Loire wines in the Flickinger Fine Wines inventory http://www.flickingerwines.com/wineregions/loire.asp http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/DomainedesBaumard.asphttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/CatherinePierreBreton.asphttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/CatherinePierreBreton.asphttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/DidierChampalou.asphttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/DomlesChesnaies(BeatriceetPascalLambert).aspWS 96 (8/2004): Great richness here, with alluring smoke and blanched almond notes enveloping a core of candied citrus peel, lanolin, macadamia nut, coconut and wet straw flavors. But it's still steely as well, with a nervy edge that adds considerable length to the finish. Drink now through 2010.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/DomDidierDagueneau.aspWA 91 (8/2010): The Dagueneau 2008 Blanc Fume de Pouilly Pur Sang - ironically, given its name - is slightly less pure (or at least, less single-minded) than the vintage’s “regular" bottling. But this offers more than compensatory complexity and user-friendly richness. Sage, white grapefruit, lime zest, quince, and white currant haunt the nose and palate, with pungent herbal and zest impingements taking precedence over mineral manifestations, which are (as yet at least) subtle. There is a generosity of fruit here that sets up a lovely interaction with mouth-watering citrus, and for all of its density a wonderful levity. This should be fascinating to follow over the next 5-7 years.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/DomDidierDagueneau.aspWA 93-94 (6/2012): A pungent suggestion of diverse hedge flowers and high-toned herbs rises from the glass of Dagueneau 2010 Blanc Fume de Pouilly Silex; then migrates to a palate dominated by succulent grapefruit, white peach, and cassis. Breadth, opulence, sheer extract, a silken texture, and high glycerin, all seem to enhance this Sauvignon’s sense of sweet ripeness, though citrus zest and berry skin lend satisfying counterpoint. There is resonance and depth to the finish here, and if for now not quite the dazzling complexity of the corresponding Sancerre Monts Damnes, then certainly a compelling performance that promises to be worth revisiting over the next dozen or more years. VM 92+ (10/2014): Greenish yellow. Lime and quince on the nose, with dusty mineral and honeysuckle qualities adding complexity. Drier and racier than the 2011, showing impressive definition to its citrus and floral flavors. Finishes with mineral thrust and spicy length. Still closed and a touch austere, but shows the superb potential of the 2010 vintage.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/DomDidierDagueneau.asphttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/MichelDavid.asphttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/PhilippeDelesvaux.asphttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/PhilippeDelesvaux.aspWS 90 (7/2000): This lush, full-bodied dessert wine sports white pepper, mango and coconut flavors, finishing with ripe, juicy acidity. Shows solid potential for short-term cellaring. Best from 2001 through 2007. WA 89 (8/1999): Deletang's 1997 Montlouis Grande Reserve Tris Moelleux Les Petits Boulay is a dense and plump wine. Honeysuckle and poached pear-like scents lead to its thickly-textured (yet harmonious) core of super-ripe white and yellow fruits. It is an extremely well-made, detail-oriented, and persistent wine. Projected maturity: now-2010.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/DomDeletang.aspWS 90 (7/2000): This lush, full-bodied dessert wine sports white pepper, mango and coconut flavors, finishing with ripe, juicy acidity. Shows solid potential for short-term cellaring. Best from 2001 through 2007. WA 89 (8/1999): Deletang's 1997 Montlouis Grande Reserve Tris Moelleux Les Petits Boulay is a dense and plump wine. Honeysuckle and poached pear-like scents lead to its thickly-textured (yet harmonious) core of super-ripe white and yellow fruits. It is an extremely well-made, detail-oriented, and persistent wine. Projected maturity: now-2010.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/DomDeletang.asphttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/DomdelEcu.aspWA 89 (10/2014): The 2013 Muscadet Sevre et Maine Granite is more sensual than the 2013 Gneiss, showing clear and ripe golden pears and citrus flavors on the nose with aromatic herbs and a delicate iodine minerality. In contrast, the clear palate is marked by a pronounced acidity and a persistent salty and animating taste followed by ripe and succulent fruit flavors of honeydew melon. This is an impressive, quite complex Muscadet with a great aging potential.