2013 Christian Venier, Cheverny, Les Hauts de Madon, Loire Valley Red, France.
This crisp and spicy loire red is lovely and fresh with tangy red fruits, lifting acidity, mineral notes and soft fine tannins, making for a stylish and easy drinking wine. Christian Venier’s Cheverny is a cuvee of Gamay and Pinot Noir from near his home in Madon, and this pretty wine was completely new to me, a big thanks to Stevie and Josiah at Oakland’s cool wine store and wine hangout Bay Grape for turning me on to this one, I love it and will be getting a few more bottles for sure. It is funny, as I get more wine than I can go through, and certainly can never begin to make notes for them all, but sometimes you just need something different to enjoy for yourself, and this wine really hit the spot, this is really delicious and interesting. At 12% is was very enjoyable and I was able to have a few glasses and still have plenty of energy, it shows strawberry, cherry and plum fruits along with peppery spice, a hint of chalk and saline plus tea, cinnamon and violets. This Gamay/Pinot is very quaffable and is great with food, lighter fare especially, it is not overtly fruity and while brisk at first sip, opens nicely and turns delightfully smooth and more complex with air. More Gamay comes through in the glass, but the Pinot structure and brightness stays start to finish, this is a name to watch for wonderful drinking vibrant and vivid Loire wine, drink from 2014 to 2018.
($21 Est.) 91 Points, grapelive