The Wines of Loire
Timed Online Auction, 1 - 8 May 2023
Session 1
About the SessionThe Loire Valley is a large region that follows the longest river of France. The Loire is an exceptional place to find lean, racy, white wines, including those of Chenin Blanc, Sauvignon Blanc and Muscadet. Red varieties include Cabernet Franc, Gamay and Cot (Malbec), which produces herbaceous, rustic reds.
About this Item
In the 14th century, Alphonse Mellot founded a tavern in Sancerre, specialising in local wines. In 1881, he was granted a licence to ship his wine throughout France and abroad; marking the beginning of a family business that has been passed down over 18 generations. Today, Domaine Alphonse Mellot, which stretches across the upper Loire Valley, is run by father and son, both named Alphonse Mellot. While Sancerre produces predominantly white wines, Mellot has an almost 50:50 split between white and red production. Farming their 47 hectares of vines organically and biodynamically, they are the benchmark for quality in Loire.
Provenance
Restaurant Mosaic
Critics Ratings
‘Tasted assembled from barrel in tank, the Mellot 2010 Sancerre rouge Generation XIX leads with scents of lightly cooked purple plum and faintly smoky hot goose fat. Richly textured, its tannins really well-covered, this offers a sappy, mouthwatering mid-palate suffused with smoke, salt, chalk, and red meat. This ought to show well for at least half a dozen years.’ - David Schildknecht, Wine Advocate, 92/100 (June 2012)
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