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/DomdelEcu.asphttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/DomdelEcu.asphttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChdEpire.asphttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/DomlesGrandesVignes.asphttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/DomGuiberteau.asphttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/DomGuiberteau.asphttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/DomGuiberteau.asphttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/DomGuiberteau.asphttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/DomGuiberteau.asphttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/DomGuiberteau.asphttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/DomGuiberteau.aspVM 90 (12/2014): Dark ruby. A redcurrant aroma is complicated by earthy nuances of truffle and tobacco. At once energetic and suave, showing a sappy quality to the Bing cherry and tobacco flavors. Finishes with firm tannins and good juicy persistence. This cabernet franc comes from a one-hectare plot that was replanted in 1955. 3,500 bottles produced.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/DomGuiberteau.asphttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/DomGuiberteau.asphttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/DomGuiberteau.asphttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/DomGuiberteau.asphttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/DomGuiberteau.asphttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/DomGuiberteau.asphttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/DomGuiberteau.asphttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/DomGuiberteau.asphttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/DomHuet.asphttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/DomHuet.asphttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/LucFabriceMartin.asphttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/LucFabriceMartin.aspWA 94+ (10/2014): Sourced from vines plated in 1951 on partly limestone, partly silex soils the dense, firmly structured 2012 Sancerre Les Romains has an intense yellow color and a rich nose with an amalgam of ripe (and slightly oxidized) fruit, crushed rocks, fresh citrus flavors, yeast, (new) oak, nut oil, hazelnut, yogurt and chalk. On the palate all these impressions become tactile and tastable in a rich, creamy textured Sancerre with a demanding minerality and a finish that reminds of vins jaunes of the Jura region. Although quite inaccessible, this is a profund, powerful and extremely salty Sauvignon of great expression and complexity. It is by far not fully developed but we should be curious to taste it again in 3-4 years. VM 91 (9/2014): Vibrant yellow. Pear and melon aromas are complemented by fennel, honeysuckle and oak spice. Rich, sappy pit fruit flavors are lifted by zesty citrus nuances, with dusty talc adding a dry edge. Becomes spicier on the middle palate, finishing with good thrust and a lingering sweetness. More reminiscent of white Burgundy than of typical sauvignon blanc from the Loire.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/AlphonseMellot.asphttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/DomduPetitCoteau.aspWA 93 (8/1999): The 1997 Coteaux du Layon St. Aubin Clos des Bois* reveals a gold color and a nose filled with a myriad of jellied fruits. It is thick, syrupy, dense, and heavy. This full-bodied wine has layer upon layer of super-concentrated and viscous yellow fruits that coat the taster's palate. Drink it over the next 6 years. http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/DomaineJoPithon.aspWA 93 (8/1999): The gold and amber colored 1997 Coteaux du Layon St.-Lambert Clos des Bonnes Blanches' nose is a cross between caramel and molasses. On the palate, this unctuous syrup is crammed with assorted jams (cherry, apricot, peach) and mocha. It is full-bodied, dense, and heavy. Anticipated maturity: now-2005. http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/DomaineJoPithon.asphttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/CavedeSaumur.aspWS 88 (11/1998): Little if any botrytis here, but the apple, honey and mineral aromas and flavors show very good concentration and length. Drink now through 2001.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/DomdelaSoucherie.asphttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/BrendanStater-West.aspWA 90 (10/2016): Jean-Dominique Vacheron's white 2015 Sancerre shows a very clear and elegant white fruit aroma with elderflowers on the nose. Full-bodied, very elegant and fruit intense, but also with mineral and phenolic grip, it has a long and powerful finish. This is remarkably good, perfectly balanced Sancerre. The 2015 reflects the warm and sunny vintage as well as the elegant and complex Vacheron style. The aromatic aftertaste reveals a nice mango aroma, as well as cassis and refreshing mineral flavors.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/DomVacheron.asphttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/DomVacheron.asp