Domaine de la Taille aux Loups, 2011 Update
After adding new profiles for Lise and Bertrand Jousset and Xavier Weisskopf of Le Rocher des Violettes over the last couple of weeks, it is now time to get moving with my other Montlouis-sur-Loire updates. The notes from my latest tasting of François Chidaine’s wines came earlier in the year, and there is a significant overhaul of my François Chidaine profile in the pipeline, but in the meantime the next obvious stop in Husseau – the small village just upstream of Montlouis-sur-Loire where a number of the top domaines of the appellation are located – is Jacky Blot of Domaine de la Taille aux Loups.
Before getting onto the wines, however, there have been many developments at La Taille aux Loups recently which are worth exploring in a little more detail. Principally these developments concern the acquisition of new vineyards, and the corresponding addition of new cuvées to the portfolio. Some of these new cuvées are tasted here, but in some cases the acquisition has been more recent, and I will have to wait until my next visit to the Loire for the first opportunity to taste the relevant wines.
New Developments
The first of the two new cuvées I have tasted and report on here is the long-awaited rosé companion to Jacky’s Triple Zéro cuvée. The first release of the Triple Zéro Rosé is a 100% Gamay Touraine Pétillant, and as with the well-known Triple Zéro cuvée it sees no added sugar, neither chaptalisation with the first fermentation, nor when the wine goes into bottle for the second fermentation, nor with the dosage – hence Triple Zéro. Tasting it here I found the wine to be structured and very correct, with a very bright and crunchy style, and a good expression of gentle red fruits. Interestingly, from Jacky’s words on the day it seems he still considers this cuvée a work in progress, and he may well blend something different for next year’s release. Watch this space!
