Loire Valley Wines

The Loire Valley is a complete mix. Every style of wine can be found along its 600-mile length. The best known Loire Valley wine regions are Sancerre and Pouilly-Fumé: the models for Sauvignon Blanc around the world. And the Chenin Blanc of the central Loire — the sweet wines of Vouvray and Anjou — have a poise and acidity which allows them to age for decades, yet be fresh when young. The dry Chenins of Savennières are the purest expression of their granite soil to be found anywhere. Finally to complete the mix are the Cabernet Franc-based reds of Chinon and Bourgueil and the fresh, easy whites of Muscadet. Search our Loire Valley wine guide’s hundreds of Loire Valley wine reviews for more details on individual wines and for our comprehensive database of Loire Valley wine ratings.

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Domaine Huët 2009 Cuvée Constance 500ml Chenin Blanc (Vouvray)

Cellar Selection
Online Exclusive

Price $159

Even more concentrated than Huët’s superb 2009 Première Trie, this is outstanding. It has both great concentration and elegance. The wine is touched by botrytis, while retaining freshness. Made from ripe, just shrivelling grapes, this is sweet Vouvray at its magnificent best. — R.V. (6/1/2011)

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Domaine Huët 2010 Le Mont Première Trie Moelleux Chenin Blanc (Vouvray)

Cellar Selection
Online Exclusive

Price $69

This will be a wonderful wine. Already, it is fine, with lovely acidity, bright and richly sweet at the same time. Yellow fruits mingle with honey, pear, almonds and the intense sweetness of botrytis. — R.V. (6/1/2011)

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Domaine Huët 2009 Clos du Bourg Première Trie Moelleux Chenin Blanc (Vouvray)

Online Exclusive

Price $69

A majestic, magisterial wine, powered by superripe fruit as well as honey and a gorgeous ripeness. With years ahead of it, this will be superb. — R.V. (6/1/2011)

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Clos de la Coulée de Serrant 2007 Chenin Blanc (Savennières-Coulée de Serrant)

Cellar Selection

Price $90

It is not easy to describe one of the majestic wines of France. This 2007 is still a wine in the making. All the elements are there: the intensity of dry fruits, the richness of spice and white fruit jams, opulent and austere at the same time. It is an extraordinary wine, with freshness, sweetness, dryness and acidity all just about perfectly balanced. Give it at… — R.V. (9/1/2009)

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Clos de la Coulée de Serrant 2002 Clos de la Coulée de Serrant Chenin Blanc (Savennières-Coulée de Serrant)

Cellar Selection

Price $79

Nicolas Joly and his mother are possessors of the smallest appellation in France: Coulée de Serrant. This almost vertical vineyard, dropping down to the Loire, facing due south, makes a mythical wine that is powerful and laden with exotic fruit flavors: oranges, lemon, apricots, accented with spices and the tannins of a youthful white wine. This will last for… — R.V. (4/1/2005)

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Domaine des Baumard 2005 Clos du Papillon Chenin Blanc (Savennières)

Editors' Choice

Price $39

A superb wine, fresh and ripe, with a characteristic edge of caramel, opulence and bone-dry acidity. This comes from a great vineyard in a great Loire year, so it’s no surprise that, like many great Loire Chenin Blanc, it promises lengthy aging—15–20 years if you can wait. In the meantime, now it has youthful vigor and freshness. Screwcap. Available in the U.S… — R.V. (10/1/2007)

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Domaine des Baumard 2005 Clos de Sainte Catherine Chenin Blanc (Coteaux du Layon)

Cellar Selection

Price $50

Clos de Sainte-Catherine is at the summit of the sweet wines of Coteaux du Layon. This comes from a great year for sweet wines, and that shows in the impressive balance between intense sweetness and acidity. It’s smooth and crisp at the same time, a great combination. Age for 10 years and more. Screwcap. — R.V. (10/1/2007)

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Domaine des Baumard 2005 Chenin Blanc (Quarts de Chaume)

Price $72

From arguably the finest sweet wine vineyard in the Loire, here is a wine that is deceptively fresh on first taste. Then the huge richness kicks in, balanced with blood oranges, white fig and pear flavors, and a mineral character. Complex, this needs many years to develop; superb. — R.V. (10/1/2007)

Most Reviewed Sub Regions

Anjou Chinon Crémant de Loire Menetou-Salon Muscadet Sèvre et Maine Pouilly-Fumé Sancerre Saumur Saumur-Champigny Savennières Touraine Vouvray

Most Reviewed Varietals

Bordeaux-style Red Blend Cabernet Franc Chardonnay Chenin Blanc Gamay Other White Pinot Noir Red Blend Rosé Sauvignon Blanc Sparkling White Blend

Most Reviewed Wineries

Charles Joguet Château de Tracy Château Moncontour Domaine des Baumard Domaine Fouassier Domaine Huët Fournier Père et Fils Henri Bourgeois Joseph Mellot Pascal Jolivet Remy-Pannier Sauvion

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