(April 29, 2022) … A three in one thematic where Chenin Blanc takes center stage and Sauvignon Blanc takes a back seat – but in truth after tasting I noticed that it should have been the other way around …
All wines below are 100% Chenin Blanc
(due to the amount of wines at this tasting I used my Good / Good+ scoring system – that way I could get through more of the wines)
Cosme Thierry 2017 Cuvée Prestige Brut – Fines Bulles Bruts Blanc … Good
Gaudron Christophe 2016 Brut – Fines Bulles Millésimées Blanc … Good
Earl Domaine Nicolas Brunet 2018 Méthode Traditionnelle Brut – Fines Bulles Millésimées Blanc … Good
Brisebarre Philippe 2020 Vignoble Brisebarre Sec – Blanc … Good
Vigneau Christophe Et Stéphane 2020 Sec Silex Sec – Blanc … Good
Domaine Du Viking 2017 Cuvée Sec – Blanc … Good
Maison Darragon 2020 Haut Des Ruettes Demi Sec – Blanc … Good
Domaine Huet 2020 Le Haut Lieu Demi Sec Demi Sec – Blanc … Good
Domaine D’orfeuilles 2009 Réserve D’automne Moelleux – Blanc … Good
Savennières
all wines below are 100% Chenin Blanc
(due to the amount of wines at this tasting I used my Good / Good+ scoring system – that way I could get through more of the wines)
Chateau Soucherie 2019 Clos Des Perrières … Good
Château D’epiré 2019 La Croix Picot … Good+
Domaine Du Closel 2019 Clos Du Papillon … Good
Domaine Taillandier Marc 2020 Domaine Taillandier Marc … Good
Domaine Des Baumard 2018 Clos Du Papillon … Good
Terra Vita Vinum 2018 Bigottière … Good
Patrick Baudouin 2019 Bellevue … Good
Raymond Morin 2019 Chateau De Varennes … Good
Domaine Thibaud Boudignon 2020 La Vigne Cendree … Good
Domaine Des Forges 2020 Savennieres Clos Du Papillon … Good+ 
Château De Plaisance 2020 Savennieres … Good
The Sauvignon Grape: Under the PGI Val de Loire
all wines below are 100% Sauvignon Blanc, unless otherwise stated
(due to the amount of wines at this tasting I used my Good / Good+ scoring system – that way I could get through more of the wines)
Domaine De La Potardiere 2021 Sauvignon – Blanc … Good+
Domaine Delaunay 2021 Sauvignon – Blanc … Good
Le Moulin De La Touche 2021 Sauvignon Gris – Blanc … Good
Vignoble Cogné 2021 Sauvignon Blanc – Blanc … Good
Château D’avrillé 2021 Sauvignon – Blanc … Good
Famille Bougrier 2021 Famille Bourgier Collection – Blanc … Good+
Joël Delaunay 2021 Le Grand Ballon – Blanc … Good
Les Crus De L’Anjou Blanc 
An interesting look at the vineyards, and soils – complete with geologist explanation. And a tasting at Le Chateau Fort … plus a washroom with the best view I have ever seen (seriously)
Montchenin
Domaine Du Petit Clocher 2019 Les Audacieuses – Blanc
16 month in barrels – Lemon zest and beeswax. (*** ½)
Domaine De La Clartière 2020 Terres De Paillé – Blanc
Decent minerality with lemon zest and nice acidity. (*** ½+)
Ronceray
Château De Suronde 2018 Grand Vin De Suronde – Blanc
Fresh mineral with lemon and other citrus notes. (*** ½)
Saint Lambert Dont Bonnes Blanches
Domaine Ogereau 2020 Bonnes Blanches Sec – Blanc
Gentle minerality, stony-freshness, good lemon and good acidity. (*** ½+)
Secteur Ardenay
Domaine Patrick Baudouin 2018 Le Cornillard – Blanc
Sweet nose, but everything else is a delight: complex enough to make you take sip after sip and nod you head with pleasure. (*** ½+)
Faye d’Anjou
Château Du Fresne 2020 Chevalier Le Bascle – Blanc
Easy drinking with enough acidity to keep its freshness. (*** ½+)
Bonnezeaux – Burnizellius
Domaine Des Fontaines 2020 Cuvée Landry – Blanc
lively and fresh – great afternoon sip. (*** ½+)
Chateau De Fesles 2018 La Chapelle – Blanc
Beeswax and lemon notes take center stage. (*** ½)
Saint Aubin de Luigné
Domaine Des Forges 2020 L’Audace – Blanc
Dry, mineral driven, totally fresh and lively. (*** ½+)
Pierre Bise
Le Clos Galerne 2018 Moulin Brûlé 2018 Blanc
Nice richness, thick mouthfeel but it finishes on the gentle side. (*** ½+)
Aubance 
Domaine De Haute Perche 2020 Le Clos Des Constant – Blanc
There’s a richness of beeswax, lanolin and apple, mid-palate to finish. (*** ½)
Martigné Briand
Sagesse Des Sols 2020 Toucher Terre – Blanc
Lemon, mineral and apple. (*** ½)
La Tuffière
Domaine De La Tuffière 2019 Ledit Vin Chenin – Blanc
Peachy on the palate and punchy with acidity. (****)
Autres secteurs
Domaine De Huillé 2018 Blanc
Peach, nectarine and pear – pure yum. (****)
Cabernet Franc Dinner
The farewell dinner was a treasure trove of delicious Cabernet Francs; both as part of a pre-dinner walk around tasting, and then paired with the meal. Once again, my Good / Good+ rating was employed.
Domaine Olivier 2020 Mont Des Olivier – Rouge … Good+
Manoir De La Tête Rouge 2018 Enchantoir – Rouge … Good
Domaine Des Sanzay 2020 Les Poyeux – Rouge … Good
Domaine Des Chapelles 2020 Louis – Rouge … Good
Domaine Du Mortier 2020 Les Graviers – Rouge … Good
Beatrice Et Pascal Lambert 2018 Chêne Vert – Rouge … Good+ 
Domaine Des Ouches 2019 Coteaux Des Ouches – Rouge … Good
La Folie Luce 2020 Encore – Rouge … Good
Domaine Des Rochelles 2019 Breton – Rouge … Good
Domaine Wilfrid Rousse 2018 Clos De La Roche – Rouge … Good
