Loire Project Cabernet Franc Ambassadors Selected

[Newsroom]

Thirty-five wines were selected on 29 March at the fifth annual tasting to find this year’s Loire Project Cabernet Franc Ambassadors. The wines were chosen by a panel of five UK wine professionals, led by Sam Harrop MW. The jury comprised journalists Sarah Ahmed and Jamie Goode, broadcaster Joe Wadsack and buyers Christine Parkinson from Hakkasan and Nick Room from Waitrose.

The panel chose the Ambassador wines from a selection of 103 samples. They selected the wines which best represent the style of Loire Cabernet Franc suitable for the UK market, without compromising the unique terroir styles, and which they considered have the best commercial chances of success.

The tasting is part of InterLoire’s technical and commercial Project Cabernet Franc, for which Sam Harrop MW is consultant. Harrop commented, “This year’s annual Loire Project Cabernet Franc Ambassador tasting really proved how this project is working. The overall standard of the wines entered was impressive and it was pleasing to see that generally speaking there was more purity, freshness and ripeness than in previous years. Another highlight was the texture of the wines and there were not many wines entered that showed the angular tannins that many of the judges expected. This is all clear evidence to me that more and more producers are tuning into the UK market’s needs. The tasting demonstrated the consistency and quality of Loire Cabernet Franc, and I and the judging panel are very proud to have selected these thirty-five wines which will be Ambassadors for the grape variety and the region.”

Visitors to the London International Wine Fair, from 18 to 20 May 2010, will have the opportunity to taste the Cabernet Franc Ambassadors, on stand G40/2.

Project Loire Cabernet Franc Ambassadors

Anjou Rouge

AOC Anjou Rouge, Château Soucherie, 2008
AOC Anjou Rouge, Château La Tomaze, 2008
AOC Anjou Rouge, Cuvée Iris, Domaine Sauveroy, 2009
AOC Anjou Rouge, Domaine Matignon, 2009
AOC Anjou Rouge, La Cerisaie, Domaine de la Bergerie, 2009

Anjou-Villages

AOC Anjou-Villages, Château des Vaults, Domaine du Closel, 2005
AOC Anjou-Villages, Château de la Mulonnière, 2008
AOC Anjou-Villages, Château de la Mulonnière, 2009

Bourgueil

AOC Bourgueil, La Godinière, Domaine du Petit Souper, J Verdier, 2008
AOC Bourgueil, Cuvée Chevalerie, Domaine de la Chevalerie, 2008
AOC Bourgueil, Tonnerre de Vignes, Cave des Vins de Bourgueil, 2009
AOC Bourgueil, Les Varennes, NAU Frères, 2009
AOC Bourgueil, Domaine de la Closerie, 2009

Chinon

AOC Chinon, Château de la Grille, Baudry Dutour, 2005
AOC Chinon, Vieilles Vignes, Domaine du Puy Rigault, 2007
AOC Chinon, Les Blancs Manteaux, Domaine de la Noblaie, 2008
AOC Chinon, Les Puys, Wilfrid Rousse, 2008
AOC Chinon, Clos du Plessis-Gerbault, Château de Vaugaudry, 2008
AOC Chinon, Domaine René Couly, Couly Dutheil Père et Fils, 2008
AOC Chinon, Cuvée du Domaine, Domaine Charles Pain, 2009
AOC Chinon, Roche de Feu, Alpha Loire, 2009

Saumur

AOC Saumur, Cuvée de Printemps, Domaine de la Paleine, 2008

Saumur-Champigny

AOC Saumur-Champigny, Château de Targé, 2008
AOC Saumur-Champigny, La Folie, Château Yvonne, 2008
AOC Saumur-Champigny, La Bretonnière, Langlois Château, 2008
AOC Saumur-Champigny, Clos des Châtains, Domaine de Nerleux, 2008
AOC Saumur-Champigny, Cuvée Réserve, Cave des Vignerons de Saumur, 2009
AOC Saumur-Champigny, Cuvée Yves Lambert, Domaine de St Just, 2009

Saumur Puy-Notre-Dame

AOC Saumur Puy-Notre-Dame, Domaine de la Paleine, 2008

Saint-Nicolas-de-Bourgueil

AOC Saint-Nicolas-de-Bourgueil, Cuvée de la Mineraie, Domaine Lorieux, J. Verdier, 2008
AOC Saint-Nicolas-de-Bourgueil, Les Graipins, Famille Amirault-Grobois, 2009
AOC Saint-Nicolas-de-Bourgueil, Le Vau Jaumier, EARL Taluau Foltzenlogel, 2009
AOC Saint-Nicolas-de-Bourgueil, L’Expression, EARL Taluau Foltzenlogel, 2009
AOC Saint-Nicolas-de-Bourgueil, Les Quarterons, Clos des Quarterons, 2009
AOC Saint-Nicolas-de-Bourgueil, Domaine Christian Provin, 2009