Four cracking wines for Spring
Characterised by crisp, refreshing whites and rosés, chillable reds and gentle sparkling wines, the Loire Valley offers food friendly wines for spring, perfect for Spring hosting, dining or gifting.
Here are four wines to see you through the Bank Holiday weekends and Spring season, highlighting the diversity and character of the Loire region.
Rosé – fun and fruity
Domaine Joel Delaunay, Les Cabotines Touraine Rosé 2024, London End Wines, £15
Touraine rosé offers light bodied, crisp rosé wines and Les Cabotines hails from the banks of the Cher Valley, 50 kilometres east of Tours near the famous Château de Chenonceau. Family-owned and run by the fifth generation, the winery practices sustainable viticulture and bottles under screwcap.
ABV: 13.5%
Grapes: 70% Gamay and 30% Pineau d’Aunis
Description: A pale pink salmon hue and an expressive nose with vibrant scents of red berry fruits and floral notes. Lively and tense with a silky texture that leads to a lingering, fresh finish. Food friendly, this wine is an excellent choice for aperitifs, grilled fish, or for enjoying with snacks on sunny afternoons.
Sparkling – for the fizz fans
Domaine Breton Vouvray Brut NV – Dilettante, Loire, Good Wine Good People, £27.50
An outstanding example of what Chenin can do in a sparkling wine. An essential for fans of golden fruit profiles with a vibrant backbone of minerality. Refreshing character and delicate texture. Great for gifting or for aperitif moments before the main event. Pairs especially well with fish, seafood and poultry dishes.
ABV: 13%
Grape: Chenin Blanc
Description: Produced in the Vouvray region, which is renowned for its high quality Chenin Blanc grapes, this wine is produced in the Méthode Champenoise resulting in fine bubbles and an exquisite bouquet. The aroma is fruity and floral with notes of citrus, green apple and honey. On the palate the wine is crisp and well-balanced with a lively acidity and a creamy mouthfeel.
Red – intense and robust
Saumur-Champigny, Lisagathe, Château du Hureau 2019 (organic) – Tanners, £35
A top end organic wine from a superb estate made with the top plots of the property’s finest parcels. This is a concentrated wine from 100% Cabernet Franc grapes with depth, minerality, concentration, great length and elegance.
ABV: 13.5%
Grape: Cabernet Franc
Description: Perfect for red wine fans, connoisseurs and enthusiasts, this balanced wine ages well but can also be opened now for freshness. Bursting with powerful black fruit flavours and silky tannins, it pairs well with Spring lamb dishes, game, and roast dinners with all the trimmings.
White – for the brave and the bold
Savennières, Bigottière, 2020 Terra Vita Vinum, Loire – BBR, £65
At the premium end, Terra Vita Vinum offers a range of organic and biodynamic wines. Terra Vinum’s philosophy is low interventionist wine making, allowing the vineyards and the wines to speak for themselves. Located south of Angers and part of the Anjou Noir region of the Loire Valley, famed for its dark rocks and granite soils, the winery’s focus is to produce some of the most terroir-expressive Chenin Blanc wines.
ABV: 14%
Grape: Chenin Blanc
Description: a seriously powerful, full-bodied Savennières. Strong and complex aromas of citrus peel, lychee and orange blossom. Great tension on the palate with some pineapple notes.
