Sauvignon Blanc to Renew our Loire Valley Love
Earlier this year, Dan and I were cruising along the Italian countryside, visiting with a few producers in Tuscany. I was picking Dan’s brain about where he started looking for wine when he first launched CorksCru. My question was immediately greeted with an animated and detailed story (we had plenty of time to kill in the car) about his personal mission to find and import wine from the length of the Loire River. That is quite a goal, given that the Loire River, France’s longest, starts as a trickle in central France, flows over 1000 kilometers, and eventually empties into the Atlantic Ocean. That's a lot of ground, and a wide range of wines, to cover.
Naturally, I asked, “So, where are all our Loire producers now?”
Dan, “Well, things change in this business for lots of reasons. One producer decided to sell the property, another went through life changes, another became challenging to work with for various reasons…”
Me, “Sounds like we need to go searching again.”
Dan, without skipping a beat, “Okay, when?”
And that's how we ended up on a no-brainer week-long jaunt this past July, to look for some great wines in a region that got Dan all hot and bothered to talk about. Frankly, I was as excited as he was; I lived nearby for a year, in Poitiers, and my maternal family roots are in the region. The Loire Valley is compelling to me for its diversity, its beauty, and not least of all, its delightful wines!
And boy, did we find a lot of cool wines: Cabernet Franc, Chenin Blanc, Melon de Bourgogne, Côt, Pineau d’Aunis, and myriad other minor grapes of the region (you’ll be hearing about all of these soon). Most of all, I was excited to get our hands on some bright, crisp Sauvignon Blanc.
It's been a while since we’ve had any of this iconic Loire grape come through our warehouse, and more than a few of you have been hounding us for some. Well, here is your chance. We found something stellar, and at less than $15 by the case, you'll want to stock up on this one, because it won't last long. So here's an introduction to one of our newest discoveries we are thrilled to be importing.
Sauvignon Blanc from the Garden of France
We arrived at Domaine Pré Baron at just the right moment - I don’t mean the time of day - but rather at a time of transition and renewal for the winery. Guy Mardon, has been making wine at his family domaine for decades. He's a quiet and modest salt-of-the-earth farmer that's quite common in these parts. He didn't say much during our visit, but you could tell he was proud of his work; smiling humbly when we oohed and ahhed over the quality of his wines.
Guy was ready to retire, but with no heir to take over, he approached his neighbor, Lionel Gausaume, with a proposal. It helps when your neighbor is already a respected and accomplished winemaker and a like-minded friend.
Lionel grew up around the area, on his family vineyard, but spent his early adult life far away from vineyards and winemaking. It was in 2007 that he returned to his hometown, purchased a vineyard of his own, and started making a name for himself as a vigneron. Nearly two decades later, his mentor and friend offered him the chance to carry on a legacy and bring new energy and life to a historic estate.
Lionel is embracing that legacy, and carrying on with what the domaine does best.
Domaine Pré Baron
Touraine Sauvignon 2023
This is precisely what we were looking for in a Sauvignon Blanc; crisp, yet fruity, showcasing a kaleidoscope of citrus, yellow fruit, and succulent tropical flavors. Refreshing and delightfully easy to drink, with plenty of ripeness and length, this is the uncomplicated and delicious wine to have around for any occasion.