Spring has finally sprung! After a long dark winter, the sun has finally decided to shine, the daffodils are blooming and it's time to forgo those heavy winter reds for some light springtime drinking and what better way to greet Spring then with a fresh and crisp Loire Valley Sauvignon blanc.
The Loire is famous for it's Sauvignon blancs but it also produces roses and reds.This weekend we've got Levin Vineyard sauvignon blanc as well as their rose on tasting. Levin wines are produced by David Levin, owner of the Capital Hotel in London. David spent considerable time in Australia and there he met French winemaker Theirry Merlet who shared his winemaking vision of combining traditional organic viticulture with innovative, state of the art winemaking.
David was committed to producing a wine to his exact specifications and he went so far as to build and then ship a winery from Australia to France where he plunked it down in the middle of the Loire Valley. Levin's sauvignon blanc is fresh and crisp with plenty of grapefruit and a touch of mango on the nose and palate.
Working towards a very fruit driven style he combines New World techniques with the best of Loire grapes and produces a wine that falls somewhere between a good Kiwi sauvignon blanc and a traditional Sancerre.
The Loire valley was once more famously known for it's reds and roses. Pre-phyloxera, the region was known for it's pinot noirs and gamays. After the phyloxera debacle, the gamay was ripped out but the pinot was replanted although not extensively and to this day, pinot noir is still produced in the Loire. Domaine de Vieux Preche unlike Levin has been producing Sancerre since the reign of Louis XIV and produce a slightly spicy, clean and light but with a deep black cherry, damson/plum character.
We'll be featuring both wines on tasting this weekend as well as a traditional white, red and rose Sancerre from the Domaine de Vieux Preche.So pop down Saturday, 20 March for some great spring drinks!
