Jimmy's Loire: Part 2 Vouvray & Chinon

In April of this year West London Wine School founder, Jimmy Smith, travelled the luscious lands of the Loire Valley visiting domaines and chateaux across the Nantais, Anjou, Saumur and Touraine. In two very special tastings Jimmy will share with you his findings of the top wines from some of the great producers. In this tasting we'll discover in great-depth one of Jimmy's passions... Vouvray.

Part 2: Vouvray & Chinon

All wine prices are cellar door prices in Euros (€) – the cost in the UK will be greater.

Domaine Vincent Careme, Vouvray

The hard-working Vincent and Tania Carême's organic domaine is located on the edge of Vernou-sur-Brenne which is three or four miles upstream from Vouvray. Their domaine sits on periphery of the plateau that lies behind Vouvray and Vernou and all the vines, both here at Vernou and downstream at Vouvray, are located on the première côte, the very first slope that runs up and away from the towns, to the north. The Wine Society recognised the exceptional quality here when they decided to list several of the domaine's wines. We'll be enjoying the delicious l'Ancestrale Brut 2010 (€12) a real premier fizz, followed by one of our regular favourites the Spring Sec 2010 (€8) before finishing on the single-vineyard wines, Le Peu Morier 2010 (€18) and Le Clos 2008 (€18).

Domaine Huet, Vouvray

Founded in 1928, the Huet estate now covers 35 hectares divided between three properties: Le Haut-Lieu, Le Mont and Le Clos du Bourg. Where as Careme is a more modern domaine, Huet is one steeped in history and tradition. These are very long-lived and complex wines expressing the distinct differences in terroir between the three estates. We'll taste the Vouvray Petillant Brut 2007 (£17) against the 2002 (£25), then onto the minerally Le Mont Sec 2011 (£21) before finishing on Le Mont Moelleux 2011 (sweet £40).

Le Clos de la Meslerie, Vouvray

Meslerie lies in the grounds of a chateau dating back to 1766. Peter Hahn, an American businessman and keen wine enthusiast, bought the wonderful estate in 2002 and decided to produce, from grape to glass completely on his own, one wine from the 4ha vineyard spread around the Chateau. We'll taste his 2010 Clos de la Meslerie (£26) which was the stand-out vintage for Jimmy on his travels.

Domaine de la Noblaie, Chinon

Domaine de la Noblaie is a 21ha estate that has enjoyed a reputation for the quality of its wines since the 1950s, and today is run by father and so duo, François and Jerome Billard. The fine example we'll be tasting is their top wine, the the Pierre du Tuf 2010 (€16) could claim to be the most original wine produced in the Chinon appellation. The cuvée takes its name from an elliptical 70 hectolitre vat that was hewn directly out of the limestone around 600 years ago. The vat accomodates the same 2.5 hectare parcel of 70 year old vines each vintage and handing is pretty much the same as one could have imagined it during the lifetime of Rabelais in the 16th Century.

So you'll taste 10 fantastic wines ranging from €8 to €30 (£10 to £40 in UK) hand-picked by Jimmy Smith, including grape varieties such as Chenin Blanc and Cabernet Franc. They'll be lots of pictures thrown in too.