2011 Loire
The 2011 Loire vintage was shaped, as elsewhere in Europe, by the unusually warm and dry spring that signalled an early harvest. This was compounded in the Loire by the lack of a preceding winter, without any rain;
Sancerre-based wine maker David Sautereau remarked that there were no frost days during this period, compared with 25 the previous year. Consequently Sancerre’s ‘ban de vendange’ (official starting date) came on 1st Sept, after a cool & damp july/august that threatened to upset the party with outbreaks of rot.
Francois Cotat started harvesting his high density vineyards (8,000 plants/ha) on the 12th Sept, reporting low yields and low levels of sugar (less than 3 grams residual sugar for all his 2011 wines); the warm period post harvest helping to finish the fermentation to dryness, with total acidity at 3.50 – 4.00 levels.
Bottle 6 x 75cl 3cs
Tasting it from bottle in early March 2014 it possesses an implacable, rich feel and sense of 'fond'/undercarriage that in my view is the mark of a top wine. The new oak used for their inugural 2009 vintage has been relaced by something far more refined, supporting the wine's intrinsic red cherry kirsch richness. Still a baby, but a pretty one at that. Look forward to watching it grow. Best tucked away for a couple of years yet before broaching.
David Berry Green