Day 69: Rest day in Vouvray.
It was a mild day as we set out to Domaine de Aubusierres our first wine tasting appointment for the day. Bernard Fouquet the delightful winemaker and owner took us through his range of delicious wines including a vertical tasting of the Le Marigny.
We started with the Cuvée de Silex 2012 made from grapes that grow in clay-silicious soils. This was a dry wine which had good minerality and hints of tropical fruit and dry lemon.
The vertical tasting of Le Marigny 2013, 2012 and 2010 showed how the wine developed and matured in the bottle which was very interesting. These vines grow in clayish-limestone soils and the wines have good minerality with notes of peach coming through. These wines are showing well but need more time in the bottle.
Les Girardieres 2012 is a semi-dry wine from clayish-silicious soils with 20% botrytis. It had fruity, floral aromas with a hint of lime. The last two wines were delicious. Cuvée Alexandre 2009 made from 100% botrytis grapes grown in clayish-limestone soils. The sugar is 116grms% and it is absolutely wonderful with notes of truffle,honey,quince and candied fruit. The opulent nose and flavours on the 2003 vintage is quite remarkable. It is made from 100% botrytis grapes and 200grm% sugar and has good acidity, which does not overpower. Bernard has created a wonderful wine that is perfectly balanced, has good structure and remarkable quality.A real pleasure to drink. Bernard's passion and love for winemaking has allowed him to make wines of outstanding quality.
After a cup of coffee and a petite tarte from the local patisserie we headed off to the Charcuterie to pick up some lunch of salmon and jammon pies that we had at our Chambres de Hote. Some delicious food from the Val de Loire.
We had booked an appointment at Domaine Huet for the afternoon, which we were looking forward to as they have been using Biodynamic farming methods for many years.
Johan Le Calonnec took us through the tasting of 7 wines, which were all good . We started with two Cremant de Loire sparkling wines, the first the Cuvée Brut Petillant with delicious flavours of ripe pear, pineapple and mango with a fine effervescence was very pleasant. We all preferred the Cuvée Brut 2009 which showed more minerality and biscuit flavours.
Their most famous vineyards are the Haut Lieu which are situated on clay soils. The Moelleux 2003 ( sweet) was particularly good from this area. The wonderful thing about these wines is that although the sugar is high it has firm acidity so the wine does not finish sweet.
It was a real treat to taste the 1997 Clos du Bourg Moelleux Premier trie 1997 which was absolutely delicious. We bought a bottle of the Le Mont Demi-Sec 2007 which had better acidity than the 2003 vintage, which was a very hot year. The Demi-Sec goes well with the cheeses from the area, especially mature goat's cheese.
Supper was at a little Pizzeria Creperie, La Terr'a Sandra down the road where they serve delicious pastas too.
What a lovely laid back town and so special to visit the Domaines of two of the best producers in the region. A wonderful day all round.
Our tasting at Domaine de Aubusierres with the winemaker and owner Bernhard Fouquet.
There is a 300 meter tunneled cave where the wines are stored. The tunnels were made 300 years ago to quarry stone to build the chateaus.
In the caves of Domaine Huet. They have over 1 km of tunnels, and the oldest wine stored here is the 1919 Chenin Blanc.
Inspecting the vineyards above Vouvray.
Sounds a great rest day - and well deserved. You guys sure know your wines!
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