Loire wines in the Flickinger Fine Wines inventory http://www.flickingerwines.com/wineregions/loire.asp WS 89 (5/1997): This sleek, racy white offers peach, pineapple and spice flavors, with crisp acidity offsetting modest sweetness now. Should be better after cellaring. Best after 1999. 2,000 cases made.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/DomdesBaumard.aspWS 98 (5/1997): This gorgeous Loire white manages to be both extremely complex and utterly harmonious. Aromas of spice, crème brûlée and mango give way to mouthfilling flavors of honey, minerals, dried apricots and orange peel, very sweet yet kept vivid by crisp, lime-scented acidity. Irresistable now, better--probably much better--in years to come. Drink now through 2020.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/DomainedesBaumard.aspWA 95 (8/2007): The Baumard 2004 Quarts de Chaume reflects painstaking, multiple pickings of perfectly botrytized fruit, with plenty of gold-green grapes to insure juiciness, vivacity and flux. An intense and complex aromatic mingling of candied grapefruit and pineapple, quince jelly, pear drops, white raisin, musk and truffle leads to a palate of intense richness yet buoyant elegance and transparency to mineral, floral and spice nuances. The superb finish manages to be refreshingly, invigoratingly juicy and salty while at the same time possessing honeyed richness and implosive concentration of candied citrus and overripe orchard fruits. (Furthermore – in this case I can’t help but write it explicitly – this represents astonishingly good value for a wine of its quality and sort.) While already irresistible, this has at least a good quarter century in it.WS 94 (5/2006): Ripe and stylish, with fig, pear tartine and green plum flavors gliding along a lovely, creamy palate. Its accessibility belies the vibrant minerality on the finish for now; this should be cellared a bit. Best from 2008 through 2015. 1,415 cases made.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/DomainedesBaumard.asphttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/HubertBrochard.asphttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/JacquesCarroyFils.aspWS 88 (3/2008): Fresh, with crunchy acidity carrying green apple, green plum and lime notes. Bright, floral finish. Drink now. 1,700 cases imported.WA 87 (8/2008): The Champalou’s 2006 Vouvray is what locals call sec tendre, i.e. with scarcely-noticeable sweetness. Sweet corn, quince, white truffle and wet wool in the nose lead to a waxy palate suffused with wood smoke, truffle, and musky floral notes. One senses the dangerous flirtation with botrytis in this inopportunely rained-on vintage, yet the decadence expressed here is at the very least fascinating. Quince, tinged with salt and lime peel bitterness inform the finish of this surprisingly full-bodied, dense, and slightly somber rendition of Vouvray. (I was less convinced by this year’s off-dry Cuvee des Fondraux – this is a difficult vintage for maintaining clarity of flavors in Vouvray.)http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/DidierChampalou.asphttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/DidierDagueneau.asphttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/DidierDagueneau.asphttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChateauDelEchardie.asphttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChateauDeFesles.asphttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/DomaineGuiberteau.asphttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/DomaineGuiberteau.asphttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/DomaineGuiberteau.asphttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/DomaineGuiberteau.asphttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/DomaineGuiberteau.asphttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/DomaineGuiberteau.asphttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/DomaineGuiberteau.aspWS 90 (8/2005): Lovely smoke on the nose, along with black cherry and blackberry fruit flavors. Ripe and fleshy through the finish, where mineral and tobacco notes chime in. Drink now through 2006. 150 cases imported.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/CharlesJoguet.aspWA [87-89] (8/2007): Assembled and returned to barrel (from which it will be bottled unfiltered), the Joguet 2005 Chinon Clos du Chene Vert - from a dramatically steep right-bank site just outside Chinon itself, and not far from the Clos de Neore - mingles aromas and flavors of black currant, licorice, bitter-sweet flowers and blackberry. Fine tannins and a faintly tart edge to the black fruits here segue with reasonable success into resin and coconut notes from barrel.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/CharlesJoguet.aspWA [88-89] (8/2007): From a complex gravel melange on the left bank of the Vienne, Joguet’s 2005 Chinon Les Varennes du Grand Clos had been racked from barrel and assembled in tank when I tasted. Redolent in its sweet and smoky way of machine oil, as well as black currant, blackberry, resin and herbs, this displays a mouthful of juicy fruit and fine tannins as well as subtly wafting florality and hints of fruit pit bitterness. A sappy, resinous, tartly-fruited and pungently herbal finish clings with an almost white-wine like combination of refreshment and tenacity that may strike some tasters as austere. This should grow up to be very interesting and continuingly delicious Cabernet Franc, no doubt worth following for at least 5-7 years.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/CharlesJoguet.aspIWC 88 (12/1998): Complex nose combines white grapefruit, pineapple and white pepper. Rather powerful on the attack, then dense and ripe, with excellent flavor intensity and a clinging texture. Very assertive wine, but turns a bit harsh and dry on the back end.WS 85 (6/1999): Light and clean, this fresh white shows the mineral, citrus and herb flavors characteristic of the appellation, but in a subdued, light-bodied style. Balanced and refreshing. Drink now.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/PascalJolivet.aspWS 92 (9/2000): Vibrant, with beeswax and lanolin notes weaving through lemon peel, orange blossom, chamomile, white peach and straw flavors that are all remarkably well-defined, trim and taut as they stretch out on the lengthy finish. Beautiful. Reviewed at 91 points on release.--N. Joly vertical. Drink now through 2010.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/NicolasJoly.asphttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/Ladoucette.asphttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/Ladoucette.asphttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/BeatricePascalLambert.asphttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/BeatricePascalLambert.asphttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/BeatricePascalLambert.asphttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/BeatricePascalLambert.asphttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/BeatricePascalLambert.asphttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/BeatricePascalLambert.asp