Loire Mixed Dozen Caseref LB-MX125105 at £89 Equivalent to £7.42 per bottle

SAVE £7.45.

A 12-bottle case containing a bottle of each of the following:

Loire SauvignonsCaseref LB-MX125104 at £99Equivalent to £8.25 per bottleA 12-bottle case containing twobottles of each of the followingwhites:

Sauvignon Touraine, Domaine dela Renaudie, 2011 (Patricia et BrunoDenis)

Cheverny, Domaine du Salvard,2011 (Emmanuel Delaille)

Coteaux du Giennois, Domainede Villargeau, 2011 (Marc Thibault)

Valençay, Blanc, Le ClauxDelorme, 2011 (Bertrand andAlbane Minchin)

Sauvignon, Vin de Pays du Val deLoire, 2010/2011 (Bougrier)

Menetou-Salon, Morogues, 2011(Domaine Pellé)

KeySee the List for full details on alcohol levels

† New vintage

bone dry, to intensely sweet

Synthetic closure Screwcap closure

White wines Red wines

Rosé wines Sparkling winesW R

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Sauvignon, Vin de Pays duVal de Loire, 2010 (Bougrier)Remarkably good little sauvignon blanc for easy, everyday drinking, in the style of Bougrier’s Touraine Sauvignons but at a more modest price. 11.5%The 2011 follows.ref LB-LO8871 £5.75 bottle £69 dozen

† Touraine Sauvignon, LesHauts Lieux, 2011 (Bougrier)An elegant sauvignon that would givemany a Sancerre a run for its money, andmakes an attractive and affordablealternative. 12% The £8.00 dozensaving is thanks to supplier support.ref LB-LO9801 £6.95 bottle

£75 special dozen price £6.25 equivalent bottle price

† Coteaux du Giennois,Domaine de Villargeau, 2011(Marc Thibault)Consistently good, pure sauvignon blancwith a flinty quality akin to Pouilly-Fumébut at a far more modest price. An excellentcellar staple. 13% The £10.00 dozen savingis thanks to supplier support.ref LB-LO9811 £8.25 bottle

£89 special dozen price £7.42 equivalent bottle price

† Cheverny, Domaine duSalvard, 2011 (EmmanuelDelaille)Cheverny’s vineyards are scattered around the village of the same name, with its romantic and imposing château.The Delaille family make one of the best ofthe appellation which determines a blendof predominantly sauvignon blanc withchardonnay. Picked early to retain vibrancyof fruit. 12.5%ref LB-LO9681 £7.50 bottle £90 dozen

NEW Sauvignon Touraine,Domaine de la Renaudie, 2011(Patricia et Bruno Denis)Delightful and reliable wine fromcharming people, as many members havediscovered while meandering their waythrough Mareuil-sur-Cher, south of theLoire. 12.5%ref LB-LO9821 £7.75 bottle £93 dozen

NEW Valençay, Blanc, Le Claux Delorme, 2011 (Bertrandand Albane Minchin)Valençay was something of a forgottenvineyard area until two producers led theway to raise both its profile and its quality.One of those is Bertrand Minchin, whomakes good Menetou and red wines too,but we fell for this white, which, unlikesome, is pure sauvignon blanc, withmineral freshness and zip. 12.5%ref LB-LO9861 £8.95 bottle £107 dozen

† Menetou-Salon, Morogues,2011 (Domaine Pellé)Anne Pellé is the fourth generation of thefamily to grow vines in and around thevillage of Morogues, Menetou-Salon’s best,at the eastern extremity of the Loire Valley,now ably assisted in the cellar by her son,Paul-Henry. The vines grow inKimmeridgean clay-limestone marl, a soilsimilar to that in Chablis, which gives thewines their typical minerality. Now to2014. 13% The £12.00 dozen saving isthanks to supplier support.ref LB-LO9841 £11.50 bottle

£126 special dozen price £10.50 equivalent bottle price

† Pouilly-Fumé, 2011(Domaine Seguin)Wonderfully pure sauvignon blanc from sixth-generation Philippe Seguin’simmaculate cellar at Le Bouchot. There arefew domaines where you get to taste everyvat; fewer still where every vat is good.Now to 2015. 12.5%ref LB-LO9711 £11.95 bottle £143 dozen

† Sancerre, La Reine Blanche,2011 (Domaine Vacheron)Fine, minerally Sancerre with wonderfulracy acidity and great length on the palate,produced from biodynamically certifiedvineyards. Now to 2016. 12.5%ref LB-LO9641 £17 bottle £204 dozen

