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.
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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
‘Ripe pear and Persian melon laced with bright fresh lemon informs the juicy and decidedly buoyant Mellot 2010 Sancerre La Demoiselle. Hints of wood as well as a suggestion of stone rob a bit of the refreshment that might otherwise have accrued to this bottling’s finish, but the mid-palate combination of richness and bright primary juiciness, breadth and levity are impressive. This was the first year for one of the two wooden upright fermentors in which the wine in question resided, and that would explain the extra measure of woodiness vis-a-vis its 2011 counterpart. I would plan on drinking this over the next 2-3 years.’ - David Schildknecht, Wine Advocate (Jun 2012)
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