Saget La Perriere Loire Valley Wine Tasting with Special Guest Arnaud Saget

A man dies too young if he leaves any wine in his cellar. (Simon had only two magnums of claret in his cellar when he died.)

André Simon

One of the unsung hero's of distinctive and unique in the wine world is the Loire Valley, France.  The Loire valley also referred to as "la Touraine" is situated smack dab in the middle of France and is quintessentially French.  This region in the past was favored by kings and the economically elite who chose to settle in the region in elaborate and elegant castles, chateaux, cathedrals, etc....

The capital, Tours, benefitted for years from the constant influx of pilgrims, merchants and the presence of the kings, their court and their extravagant expenditures.  The financially elite and the wine producers benefitted from the good Taste of the bourgeois and the wealthy financiers, the historic silk trade and the high quality of the wines are what drive today’s tourism.

For generations it has been documented as far back as 1661 Carme Marteau described the Loire valley as "one of the most beautiful, incredible, delightful and wonderful, even the most fertile province of this opulent kingdom if not this entire world ". The dictionary of gastronomy quotes " the cuisine of Touraine is probably of the most exquisite in France : healthy, simple and admirably prepared".
The Loire valley is a fertile garden, full of vineyards and orchards, rivers and beautiful stones, whether it be those of its famous chateaux or its intimate villages. The wines from this part of France are some of the most distinct, unique and above all some of the best values in the world of French wines.
SAGET LA PERRIÈRE the leading premium Loire Valley winery, is 9th Generation Family owned and managed. They are continuously exploring the best expression of Sauvignon Blanc both Sancerre and Pouilly Fume. Quality and respect of nature have always been the philosophy of Saget La Perrièret. Saget La Perrière sources two-thirds of the production in the Loire Valley from their estates with the remainder from long-term relationships with families of vine growers.
Join us as we welcome the latest generation of the Saget family to South Florida for a tasting of their wines along with some old rarities that we have recently acquired making this a “Once In a Lifetime” Loire Valley wine tasting event.  The fee for this tasting which includes dinner is $125 + tax for reservations call 954-523-9463 or e-mail andy@winewatch.com. 

Saget La Perriere Loire Valley Wine Tasting with Special Guest Arnaud Saget
Thursday, October 10, 2019
7:30 PM

2017 La Petite Perriere Rose Vin De Pays
Price: $15.00    Sale $13.20
A pale, shiny and slightly pink color. The complex delicate nose is a subtle blend of rose petal, grenadine and berries. The attack on the palate is supple, light and fresh. The finish is a pleasant softness, enhancedn by a slight vivacity, which accompanies fresh aromas of raspberry and grenadine. To drink as an aperitif with summer salads or grilled chicken but also with Chinese dishes.

2018 La Petite Perriere Sauvignon Blanc Vin De Pays
Price: $12.50    Sale $11.00
A shining Sauvignon with sharp green brightness. The nose is elegant without over-exuberance, a fair and harmonious expression of white flowers, elderflowers and acacia, balanced with a light minerality. After a silky attack, the middle of the palate wakes up in a pleasant freshness, finishing with fruity notes of white peaches and lychees.

2018 Saget La Perriere Sancerre
Price: $30.50    Sale $26.84
The dress is yellow with gray highlights. The nose is intense, with notes of yellow peaches, mangoes, lemon, and also a hint of flowers, acacia and elderberry. The palate opens fully, suave and rich, then develops in persistent exotic fruits and citruses The finish is fresh and pleasant, on orange zests. This wine will pair with fish in buttery sauce or creamy poultry dishes.

2014 Domaine de la Perriere Megalithe Sancerre
Price: $49.50    Sale $43.56
Well rounded with notes of ripe fruit and light vanilla, shows an astonishing fullness in the mouth. This incredible complexity will develop even more over the years. There is great finesse and delicacy which create a rare wine.

2018 Saget La Perriere Blanc Fume De Pouilly
Price: $26.00    Sale $22.88
Pale gold hue with bluish crystalline tints. After revealing mineral notes on the nose, the wine opens with a perfect balance of alcohol and acidity on the palate. This Sauvignon Blanc shows a nice taut structure, lovely persistence on the palate with notes that are almost saline. Ideally pairs with seafood, grilled prawns, pike perch, asparagus, Lyon-style pike quenelles, goat cheese or as an aperitif.

2017 Saget La Perriere Vouvray Marie De Beauregard
Price: $22.50    Sale $19.80
Marie de Beauregard Vouvray comes from an estate located in the village of “La Roche Corbon” near the city of Vouvray. Saget La Perrière has a partnership with this estate for over 10 years. Bruno Mineur, winemaker, selects the best of the estate grown grapes for blending and maturing. The name “Marie de Beauregard” is a homage to the first owner’s wife of the water mill where the wines are aged. Stretching from one side of the country to the other, the river of kings has been the homeland of the Saget family for nine generations. Originally from Pouilly-sur-Loire, we decided over twenty years ago to head off in search of other treasures that our beautiful wine region could offer. Over the years, our quest led us along both banks of the river, reaching out to local winegrowers and terroirs. Saget La Perrière signature brands epitomize the hallmark accessibility and freshness of Loire wines. Our wines embrace a unique showcase range of Loire appellations; from its original home in Pouilly sur Loire to Sancerre, Chinon, Vouvray, Anjou & Muscadet forming an unprecedented collection across the Loire Valley.
WINEMAKING & VINTAGE NOTES: Grapes are mechanically harvested between the beginning of October. The grape pressing is made very slowly with a pneumatic press. The must is clarified thanks to a static cold settling for 2 days before being fermented. Fermentation starts naturally without any added yeast. This wine is aged in 2nd and 3rd use barrels so as to maintain the unique varietal characteristics.
TASTING NOTES: Beautiful pale gold color with some bluish tints. On the nose, mineral expression of chalk and flint followed by a burst of ripe pear, acacia honey, candied fruits and lemon. The palate has a beautiful balance of freshness and sweetness with a silky texture.