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Best of the Loire Mixed Caseref LB-MX125103 at £85 A six-bottle case containing a bottle of each of the following:

The International Exhibition Co-operative Wine Society Limited. Registered Office: Gunnels Wood Road, Stevenage, Hertfordshire, SG1 2BT Register Number: 1824R (IP)

Website thewinesociety.comEnquiries 01438 741177Orders 01438 740222

The Society’s GuaranteeDrinking wine bought from The Wine Society should be a pleasurable experience. If at any timeyou are dissatisfied, we would like to hear from you. Contact us and we will be pleased to help.

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This offer is open until Sunday 20th May, 2012 while stocks last.

To order thewinesociety.com/loire ☎01438 740222 smartphone app

Domaine VacheronOne of The Society’s longest-standingsuppliers, now run by cousinsJean-Dominique (vineyards andwinemaking) and Jean-Laurent (salesand marketing). The young generationof Vacherons has taken this iconicestate, with its base buried in thenarrow streets in the heart of the hilltoptown of Sancerre itself, to new heights.The wines are now certified biodynamicwhich, they believe, allows betterexpression of the different terroirsacross the domaine, and they have onlyrecently released a new range ofsingle-vineyard Sancerres which amplydisplay their claims.

Sauvignon Blanc New Zealand usurped the Loire as ‘King of Sauvignon’ years ago, but the French are fighting back and now produce a range of stylesto suit all palates. In fact, its popularity never waned, whether from the classic appellations of Sancerre or Pouilly-Fumé, or in moremodest guises. It is sometimes blended with chardonnay, but most are pure sauvignon blanc, without the distraction of oak flavours.

Save up to £12on Sauvignon

Blanc and Roséd’Anjou.

See inside for details

thewinesociety.com/loireLBAPR12Sa

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The Loire ValleyNew wines, new vintages and old favourites

To order thewinesociety.com/loire ☎01438 740222 smartphone app

Free UK delivery for any 12 bottles, pre-mixed case

or when you spend £75 or more

See back page for mixed cases

Marc Thibault’s Coteaux du Giennois offers superb value

Sancerre’s popularity has never waned

Two generations of the Vacheron family

Mixed Cases

Whites Cheverny, Domaine du Salvard,2011 (Emmanuel Delaille)

Coteaux du Giennois, Domaine deVillargeau, 2011 (Marc Thibault)

Sacré Blanc, Chenin, Vin de Pays deLoire, 2011 (J. Mourat Père et Fils)

Valençay, Blanc, Le Claux Delorme,2011 (Bertrand and Albane Minchin)

Spring Vouvray, 2010 (Vincent etTania Carême)

Touraine Sauvignon, Les HautsLieux, 2011 (Bougrier)

Rosé Rosé d'Anjou, 2011 (Famille Bougrier)

Touraine Rosé, Cuvée Albert Denis,Malbec, 2011 (Domaine de laRenaudie)

Reds Collection, Rouge, Fiefs VendéensMareuil, 2010 (J. Mourat Père et Fils)

Côte Roannaise, Vieilles Vignes, 2011 (Domaine Sérol)

Saumur-Champigny, CuvéeTradition, Clos des Cordeliers, 2010(Domaine Ratron)

Touraine Rouge, Cuvée AlbertDenis, Malbec, 2010 (Domaine de laRenaudie)

Whites Sancerre, La Reine Blanche, 2011(Domaine Vacheron)

Savennières, Domaine du Closel,2010 Chenin des Rouillères, Anjou Blanc,2011 (Frédéric Mabileau)

Reds St Nicolas de Bourgueil, LesRouillères, 2010 (Frédéric Mabileau)

Sancerre Rouge, Les Cailleries, 2010 (Domaine Vacheron)

Anjou Rouge, Domaine du Closel,2010

Pays Nantais and the westMuscadet is just a stone’s throw from Nantes,whence the regional name Pays Nantais. It isFrance’s most famous ‘seafood wine’, and webuy it refreshing and light on the palate, as itshould be. The Vendée has its own appellationnow, with a far greater diversity of grapesplanted and an exciting new wine scene.

Anjou & Saumur 2010 has turned out to be a delicious vintage for reds (especially cabernet franc).The 2010s are fresh, in a typical Loire style,and embody all the improvements in redwinemaking of the last few years. In white and sparkling wine, chenin blanc dominates,and we offer three contrasting styles.

