WTN: 2007 Baudry Chinon Les Granges

[Salil]

After reading some of Jim Cowan's notes on Baudry's wines I've been keen on trying some myself. Finally got some of the '07 Les Granges in hand and opened a bottle to go with dinner tonight (mildly seasoned chicken breast and rice with black beans).

Clear dark red colour. Beautiful nose of earth, graphite, red fruits and forestal herbal notes. Gentle and silky on the palate with fine tannins, savoury fruit and herbal flavours and plenty of acidity underneath. The finish feels a little clipped and light but no complaints - this is a really good value and incredibly food friendly. Very enjoyable with dinner, and a great introduction to Baudry - I'll definitely be on the lookout for some of his other reds in the future.

[Bruce K]

Had the 2006 a couple of nights ago. I thought it was excellent, with a terrific array of aromas and flavors emphasizing cherry and red berry, herbs and minerals. Medium-bodied, very smooth with refreshing acidity and an excellent match with pesto. Year in and year out, this is one of my favorite wines and at $13-$15, one of the best definitions of QPR I can think of.

[Tim York]

IMO, nearly all the top producers of Loire Cabernet franc are classical examples of great QPR for their whole ranges. Indeed I put this wine type forward as my candidate for best QPR in the world with cru Beaujolais from top producers there being its only serious competitor.

Just to confirm this I have looked up the price ranges in Les Meilleurs Vins de France 2009. Only the top cuvées from producers like Ch. de Villeneuve, Ch. du Hureau, Roches Neuves (Saumur-Champigny), Alliet and Joguet (Chinon) flirt with €20 ex-cellars whilst the whole ranges of René-Noël Legrand (Saumur-Champigny), Bernard Baudy (Chinon), Yannick Amirault and Jacky Blot (Bourgueil) are below. That leads to slightly higher prices at wine merchants, but the QPR is still extraordinary compared with similar quality from other regions.

Only Clos Rougeard (Saumur-Champigny) is significantly more expensive but the quality is outstanding.

[Bruce K]

IMO, nearly all the top producers of Loire Cabernet franc are classical examples of great QPR for their whole ranges. Indeed I put this wine type forward as my candidate for best QPR in the world with cru Beaujolais from top producers there being its only serious competitor.

Ditto, though I would add to this list other Loire reds, especially Gamays, Pineau d'Aunis and Cots from Touraine, not to mention to occasional oddball like Marc Ollivier's Cuvee Granit red "Muscadet."

[Jenise]

Also a fan. Judging by Oswaldo's recent note, this year is a little lighter than some have been but it sounds no less attractive, just a different way of being attractive, and to be honest I'm more and more drawn to lighter bodied red wines like Beaujolais, so the 07 Les Granges sounds like a wine I need to find. Fortunately, one local store restocks every vintage.

[David M. Bueker]

Also a fan.

Very Facebook of you.