Longing For The Loire Melbourne

The Loire is a sprawling region that lays itself either side of the Loire River as it snakes its way from the Central mountains of France to the coast over some 1000km. Aside from Sancerre and Pouilly Fume it's long been passed over by serious wine collectors, perhaps largely due to the dominating co-ops that suck up fruit and pump out millions of bottles of supermarket wine each year.

However, there has long been a small army of quality focused producers and that number is growing fuelled, as it is elsewhere in France, by a new, younger, hungrier, and impassioned generation of winemakers. The Loire today is a hotbed of excitement which has drawn together both Avant Garde stars of the natural winemaker scene as well as fierce terroirists looking to showcase special patches of dirt that have laid dormant for decades. Talented winemakers are flocking to the region inspired by modern day stars such as Francois Chidaine, Arnaud Lambert, Romain Guiberteau, Bernard Baudry and more.

The steely, mineral Sauvignon Blanc's of Sancerre still stand tall but today there are equalling thrilling bottles of Chenin Blanc from Vouvray, Montlouis, Anjou and Saumur to be found as well as brilliant cabernet franc from Chinon, Bourgueil and Saumur-Champigny which runs the gamut from bright, fresh and fruit forward to deep, powerful and structured.

Needless to say, there is something for everyone in the Loire and if you haven't found it yet, you aren't looking hard enough.