This post is part two from my post published last week about finding alternatives to Chardonnay wine. In my last post I talked about Sancerre, Vouvray and Viognier wines and I described the grape and the regions these wines come from.  In this post I review four wines I tasted from these regions and grape varieties - all wines are available at the LCBO. 

I always taste the wines with friends from those who know a lot about wine to those who have a good nose and palate and know a little, to those who know nothing about tasting wine in which case, I simply note their basic preferences.  In any case, I always enjoy their feedback. The wines we talk about in this post I enjoyed with my friend who is very particular about what she likes, does not like Chardonnay, knows a little about wine and has a discerning palate.

I selected the following wines from the LCBO and Vintages for our tasting:

1.     Sancerre Origine 2016 Matthias et Emilé Robin:  $33.95

2.     Vouvray Bel-Air 2014 Sec Domaine de la Robinière:  $21.95

3.     Nord Sud Viognier 2015 Lauren Miquel:  $14.95

4.     Domaine du Petit Métris, Savennièrs Clos de la Marche 2015:  $24.96

Remember from my last post:

·      Sancerre is a region in the Loire Valley in France and the grape used is Sauvignon Blanc.

·      Vouvray is also a region in the Loire Valley in France and the grape is Chenin Blanc.

·      Viognier is a grape grown in the Languedoc-Rousillon area of France.

·      Savennières is a region in the Loire Valley and the grape is Chenin Blanc.

1.     Sancerre Origine 2016 Matthias et Emilé Robin:  $33.95

This is a very light coloured white wine with a pretty, floral and herbaceous (herbal) perfumed aroma. When I nose the wine I smell flowers, green apple, lime and a hint of minerals (you will expect that hint of minerality in wines from this region because of the gravel and limestone soils in which the vines are planted – see my last post). When I drink the wine I can taste the high acidity on the sides of my tongue – it’s a dry, tart and quite bitter taste at first. We paired the wine with a triple cream cheese from Burgundy.  The taste of the wine mellows with the cheese as the fat from the cheese softens the wine’s acidity. This was the most expensive of the wines we tasted and it became a lot more balanced and subtle after we left it open for a while. It’s beautiful but I would recommend you decant before drinking to let the wine open up, and breathe a bit before drinking. This Sancerre is my third favourite of the wines we tasted and rates very close to the top two. However, for value, I’d select my first and second favourites first.

2.     Vouvray Bel-Air 2014 Sec Domaine de la Robinière:  $21.95

This is a completely different wine to the Sancerre. The Vouvray wine is made with the Chenin-Blanc grape grown in the Loire Valley and particularly well produced in South Africa. This wine has powerful aromas of stewed, almost sour apricots and strong sweet honey. It’s a much more powerful wine than the Sancerre I talked about above. This Vouvray has a taste of very ripe pears, stewed apricots and honey with a bit of a ginger after taste. It would pair well with roast turkey, roast pork, citrus chicken or with salad or sushi. It wasn’t my favourite out of the wines we tasted but I think it would go well with the foods mentioned. This comes in at fourth place.

3.     Nord Sud Viognier 2015 Lauren Miquel:  $14.95

The Viognier grape is grown and produced in the northern Rhône Valley and the Languedoc-Rousillon region of France. Viognier wine tends to be similar in body and texture to Chardonnay wine but with different aromas and flavours. This wine is a light honey colour with aromas (or as the wine industry says, "a bouquet of") of peaches, apricots, perfectly juicy ripe pears, and honeysuckle.  The wine tastes perfectly balanced (meaning it’s acidity doesn’t linger on my tongue, there’s no tartness) and is smooth with the same perfumed and fruit tastes as the bouquet. This is a really pretty, delicate wine that would be perfect for sipping on a patio or dock with appetizers before dinner.  I loved it and for the price I would definitely buy it again. This was my second most favourite of the wines we tasted – second place.

To add a little background, the Lauren Miquel Viognier won best white wine of Languedoc  Roussillon in 2010 and best Viogner in the world at the International Wine Challenge. I recommend you give it a try and go to their website for more info. The Nord Sud Viognier I reviewed is in fact fermented in oak barrels but not aged in oak. This is what gives the wine the lovely smooth balance without a heavy oaked taste.

4.     Domaine du Petit Métris Savennières Clos de la Marche 2015

This is another Chenin Blanc wine but far gentler and more subtle than the Vouvray I talked about above. This Chenin Blanc from Savennières has a mineral, fragrant and floral nose with apple and slight pear. The taste is smooth with some acidity on the sides of my tongue but it’s balanced and delicious with flavours of almost peach and floral notes. It’s a beautiful wine that can be enjoyed sipping or with food including cheeses, salads, or shellfish. I would serve it with a spring or summer brunch or lunch.  This was my favourite of all the wines we tasted – first place.

Now it’s your turn to try these wines and please let me know what you think!