2017 La Petite Perriere Pinot Noir Vin De Pays
Price: $15.00    Sale $13.20
Beautiful ruby color mingled with a garnet hue. On the nose, aromas of black fruits such as blackberry and blueberry. The palate is fleshy at point of entry then full, ample and generous, flowing into a crisp cherry-driven finish with an ultra fresh beading sensation. A mouthfilling wine offering up the generosity and typicity of a Pinot Noir that has just hit maturity.

A bit about the Saget Family

In 1790, the Saget family embarked upon a long history dedicated to vines and wine, firmly placing Saget among just a handful of estates that can enjoy their third successive century of business. Generations of our family have worked to create our signature Saget La Petite Perrière wines- melding the perfect balance, a blend of richness and elegance via the meticulous selection of grapes, expertly crafted by our skilled winemakers for the La Perrière wines. The new designation of Vin de France offered us the opportunity to explore and discover the ideal balance between the fruitiness of those varieties grown in the south and their acidity when produced in the northern region (Loire) and thus La Petite Perrière wines were created. The Vin de France designation is utilized for the entire La Petite Perrière range. La Petite Perrière Pinot Noir is largely sourced from our own estate vineyards in Touraine (Loire Valley) and a part of the blend is sourced from the South of France through our long term partners and thus the sourcing for our la Petite Perrière Rosé is the same.

Some Older rarities from the Loire Valley that we need to drink- you always get Extra at Wine Watch!!

1989 Philippe Foreau Domaine du Clos Naudin Vouvray Moelleux Reserve
Price: $115.00    Sale Price: $90.00    Quantity in Stock: 5
1989 Berger Freres Domaine des Liards Montlouis Sec
Price: $79.00    Sale Price: $65.00    Quantity in Stock: 9
1989 Domaine Le Petite Croix Bonnezeaux Loire
Price: $35.00    Your Price: $28.00    Quantity in Stock: 6
1990 Huet Le Haut Lieu Vouvray Moelleux
Price: $90.00    Sale Price: $70.00    Quantity in Stock: 4
1990 Berger Freres Domaine des Liards Montlouis Sec
Price: $79.00    Sale Price: $65.00    Quantity in Stock: 7
1990 Bernard Fouquet Domaine des Aubuisieres Vouvray Selection Grains Nobles Le Marigny
Price: $125.00    Sale Price: $95.00    Quantity in Stock: 7

Menu
Goat Cheese cranberry crisps
King Salmon Sashimi with Percebles Jelly and Seaweed Salad
Pâté berrichon with Egg Flan
Chicken en Barbouille with Foie Gras Powder
Foie Gras Twinkies with Raspberry Coulis

The fee for this tasting which includes dinner is $125 + tax, for reservations call 954-523-9463 or e-mail andy@winewatch.com.

A bit about Sancerre:

The area around Sancerre was likely first cultivated by the Romans, around the 1st century AD.   The foundations of two different Roman bridges across the Loire can be observed at the river village of St-Satur, the port for Sancerre, marking its ancient position along a major Roman trade route.

The chalk hill outcrop was not only a distinctive landmark known in Roman times but it also fit the profile of the type of areas that was usually the first to be cultivated because it was near an important town and had easy access to a navigatable river.  And of course most importantly, the steep sloping hills could provide the grapes with enough direct sunlight and heat to fully ripen while also allowing cold air to flow off the slope and collect in the valleys below.

The region was historically linked to the Dukes of Burgundy, which may explain the introduction of Pinot noir vines to this area. Sancerre's position as an administrative center, and the large nearby cities of Orléans and Bourges (which was the capital of the powerful Duke of Berry) ensured healthy local markets for the Pinot Noir and Gamay wines traditional in the area.

Demand for Sancerre increased even more with the coming of the railway from Paris.  In the late 19th century the phylloxera epidemic devastated the Sancerre region wiping out most of the region's vines. Although some Pinot noir vines remained almost all of the Gamay was lost.  These old Gamay vineyards were replanted with Sauvignon Blanc, mostly because it grafted better onto the American rootstocks. 

After the Second World War, Sancerre's wines gained quite a reputation in the Paris bistro scene.  Sancerre became known as an easy drinking white wine, the equivalent to Beaujolais.  In the late 1970s and 1980s, a wave of new quality consciousness producers aided the reputation of Sancerre as an elegant and food friendly white wine and thus Sancerre has became very popular with the world's top restaurants.

Most vineyards around the town of Sancerre are on south facing slopes at altitudes between 655-1,310 feet (200–400 meters). The soils can be roughly classified into three categories.

1)  The far western reaches heading towards Menetou-Salon have "white" soils with clay and limestone. Around the village of Chavignol (considered a cru of Sancerre), the soil also includes some Kimmeridgian marl. Wines from these western reaches tend to have more body and power in their flavor profile.

2)  Heading closer to the city of Sancerre the soil picks up more gravel mixed with the limestone and tends to produce more light bodied wines with delicate perfumes.

3)  The third type of soil is found around the city of Sancerre itself which includes deposits of flint (aka silex) which adds a distinctive mineral component to the wines. These Sancerre tend to be more heavily perfumed and are considered to have the longest aging potential of all the Sancerres.