Editor’s top picks

  • Muscadet Sèvres et Maine sur lie, the 2009 millenium vintage. Domaine Marquis de Goulaine, a white, which meets all expectations in terms of minerality, suppleness, fruity elegance, a wine to put down.
  • Peter Hahn’s Vouvray 2008 Le Clos de la Meslerie, a real discovery for this handpicked wine, grown organically and with a nice typicity with zesty aromas and mineral undertones.
  • Muscadet Sèvres et Maine Monnières Saint Fiacre 2005, produced by a wine growers cooperative with a minimum of 17 months maturation in barrels, a wine to put down, which reveals all the freshness and generosity of the land.
  • Muscadet Sèvres et Maine Jubilation 2007 from the Pallet wine growers, a group of artisan wine growers and a nice success with intense yet fresh flavours. www.vigneronsdupallet.com
  • A Cours Cheverny, from romorantin grapes from the Val de Loire. The François I vintage, old vine from the Michel Gendrier estate. The Huards, a wine from organically grown grapes.
  • A Château de Vallagon in red. Touraine grapes from the livery of wine growers from Oisly and Thésée. www.chateaudevallagon.com
  • The Clisson 2007 vintage certified origin Muscadet Sèvre et Maine from Bruno, Marie F and Maxime Cormerais in Saint Lumine de Clisson. A white Melon de Bourgogne grape, rich in minerals, full bodied with smoky, dried fruit and zesty aromas.
  • Domaine de Bel Air, an independent wine grower at Saint Aignan de Grand Lieu, a certified origin muscadet côtes de Grand Lieu sur lie. Awarded the gold medal in 2010 for its minerality, very fine, fresh and zesty.
  • Florence Veilex’ Domaine de la Chapinière in Châteauvieux, a certified origin Gamay 2009, a beautiful red, lightly coloured, supple on the palate, convivial and seducing.
  • Château de l’Oiselinière, a certified origin muscadet Sèvres et Maine sur Lie. « Les Illustres », an excellent fruity white wine, with floral notes, to put down.
  • Gérard Depardieu’s vineyard, Bouvet Ladubay blend, “Taille Princess” 2008, a sparkling rosé brut, a fresh harmony of pinot noir and cabernet Franc.