Touraine – including Vouvray and Chinon

Sauvignon de Touraine is probably theregion’s most famous export, but malbec (cot)and, closest to Tours itself, chenin blanc andcabernet franc feature here too, notably inVouvray and Chinon respectively.

Central Vineyards – includingPouilly-Fumé and Sancerre

The Central Vineyards include a diverse rangeof appellations, focusing on sauvignon blancfor whites, and pinot noir for reds and rosés.The best-known are Pouilly-Fumé andSancerre. The Central Vineyards start furthernorth, however, with the Coteaux duGiennois, across both banks near the town ofGien, whose sauvignon has a lot in commonwith Pouilly, and, further west, Valençay, theclosest to the Touraine.

The South/The Roannaise Close to the source of this great river, thereare just a few scattered vineyards. The best arenear Roanne, owned and farmed by the Sérolfamily, who also supply the local, famousMichelin-starred Troisgros restaurant with theirglorious gamay. It is not hard to see why.

To order thewinesociety.com/loire ☎01438 740222 smartphone app

Chenin Blanc Famed for its role in the wines ofVouvray and the most adaptable of theLoire’s white grapes, chenin blanc lendsitself to barrel-fermentation andmaturation, or to unadorned purity inboth still and sparkling forms. Goodnatural acidity maintains freshness in theripest of grapes, and even off-dry winesare a good match for savoury dishes,especially richer fish and white meatdishes involving cream.

NEW Sacré Blanc, Chenin,Vin de Pays de Loire, 2011 (J Mourat Père et Fils) Fresh, creamy-textured chenin fromdynamic young producer Jérémie Mouratin the Vendée, where volcanic soils andproximity to the sea provide natural vivacityand freshness to the wines, and the slow,meandering Loire seems a world away.12.5% ref LB-LO9851 £8.50 bottle £102 dozen

The Society's Saumur, BrutDelightful, light Saumur sparkler fromspecialists Gratien & Meyer, who shouldknow their stuff, of course, given that theyare so closely related to the Champagnehouse Alfred Gratien. 12%ref LB-SG1061 £8.95 bottle £107 dozen

† Spring Vouvray, 2010(Vincent et Tania Carême)Just off-dry, and with wonderfullyrefreshing acidity, this is a classically styledVouvray from an up-and-coming youngproducer who is farming organically andintervenes as little as possible in the cellar.Now to 2014. 13% ref LB-LO9701 £9.95 bottle £119 dozen

NEW Chenin des Rouillères,Anjou Blanc, 2011 (FrédéricMabileau) Now certified organic, Mabileau’s youngchenin vines are already producing a lovely balance of freshness and texture, rounded – but not masked – by fermentation in large oak barrels. A delicious wine to accompany Dover sole.Now to 2014. 13% ref LB-LO9741 £11.50 bottle £138 dozen

† Savennières, Domaine duClosel, 2010 Another pure chenin blanc and another that is certified organic. This one, from the historic appellation of Savennières, is more classically proportioned, with a strong backbone of acidity and fine,mineral and appley freshness on the palate.Now to 2018. 13.5% ref LB-LO9731 £14.50 bottle £174 dozen

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Pinot NoirThis is the main red grape of theCentral Vineyards, making fresh-tasting,elegant reds with sweet-berry fruits intheir youth, developing gamier, moreBurgundian flavours as they mature. Also grown at the other end in theVendée (see map). As in Champagne, it can also be vinified as a white or rosé.

NEW Collection, Rouge, Fiefs Vendéens Mareuil, 2010 (J. Mourat Père et Fils)Jérémie Mourat has revitalised winemakingin the Vendée, where most of theproduction is enjoyed by thirsty tourists.This is a juicy, easy-drinking butcharacterful blend of pinot noir, négrette,and cabernet franc. Try it with a simplesteak, or even brunch. 12.5% ref LB-LO9691 £7.50 bottle £90 dozen

NEW Mouratus PN Blanc, Vin de Pays de Vendée, 2010 (J Mourat Père et Fils)100% pinot noir, grown organically and vinified as a white wine, in trendyconcrete egg ‘tanks’ (cute, expensive andincreasingly sought-after). The recipecouldn’t be much weirder (hence thisrather fine wine carries only a VdPdesignation); the wine itself has a hint of colour and is delicately fragrant withredcurrants and berries, with astonishingfreshness and tension on the palate. Not aneasy one to describe; you’ll have to try it foryourself! Now to 2014. 13.5%ref LB-LO9871 £9.95 bottle £119 dozen

