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For Pierre Chainier, the Loire was a case of love at first sight, with its vineyards and fresh, fruity wines-so easy to drink either young or venerably old, like the 1893 Vouvrays, still in perfect condition today. Maison Pierre Chainier is still a family business based in Amboise, a royal town built on the banks of the River Loire. They are also wine merchants, specializing in Touraine wines with an average production of approximately 6 million bottles, or 500,000 cases. Pierre's wife, Anne, looks after the estates, the Ch?teau de Poc? and the Ch?teau de la Roche, where she also raises thoroughbred French saddle horses, including Gloria de la Roche, a winner of major international competitions. His eldest son, Fran?ois, is the managing director of the company. He also owns the prestigious Clos de Nouys and Clos du Gaimont vineyards in Vouvray. His other two other sons, Louis and Philippe, are in charge of exports, particularly to the United States and Canada. He hopes that in the future they will take over from their mother in the running of the Touraine estates. This is the essence of a family-run business with charming history on both sides. When discussing Sauvignon Blanc in the Loire, one goes immediately to Sancerre and Pouilly Fume at the far eastern end of the Loire River. There's no doubt that these villages are hard to beat when it comes to this fascinating grape. What most people don't realize, however, is that Sauvignon Blanc is also grown to great success in other areas of the Loire, like Touraine. Here it may not exhibit the power of Sancerre and Pouilly, but grown on alluvial soils with minimum intervention can produce no less an exciting wine. The beauty of this wine is that it will age for many years to come and turn into something different, but no less exhilarating. November 2011 Limited Series Newsletter (.pdf) Wine of the Month Club Limited Series November 2011 from Wine of the Month Club on Vimeo. |
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