Sarah Ahmed – The Wine Detective

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.

The Loire Reports

• My pick of the bunch: 2010 Central Loire Sauvignon Blanc 10/06/2011
• Loire Salon 2010: Montlouis & Vouvray highlights 24/06/2010
• Château Pierre Bise – Coteaux du Layon Les Rouannières vertical & latest releases 14/04/2010
• Domaine des Rochelles new releases & La Croix de la Mission vertical 09/04/2010
• Loire Salon 2010 – Central Vineyard highlights, Sauvignon Blanc & Pinot Noir 24/03/2010
• Chinon, Chi-yes and other Loire goodies! 15/03/2010
• The Salon 2010, Coteaux de l’Aubance highlights 13/03/2010
• The Salon 2010, Anjou-Villages Brissac 2008 highlights 01/03/2010
• The Salon 2010, Jasnières & Coteaux du Loir highlights 20/02/2010
• Domaine Huet – a focus on Demi-sec Vouvray, tasting the 2008s and select older vintages back to 1949 28/12/2009
• 2008 & 2009 – Loire odysseys 08/02/2009
• 2007 – Loire odysseys 30/08/2007
• 2006 – Loire oddyseys 09/02/2006
• Domaine Baumard tasting 15/12/2005
• The Wine Detective Loire tasting 2005 30/04/2005
• Richards Walford portfolio tasting, 2005 30/04/2005
• Domaine Huet, pre-auction tasting at Christies, 2004 06/05/2004