NEW Sancerre, Rosé, 2011(Domaine Vacheron)In recent years the quantity has been eithersmall or non-existent, but this year wejumped at the chance of a little of this mostelegant of rosés. Delightful pinot noir pink,very pale in colour, with fine balance andlength on the palate. Now to 2013. 12.5% ref LB-LO9671 £13.95 bottle £167 dozen

Sancerre Rouge, Les Cailleries,2010 (Domaine Vacheron)Delightful, fleshy Loire pinot, certifiedorganic, from the Vacheron family who havebeen supplying The Society with fine winesfor the last 50 years. Now to 2013. 13% ref LB-LO9581 £16 bottle £192 dozen

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Domaine du CloselEvelyne de Pontbriand is the owner of the elegant, historic Château desVaults and this fine estate inSavennières, where she is alsoPresident of the appellation. Châteaudes Vaults dates back to the 15thcentury but Closel is at the forefront ofthis re-awakened old appellation. The vineyards are farmed organically,and now certified as such, and cover arange of terroirs for chenin blanc,producing several different styles ofSavennières, as well as cabernet franc and cabernet sauvignon for theAnjou reds.

NEW Chinon, Domaine de laSemellerie, 2010 (FabriceDelalande) A new discovery last year from the hamletof Cravant-les-Coteaux, this is a very pureexpression of the cabernet franc grape,with fresh, appetising fruit raised entirelywithout oak, from a producer who hadnot previously exported. 12.5%ref LB-LO9561 £8.50 bottle £102 dozen

NEW Cabernet Franc, Blanc,Vin de France, (Sébastien Ratron)In the same visit in January, I tasted not justone but two white wines made exclusivelyfrom red grapes (see the pinot noir, left).Neither wine was to be missed; stocks arelow so members will be some of the fewUK wine explorers to try it. Elegant, pure,fresh, this 2011 is a very serious maidenvintage. 12% Low stock. ref LB-LO9781 £9.50 bottle £114 dozen

Saumur-Champigny, CuvéeTradition, Clos des Cordeliers,2010 (Domaine Ratron)Sébastien Ratron is a thoughtful younggrower who makes a very pure expressionof the cabernet franc grape, without oak,in a style long preferred by Paris brasseries:light, refreshing, and very easy to drink.12.5%ref LB-LO9441 £9.95 bottle £119 dozen

NEW St Nicolas de Bourgueil,Les Rouillères, 2010 (FrédéricMabileau)Delightful cabernet franc that would bedelicious with roast spring lamb. The freshred and blackberry fruit is complementedby a good tannin structure and gentletexture which comes from maturevineyards, here all tended by hand andcertified organic. Now to 2014. 12.5% ref LB-LO9721 £11.95 bottle £143 dozen

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Muscadet Muscadet is both the appellation andthe adopted name of the grape,originally more widely known asmelon de Bourgogne. It produceswines with body and freshness, and isalmost always vinified without the useof oak, so that its restrained aromasand flavours are maintained and itcomplements (rather than competeswith) even the most delicate of fishdishes.

† The Society’s MuscadetSèvre-et-Maine sur Lie Chéreau-Carré has been supplying ourown-label wine for more than 25 years.For most of those, it has been aMuscadet ‘sur Lie’ drawn straight off thelees without racking, with an appetisingprickle that refreshes the palate. 12%ref LB-LO9791 £6.25 bottle £75 dozen

Muscadet Sèvre-et-Mainesur Lie, Domaine des Ratelles,2010 (Laurence et Gérard Vinet) If you’re unsure what classic Muscadetshould taste like, this is it. We’ve boughtall we could get of this benchmarkexample from the Vinet family andencourage you to drink lots of it! 12% ref LB-LO9181 £6.75 bottle £81 dozen

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Cabernet Franc Lighter in texture and structure than cabernet sauvignon, cabernet franc plays anessential part on Bordeaux’s right bank, but also in Anjou and Touraine, where itusually stands alone. Tasting a cabernet franc vinified as a white wine (noChampagne precedent here!) was a first.

