The Loire

My defining moment with wine came during an introduction to wine tasting course when I tasted my first really mature wine – Moulin Touchais 1986. The capacity of wine to change and develop complexity over time captured my imagination. And why had I never heard of this wine or Chenin Blanc before?  I realised that there was much more to wine than meets the eye and felt compelled to investigate further!

Today – many Loire missions later – I contribute to Oz Clarke Pocket Wine Book on the Loire, judge the Decanter World Wine Awards Loire category and lend my taste buds to Interloire’s quality-focused Ambassador projects aimed at uplifting the quality of the region’s Cabernet Franc and Sauvignon Blanc.

The annual Salon de Vins de Loire in February gives me a first taste of the new vintage and an opportunity to taste as widely as possible. Visits, often with my fellow wine writer and friend, Jim Budd, give me a picture of what’s happening “on the ground.”   What Jim doesn’t know about the Loire isn’t worth knowing – see for yourself at jimsloire.blogspot.com.   And check out my reports below for the Ahmed perspective.

Archive of The Loire

• The Salon 2010, Anjou-Villages Brissac 2008 highlights Monday, March 1, 2010
• The Salon 2010, Jasnières & Coteaux du Loir highlights Saturday, February 20, 2010
• Domaine Huet – a focus on Demi-sec Vouvray, tasting the 2008s and select older vintages back to 1949 Monday, December 28, 2009
• 2008 & 2009 – Loire odysseys Sunday, February 8, 2009
• 2007 – Loire odysseys Thursday, August 30, 2007
• 2006 – Loire oddyseys Thursday, February 9, 2006
• Domaine Baumard tasting Thursday, December 15, 2005
• The Wine Detective Loire tasting 2005 Saturday, April 30, 2005
• Richards Walford portfolio tasting, 2005 Saturday, April 30, 2005
• Domaine Huet, pre-auction tasting at Christies, 2004 Thursday, May 6, 2004

Important links

• Artisan wines (retailer)
• Gauntleys (retailer)
• Genesis (retailer)
• H2Vin Limited, Christian Honorez (importer/retailer)
• Interloire (regional body for Anjou, Nantes, Saumur and Touraine)
• Jacqueline Friedrich (wine writer)
• Jim Budd (wine writer)
• Les Caves de Pyrene (retailer)
• Les Vins du Centre Loire (Central Loire, [Sancerre et al] regional body)
• Maison de Sancerre (inter-active museum and maison de degustation)
• Maison de Sancerre (inter-active museum and maison de degustation)
• Raeburn Fine Wines (retailer)
• Richard Kelley (wine merchant & writer)
• RSJ (restaurant & retailer)
• St John (restaurant & retailer)
• The Wine Doctor (wine writer)
• The Wine Society (retailer)
• Vine Trail (retailer)
• Yapp (retailer)