Expert summary:

With both established and emerging producers doing well, no clear conclusions can be drawn from this tasting – except that these Cabernet Francs represent great value

Jim Budd has been the DWWA Regional Chair for Loire since the Awards’ inception in 2004 This was a very encouraging tasting: overall the quality of these reds from the saumur region was high, with few poor wines.

it is no surprise that the 2014s dominate the results as it is clearly the best vintage since 2010. although still very young with some top cuvées yet to be bottled, it is proving a very attractive vintage to drink now with lots of ripe fruit and well-balanced structure and acidity.

whether 2015 or 2014 is the superior vintage is likely to be debated for some time. apart from the earlydrinking cuvées, most 2015s have yet to be released, so it is impossible to draw firm conclusions from this tasting. however, the 2015 Les adrialys from Patrick Vadé’s Domaine st-Vincent scored very highly. his 2014 cuvée was also very impressive in a tasting last October.

There were also a number of successes for the more mature 2011 vintage, which tends to be overlooked but is currently showing well. Three wines made the highly Recommended section – those from Villeneuve, l’Enchantoir and La Folie Lucé’s autremont.

wines from 2013, which many producers (especially the younger ones) describe as the most difficult they have ever experienced, were our least liked. so, it is very impressive that both the 2012 and 2013 wines from Langlois-Chateau, part of Champagne Bollinger, both scored 90 points. To produce wines of this quality in two difficult vintages is a mark of a very good producer.

it was a brave decision by Eduoard Pisani-Ferry of Château de Targé to enter his 2013 Cuvée Ferry, made from old vines. it scored 82. his standard 2014 scored 87. it raises the question of whether it is the best policy to release special cuvées in poor vintages or incorporate everything into making the best possible domaine wine.

it is very encouraging that our two Outstandings – Domaine la Bonnelière’s Les Poyeux 2014 and La seigneurie 2014 – came from two lesser-known but emerging producers. One of the most striking aspects of the results of this tasting is what extraordinary value these and other wines are – less than £15 for the majority of those avaiiable in the UK!

‘Whether 2015 or 2014 is the superior vintage is likely to be debated for some time’