerons de Saumur RESERVE des VIGNERONS Blanc Saumur Sec from France, Loire, Saumur by Caves Des Vignerons de Saumur St.Cyr en Bourg (12 x 75 cl)

A refreshing, relatively light, fruity red made from the Cabernet Franc grape with the local Pineau d'Aunis variety. (6 x 1.5 Litres)

Serious wines are produced at this estate run by the charismatic Thierry Germain. His approach is closer to a Burgundy wine-maker than a typical Loire producer. This 50-acre domaine, situated in a superb viticultural location in the appellation of Saumur Champigny, has been a winery since 1850. Germain, from a long line of Bordeaux winemakers, arrived here in 1991, attracted by the region's perfect balance of grape varietal, climate and terroir, which he considers one of the finest in France. The vineyard is worked in a natural way with the goal of keeping the vine and the soil at its healthiest . The harvest is manual, selecting grapes at their very ripest level. Vinification is handled in small batches with bottling unfined and unfiltered. The Cuvee Marginale is a selection of the best grapes put into barriques neuves, a felicitous amalgam of Bordeaux and Loire styles, The vines for the Marginale are situated on the superb clayey-limestone soil of Fosse de Chaintres. This cuvée is only made in the best years when the grapes achieve a minimum of 13 degrees alcohol. Yields for the Marginale are a miniscule 25hl/ha; the grapes are macerated for 30-35 days, then the wine is placed in new oak to undergo malolactic fermentation. It will mature for 18-24 months depending on the vintage. Poduced from the ripest grapes this grand wine is powerful yet elegant, structured like a top Bordeaux. (6 x 75 cl)

Serious wines are produced at this estate run by the charismatic Thierry Germain. His approach is closer to a Burgundy wine-maker than a typical Loire producer. This 50-acre domaine, situated in a superb viticultural location in the appellation of Saumur Champigny, has been a winery since 1850. Germain, from a long line of Bordeaux winemakers, arrived here in 1991, attracted by the region's perfect balance of grape varietal, climate and terroir, which he considers one of the finest in France. The vineyard is worked in a natural way with the goal of keeping the vine and the soil at its healthiest . The harvest is manual, selecting grapes at their very ripest level. Vinification is handled in small batches with bottling unfined and unfiltered. L'Insolite is from a plot of vines some 75 years old, grown on clayey-limestone with sandstone and flint subsoil. The grapes are harvested in several picking sessions according to ripeness in the vineyard, with the last pass being only nobly rotten grapes), and yields no more than 18hl/ha while the organic work is done on the soil with special tisanes. Finally the wine is fermented in 400 litre barrels, 70% new oak as well as 228l Burgundy barrels and aged on the fine lees for 12 months with batonnage. The nose is very attractive, big and perfumed like a sweet Coteaux du Layon, full of pears, pineapple and honey. There is incredible richness on the palate with perfect balancing acidity. In some ways it is more reminiscent of grand cru white Burgundy from a very ripe vintage than a Loire wine. (6 x 75 cl)

Michel Ratron CLOS DES CORDELIERS Saumur Champigny from France, Loire, Saumur-Champigny by Clos des Cordeliers (12 x 75 cl)