No overview of French wine can ignore the Loire Valley because of its sheer size and the staggering numbers of appellations found along its meandering river banks. Another one of my pipe dreams is to explore the entire Loire River Valley, from Muscadet on the Atlantic to Sancerre 250 miles inland. Along the way, there are hundreds of twists and turns, thousands of villages, amazingly beautiful countryside and, of course, fabulous food and wine. One can walk, bike, canoe, bus, train and even travel by horseback as you wend your way through this vinous landscape. One village that I’d like to re-visit is Saumur, located midway between the towns of Angers and Tours. Their wines, Chenin Blanc for the whites and primarily Cabernet Franc for the reds, are still relatively ‘undiscovered’ and, therefore, remain excellent values.

Located south of Saumur, in the sub-appellation of Le Puy Notre Dame, is Domaine de la Paleine, one of the region’s best properties and a personal favorite of mine. A wine property since the 18^th century, Domaine Paleine is now on the cutting edge with their program of bio-dynamic viticulture; a beacon of sustainability and an inspiration to many of the neighboring vignerons. I’m delighted to present the 2020 Domaine de la Paleine Saumur Rouge (Cabernet Franc) for your tasting pleasure. Sourced from 25year-old vines, grown in the nearby rolling hills of sand, clay, limestone and marl, the wine is harvested by hand, fermented in temperature-controlled tanks and aged in the extensive underground caves, carved out of the chalky, limestone soil (tuffeau) that the region is famous for. The wine is a pure expression of Cabernet Franc with its bright red fruit, herbaceous tones and savory blend of meatiness and cooking spices. It will make a wonderful red wine for the summer months ahead.