Loire 2010: Tasting in 2012
Having not long completed several days of judging the Loire category in the Decanter World Wine Awards, during which more than a few wines from the 2010 vintage cropped up, I was reminded of these notes which I made at the Charles Sydney portfolio tasting in January this year. Although the focus at Charles’ tasting was undoubtedly Loire 2011 (as indeed it was at the Decanter event – I’ve never seen so many Sancerres, Pouilly-Fumés and Muscadets from a single vintage gathered together in one place before), there was also quite a handsome showing of wines from 2010. And in some quarters this is a very attractive vintage; I am thinking particularly of the sweet wines, which did very well in the Decanter awards this year.
We start here though in the Nantais, with a single example from the 2010 courtesy of Bruno Cormerais. Although I first met Bruno some years ago it was only earlier this year that I took for the first time a really comprehensive look at his wines. I have to admit I was blown away by the quality, which encompasses every possible style that comes under the modern Muscadet umbrella. The styles run from intensely minerally and acid-fresh wines perfect for oysters or other seafood, through to the richer but still very tense, long lees-aged wines which have the depth and intensity more reminiscent of Meursault that the traditionalist’s (now outdated) view of Muscadet. For more on Bruno and his wines, see my recently published Bruno Cormerais profile.
