Domaine de la Taille aux Loups, 2023 Update
My investiture into the world of Jacky Blot and Domaine de la Taille aux Loups began at the Salon des Vins de Loire, more than fifteen years ago. It was the first time that I had schlepped down to Angers for the now-moribund Salon, in those halcyon days an unparalleled and intoxicating showcase of all things vinous and Ligérian. He was manning an unsurprisingly busy stand, one where he poured all his wines from Montlouis-sur-Loire and Vouvray, followed by his reds from Bourgueil, including a mini-vertical of his top red, Mi-Pente. It was one of the highlights of the Salon.
My most recent meeting with him was back in February this year, at Wine Paris, which has all the glitz and glamour the Salon des Vins de Loire had fifteen years ago. Tasting, I revelled in the sheer quality of his dry whites, far from taciturn despite hailing mostly from the more arduous 2021 vintage, and I had to ask myself why I don’t buy more for my own cellar (so much wine, so little time – I can hardly close my cellar door for all the bottles and boxes crammed in there). I told Jacky of my joy at finding the 2017 Montlouis-sur-Loire Rémus listed at Gleneagles, and how much I had enjoyed it, having plumped for his wine over the multiple off-vintages of Petrus they offer (to be fair the price difference – several thousand quid – was also a factor). The latest incarnation of his Triple Zéro was superb, and it was wonderful to taste the 2020 and 2003 vintages of the Montlouis-sur-Loire Romulus side by side.
I left the tasting very content with his wines, resolving to add a few more to the cellar. I had no idea that would be the last time I saw Jacky. After a short illness, he passed away just three months later.
