Loire Valley | 2021 vintage
Aromatic and fresh, Loire Valley wines remained true to their identity in this 2021 vintage, which was nevertheless rather eventful. The severe frosts that struck at the beginning of April didn’t spare a single Loire vineyard, affecting them from east to west, from the Centre-Loire to the Nantes region. Some areas were particularly hard hit, notably Muscadet, Anjou, Montlouis and Sancerrois. Following a very wet winter, the rain returned in full strength from May onwards, especially in June, leaving only a small window of respite during the flowering period.
Naturally, these extremely wet conditions encouraged significant outbreaks of mildew and powdery mildew, which had to be fought for weeks on end. Meanwhile, temperatures were not particularly high, averaging around 1.5 degrees lower in July and August than they would have been under normal conditions. As a result, the grapes ripened slowly but retained good levels of acidity. The weather conditions remained a threat right up to the end, with the harvests finally kicking off in the second week of September in Anjou and on the 17th of that same month in the Centre-Loire, ending with the last harvests of red grape varieties at the very end of October. Thanks to the fine autumnal weather at the end of the season, combining regular morning mists with fine sunny afternoons, the grapes produced quality sweet wines.
In terms of profile, the reds impose their precise aromatic character, marked by appetising notes of red fruit, both in the Centre-Loire region and in Touraine, particularly in Chinon. Though less concentrated than previous vintages, they offer a much more classic balance. These are genuine pleasure wines. In the white wine category, the Melon de Bourgogne fare extremely well. The Muscadet wines combine rich aromas with plenty of body and freshness. The Sauvignons display an array of aromas ranging from floral notes to exotic fruit. As for the sweet wines, they boast a fine aromatic complexity coupled with a good acidity that will allow them to stand the test of time.
