The Wine
Coteaux du Layon Rochefort
This is the Loire's answer to Sauternes. The sweet white Coteaux du Layon Rochefort is made from extra-ripe, hand-picked Chenin Blanc grapes. When autumns here are warm and sunny the grapes develop a benevolent fungus called Botrytis Cinerea (known as noble rot), which shrivels the grapes, thus reducing the yield and concentrating the juice.
The wine is pale to deep yellow in colour, has a honeyed bouquet, and a fresh and lively fruitiness that fills the mouth with the most wonderfully long and complex flavours. It is absolutely delicious to drink young, but will go on improving for many years. This is a most versatile wine, equally good as an aperitif (well chilled) as with foie gras, fish or chicken in sauce, or even Roquefort cheese. (If you haven't already tried this wine with cheese - especially blue cheese - you are missing out - it goes with more cheeses than most red wines.)
Anjou blanc Clos des Belles-Mères
This dry white Anjou, Clos des Belles-Mères (Mother-in-laws' vineyard), is an unusual wine made from 10% Chardonnay as well as the area's notable Chenin Blanc. It has a slaty, mineral quality (from the mica in the soil), which, allied to youthful acidity and rich fruit, make it an excellent accompaniment to fish. This wine is normally drunk young, within a couple of years of the vintage.
Anjou-Villages rouge
This red Anjou-Villages is a smooth blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc grapes, producing a medium-bodied, fruity wine with a distinct blackcurrant and raspberry bouquet which follows through to the palate, and which has good balance and soft tannin. This wine can be deliciously refreshing when young but will be at its best two to three years after the vintage, and in good years (eg 1995, 1996, 1997) will go on improving for at least five years.
Wine available for the 2009 Option:
Coteaux du Layon Rochefort 2008 (white)
5,60€ per bottle (exc. VAT)
Anjou blanc Clos des Belles-Mères 2008 (white)
3,09€ per bottle (exc. VAT)
Anjou-Villages rouge 2007 (red)
4,45€ per bottle (exc. VAT)