Domaine Frédéric Mabileau Relative to our two other featuredproducers, Frédéric Mabileau is the newkid on the block (we started with the2003 vintage). There are numerousMabileaus in the area but we thinkFrédéric, having taken over from hisfather in St Nicolas de Bourgueil, ismaking the best wines, with aninfectious enthusiasm and impressiveenergy for improvement. The wines arenow certified organic, and less andolder oak is being used for vinification,all enhancing the purity of the wines.

NEW Anjou Rouge, Domainedu Closel, 2010 Closel is in the heart of Savennières, closeto the city of Anjou which gives its nameto the appellation for red wines. This is100% cabernet franc with delightful brightfruit, rounded on the palate, with presentbut supple tannins. Certified organic too. Now to 2014. 14.5% ref LB-LO9751 £14.95 bottle £179 dozen

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To order thewinesociety.com/loire ☎01438 740222 smartphone app

Malbec (Cot)Better known these days for its key rolein Argentina’s wine fortunes, andhistorically in Cahors, malbec is growingin importance in the Loire, where it isoften known as cot. Modern vinificationmethods and refinement in vineyardand cellar have tamed this grape and,as evidenced below, it can makedelicious rosé as well as red.

NEW Touraine Rosé, CuvéeAlbert Denis, Malbec, 2011(Domaine de la Renaudie)Most malbec is used to make red wine butit also produces the delightful Denis family’sfull, creamy textured pink. 12%ref LB-LO9831 £7.50 bottle £90 dozen

NEW Touraine Rouge, CuvéeAlbert Denis, Malbec, 2010(Domaine de la Renaudie)Floral and black-cherry-scented, Tourainemalbec is less robust, generally lessfruit-driven than Argentine examples, butit does have appetising freshness andplenty of flavour. Good-quality sausageswould make a fine match. 12% ref LB-LO9651 £7.50 bottle £90 dozen

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Gamay Easy-going and charming, gamay is bestknown for its exclusive position inBeaujolais, but it is also grown acrossthe Loire, sometimes blended,sometimes not, but in every case itshould be refreshing, fragrant, and withno troubling tannin.

NEW Rosé d'Anjou, 2011(Famille Bougrier)Fresh, off-dry Loire rosé offering cherry andstrawberry aromas, with a little gamay andcabernet franc accompanying Loire local,grolleau. The sweetness here is not heavy,making it easy to drink on its own or agood match for delicately flavoured Asianfood. 11% The £6.00 dozen saving isthanks to supplier support.ref LB-LO9661 £5.95 bottle

£65 special dozen price £5.42 equivalent bottle price

† Côte Roannaise, Vieilles Vignes,2011 (Domaine Sérol)Glorious gamay from a region closer toBeaujolais than to gamay’s usual Loire homein the Touraine, and more akin to it in styletoo. Fresh, sappy, juicy, moreish, andabsolutely delicious in 2011. 12% ref LB-LO9591 £7.95 bottle £95 dozen

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A treasure trove on our doorstepThe Loire Valley is our nearest major wine region, offering a treasure trove for culturevultures, foodies and wine lovers alike. The wines present countless opportunities forexploration, and the 29 included in this offer aim to give some account of this largeregion’s delicious diversity. All will make for perfect spring drinking.

The 2010 reds are showing beautifully, and we have included a generous selection,including cabernet franc and malbec plus a gorgeous 2011 Beaujolais-like gamay.Sauvignon blanc remains king in the Central Vineyards (including Sancerre andPouilly-Fumé), but in a wider variety of styles than ever before, whilst chenin blanc –whether dry, sweet or sparkling – has never disappointed wine drinkers who enjoyvariety in their glasses. A host of appellations and grape varieties are on offer from theAnjou and Touraine regions, and the Nantais’ crisp dry whites remain unparalleled value.Thanks to generous supplier support four of the wines havesavings of between £6 and £12 per dozen.

The three mixed cases (see the back page) include a variedselection of crisp sauvignons, a six-bottle selectionshowcasing three of the Loire’s finest vineyards, and anappetising Loire mixed dozen which, to encourageexploration, has a saving of £7.45.

Joanna Locke MW Society Buyer

Free UK delivery for any 12 bottles, pre-mixed case

or when you spend £75 or more

Free UK delivery for any 12 bottles, pre-mixed case

or when you spend £75 or more

The home of Chéreau-CarréSaumur’s magical château

Mourat’s concrete eggs looming large above the barrels in their cellars

Evelyne de Pontbriand at home with Millie

Three generations of the Delalande family

Frédéric Mabileau – hands-on vigneron