RAISE A GLASS
CYCLING in the Loire Valley is on my bucket list. It’s made difficult by two things: 1) I’m a hopeless cyclist, and 2) I’d be distracted by the first vineyard and wouldn’t get much further than that.
The Loire Valley is such an interesting wine region. The river weaves its way from the hot centre of France to the cooler Atlantic ocean on the west coast.
Along the way, there are 57,200 hectares of vines. It is France’s top producer for whites and second for rosés. Red wines represent 21% of the total production. In 2017 a total of 320 million bottles were sold.
I wouldn’t be able to cycle my way past all that deliciousness!
This week I’m sharing three Loire Valley red wines… plus a sparkling glass of Loire delights. (RRP £9.49, Ocado) is created from the cabernet franc grape. In Saumur it’s the key black grape variety. The wine is light and bright with red fruits, with a woodland air. It has a note of dry leaves and smoke but the emphasis is very much on the fruit.
For a fruit-packed wine, bang on the money, then
(RRP: £16.95, or £8.95 for a half bottle at leaandsandeman.co.uk) is a
(RRP: £12.95, Great Western Wine). I love this wine, not
smasher. As I write, a glass is about two feet away and a wonderfully lush fruit bomb aroma is oozing towards me. Again the cabernet franc grape is the star performer. It’s a ruby-red wine, rich with the essence of ripe berries and cherries. A leafy note can still be sensed, deep down in the fruit layers.
My third red comes via a grape more commonly seen in wines from Beaujolais. The gamay grape is found in several Loire regions, and in the Touraine is known for delivering fresh fruity wines. That can definitely be said of
least for the line of little ducks on the label.
Pop it in the fridge to add a subtle chill and then sip and enjoy red cherry fruit in this soft, easy-going red wine.
Finally, some bubbles. Crémant de Loire can be produced in Anjou, Saumur, and Touraine.
Wines are made in the traditional sparkling method. Local grape varieties such as chenin blanc, chardonnay, cabernet franc, grolleau and pinot noir can be used.
(£15.50, lebonvin.co.uk) is a delicious, elegant, light pink feast of fizz. Guess what, cabernet franc lies at its heart. It has notes of strawberry and red fruits, with a steady stream of fine excited bubbles. A wonderful sip. ■
(£6.99) is newly arrived in Aldi. It is a blend of equal amounts of grenache noir and syrah, with cinsault filling the gap at 20%. The vineyard site is on an ancient maritime lagoon 40km from the Mediterranean. The wine has ripe tropical notes, rich and heady from the French sunshine. It will serve as a good reminder of our own summer sunshine.
■ Jane is a member of the Circle of Wine Writers. Find her on social media and online as One Foot in the Grapes.