Loire
The Loire Valley represents one of the largest vineyards in France in terms of surface area. It extends along the eponymous river, which flows from Auvergne to Pays Nantais and covers 57,000 hectares.
We find, through this fluvial influence and its adjacent tributaries, microclimates specific to this region. This is partly why we find such a great diversity of natural wines in the Loire Valley.
In this vast territory, many winegrowers work their vines biodynamically and produce major natural wines. To speak of the Loire Valley as a simple appellation would be simplistic due to this enormous diversity of terroirs. On the other hand, we can divide the vineyard surface into several zones, each having its own specificities.
Firstly, we find at the mouth of the Loire, the Muscadet region, around the Nantais region.
This appellation area brings together some 9,000 hectares spread over alluvial terroirs of the Armorican massif such as granite and mica schist, very draining soils which give the wines aromatic profiles of rare minerality and salinity. The only grape variety authorized in Muscadet is Melon de Bourgogne. Muscadet are wines that have long been criticized then brought back into fashion thanks to the work of great natural winegrowers such as Jo Landron, one of the tenors of the appellation in terms of natural wines, or even thanks to the different vintages of Claire and Fred Niger from Domaine de l'Ecu. Familiar names for any natural wine lover!
They present profiles of lively dry wines, carried by a relatively pronounced acidity and a finish with a slight bitterness, which has led them to be often associated with the consumption of oysters and seafood.
We find ourselves further east now, in the Anjou vineyards, centered around the city of Angers. We then come across black soils composed of sandstone and shale to the west, which give the wines specific aromatic profiles focused on acidity and minerality, as well as chalk soils, Tuffeau, to the east. Here is the birthplace of the king grape variety of the Loire: Chenin. It is capable of producing very fruity wines with a lot of bouquet, elegant, always presenting good acidity, generally quite lively, nervous, with a fairly significant aging potential.
Despite everything, the Loire is also a big producing region of reds, where Cabernet Franc reigns, giving wines with a dominant aging potential with notes of black and crunchy fruits, but also juicier profiles like the natural wine vintages made from of Grolleau or Pineau d'Aunis. We then look for lightness, fresh fruit, and peppery notes. We cannot mention the natural wines of this area without missing the Mosse estate, which offers precise wines from every angle.
When we get closer to the Saumur area, the terroirs are made up almost exclusively of Tuffeau. We find the sweetness of Cabernet Francs naturally vinified at Domaine des Frères for example, on profiles between crunchy and finesse.
Following the Loire further east, we find ourselves in Touraine with its flint soils which highlight Sauvignon blanc with aromatic profiles of dry, mineral and intense natural wines. There are also lovely expressions of Grolleau, a light red grape variety with a singular complexity like the vintages of Clos-Tue-Boeuf, a major player in the representation of natural wines in the sector. In the Loire center, further east, limestone is king, and allows extremely precise expressions of Sauvignon Blanc, ignoring the reputation of the prestigious appellations of Sancerre and Pouilly-Fumé, some of which showcase their know-how. on the development of great natural white wines like Alexandre Bain. At the source of the Loire, we find in Puy-de-Dôme unique vineyards whose typicity comes from their volcanic soils, and where we come across very beautiful expressions of Gamay and Pinot noir. A wine growing area constantly evolving to offer wonderful natural wines.
To discover a wider selection of natural Loire wines, visit Vinograf.
