Loire wines: wines for aging?
Loire wines: forgotten wines for a cellar to age?
After a first look at the Burgundy wines, we continue our series on wines for aging with the beautiful region of the Loire ValleyBest known for its fresh or fruity white wines, the Loire Valley isn't always considered for aging a few bottles in the cellar… and yet! The discerning wine lover will find true gems of longevity among its wines, and at still reasonable prices. Whether white, red, or sweet, these bottles deserve a place in any self-respecting wine cellar!
White wines
It's well known that the Loire Valley, due to its northern location, favors white wines. While the Muscadet offers immediate pleasure; the grape varieties best suited to a long stay in the cellar are the Chenin Blanc and the Sauvignon Blanc, although each displays a very different style.
THE Chenin Blanc, which can be found in the Loire Valley in the appellations of Vouvray, Montlouis Or SavennièresThis is a very versatile grape variety, which expresses fruitiness (quince) in its youth, but gains considerable minerality and complex notes of beeswax or honey with a few years of aging. The best examples can easily be enjoyed for a decade or more, retaining surprising freshness and vibrancy.
The other great grape variety of the Loire, the Sauvignon BlancIt is often enjoyed young, with aromas of grapefruit or bell pepper. Few enthusiasts take the time to appreciate these great wines at maturity. The vintages come from the best terroirs of Sancerre or Pouilly-Fumé They nevertheless age remarkably well, up to twenty years in an excellent vintage, developing noble truffle aromas. Wines aged in oak barrels, in fact, require at least five years to fully integrate the effects of their maturation.
Red wines: Cabernet Franc and Pinot
It is often forgotten that Loire red wines are also suitable for la garde than white wines. While it's true that most reds are designed as easy-drinking wines to be consumed within two or three years, the best producers in the appellations of Chinon or BourgueilThose who prioritize low yields and meticulous cellar work create age-worthy reds that will improve over a decade. This is especially true given the difficulty of generalizing about the quality of vintages in such a vast region with its diverse grape varieties.
The same applies to the reds of Pinot Noir of the Centre, which is reminiscent of a BurgundyThey offer a finesse and acidity well-suited to extended aging, especially when carefully matured. Beware of excess, as rusticity and over-ripeness are the enemies of... Sancerre Red. Let yourself be guided to a bottle that combines elegance and subtlety. A silky texture and captivating aromas of undergrowth await the fortunate enthusiast who has chosen the Loire Valley for their cellar. Cavissima.