Two More from the Loire: Summer Sippers

It hit me the other day that I ordered a lot of wine this spring — more than I could fit into the newsletter schedule before taking a little break to travel. I’m just getting to these wines, not for any lack of merit, but simply because there are only so many days in the week, and we came across a lot of great wine this year. And I just needed to squeeze these two in for you.

So consider this a bonus round — Two Loire wines, both exactly what you want in the house from now through August.

The Loire has been my go-to region for as long as I've been drinking wine — and for good reason. No other region in France offers this kind of variety, drinkability, and value in a single stretch of river. Long before Bordeaux was exporting wine around the world, the Loire was keeping Paris fed and watered — supplying the café tables around Montmartre and Saint-Germain. That tradition is very much alive, and these two bottles are a perfect illustration of why.

Domaine Delaunay Muscadet ‘Le Val Fleuri’ 2025

Florent Delaunay make several exceptional Muscadets from the family estate — the Val Fleuri is the one you want for everyday drinking. Classically styled and immediately appealing: a delicate floral nose, followed by a layered yet precise texture on the palate. Lean, mineral, and refreshing - with the time on lees adding just the right amount of weight. The quintessential Loire white for seafood, a Caesar salad, or as an apéritif while you figure out the rest of the evening. At $19, it's an easy yes.

Domaine des Sanzay

Saumur Rosé 2025

I'll keep this short: this is my favorite rosé we bring in every year. Didier Sanzay's 100% Cabernet Franc rosé from Saumur has backbone and concentration — it is dry and balanced, with succulent red fruit and a snappy acidity that keeps you reaching for the glass. Everything a rosé should be. Stock up for the warm weather and those afternoons spent by a body of water.