OK listen up, all you Loire-heads! Salon des Vins is here.

So will try to keep everyone informed. Chris and Jim will be updating all the news, wonder if Tim is going?! Long way for Rahsaan!

http://www.thewinedoctor.com/author/sal ... 2009.shtml

http://jimsloire.blogspot.com/

You're making us jealous!!

wonder if Tim is going?!

I wish I were.....

Jim has just posted some thoughts....>

Quick thoughts on 23rd edition of the Salon des Vins de Loire
According to the press release issued at the end of the Salon, the 2009 edition attracted roughly the same number of visitors as last year – over 9000 spread across 585 exhibitors. Although it can be difficult to judge how busy the fair really is my impression was that it was quieter than usual particularly for much of Tuesday and that there were fewer buyers from the UK – in part due to the economic crisis but also because of the heavy snow on Monday in the UK disrupting transport and closing airports.

I was pleased my initial favourable impression of 2008 was confirmed at the Salon, at the Renaissance des Appellations tasting and during visits I made before the start of the Salon. 2008 is a good to very good vintage, providing producers picked at the right moment – not too early when acidity levels were high. In the event the Loire was fortunately that the harvest was small as this allowed the fruit to ripen properly during September and October and to ripen slowly developing intense flavours. Qualitatively good news, although not for the bank manager!

The dry whites should have enough weight to match the often higher levels of acidity. The reds have much more fruit and structure than the often light 2007 and some producers look to have made some very good wines that should keep well. Only the sweet wines were caught out by the weather with almost continuous rain during November dashing hopes of making some lovely sweet that had been raised during the good October weather. Generic cuvées made in the Layon and L’Aubance from grapes picked in late October will be light and charming for drinking young. 2007 is a much better sweet wine vintage than 2008.

Good news! But how am I going to reduce my wine purchases now?

Tim, not going to be any easier after you read this.....>

http://www.thewinedoctor.com/author/sal ... 2009.shtml

Thanks... looks like I'll be buying demi-sec chenin blanc from 2008 and hoping for < $30 / bottle!

Trumpet fanfare for Baudry!!!!!.....>

http://www.thewinedoctor.com/tastingsfo ... 2009.shtml

At last a wine writer who has discovered Baudry's delicious whites!!!

At last a wine writer who has discovered Baudry's delicious whites!!!

Thanks goodness I have some other whites here. I need to open one after the Cusumano Syrah, Sicily, which was way too big for my palate. Yikes. Stay tuned.

At last a wine writer who has discovered Baudry's delicious whites!!!

Terrific eh. Here is a piece on Nicholas Joly....>

http://www.thewinedoctor.com/tastingspr ... rant.shtml

At last a wine writer who has discovered Baudry's delicious whites!!!

Terrific eh. Here is a piece on Nicholas Joly....>

http://www.thewinedoctor.com/tastingspr ... rant.shtml

A very interesting and balanced report.

Should I dare to open one of my handful of bottles from Joly in the next few weeks?
The Belgian importer recommends decanting Coulée de Serrant 24 hours in advance!!!!! And this is said by some to be a wine liable to oxidisation!!!!

Sure, open one for the Loire-gang here! Things might be slow on Wine Focus so any diversion is to be plauded.