Tasting Notes: Loire Valley Wines at JavaMonkey

I resolved to drink more French wines this year, so last Thursday's tasting at JavaMonkey was greatly appreciated. Yes, it helps to make resolutions I look forward to keeping. All of the selections were imported from France's Loire Valley by Jon David Headrick, whom I hadn't heard of previously.

The wines:

2008 Domaine de la Fruitière "Petite M" (Muscadet): 100% Melon de Bourgogne
Cantaloupe nose, but the palate is lemon-lime and mineral. This one begs for shellfish.
Rating: Very Good

2008 "La Craie" (Vouvray): 100% Chenin Blanc
Honeysuckle nose; light and fruity with stone fruit edges. I said apricot, someone else went with pear. You get the idea, it has hints of syrupy fruit.
Rating: Good

2007 Jean-François Mérieau Le Bois Jacou (Touraine): 100% Gamay from 40-60 year-old vines
Musty cherry nose; very tart with a lot of raw berry and a somewhat chemical/plastic finish.
Rating: Okay

2006 Domaine des Huards Le Pressoir (Cheverny): 80% Pinot Noir, 20% Gamay
Nose that goes from herbal to buttery as it opens. Bright cherry flavors with a nice finish of cedar, dark fruit, and a little ginger-allspice. I know it sounds strange, but the finish made me think of carrot cake.
Rating: Very Good – Excellent

2008 Le Claux Delorme (Valençay): 40% Gamay, 30% Malbec, 20% Cabernet Franc, and 10% Pinot Noir
Smoky, earthy nose. Overpowering barnyard funk on the palate. Did not like this one at all.
Rating: Moo (If you're a new-ish reader, that means bad)

2006 Domaine de la Noblaie "Les Chiens-Chiens" (Chinon): 100% Cabernet Franc
Nice dark berry nose. Some grape skin bitterness, but overall savory-fruity and buttery with black cherry and currant.
Rating: Very Good

One thing to remember about French wines is that they, like a lot of European wines, go better with food. I plan to continue my resolution both at tastings and when we're out to eat.