Jimmy's Loire: Part 1 Muscadet, Anjou & Saumur

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.

Part 1: Muscadet, Anjou & Saumur

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

Louis Metaireau Grand Mouton, Muscadet Sevre-et-Maine

Nestled in the heart of Muscadet Sevre-et-Maine is this charming chateau run by Marie-Luce Métaireau and Jean-François Guilbaud. With some of the oldest vines in Muscadet this really is Muscadet at its' finest. We'll taste the flagship Grand Mouton 2011 (€8) with 8 months lees-ageing which is the quintessential refreshing and elegant Muscadet. We'll then move onto the top wine from the estate, the complex but still elegant MLM 1 2010 (€10) with 9 months lees-ageing from vines planted in 1937.

Domaine de Saint Just, Saumur-Champigny

Saint Just was established in 1996, when Yves Lambert, made the transition from a financial background to the world of wine. Yves and his son Arnaud, the proprietors of 40ha of vineyard, have steadily built their business over the years. The quality of soil lends a diversity in the production of various different vats, ranging from Saumur white to the more typical Saumur Champigny; a red wine speciality of the region made from Cabernet-Franc. Saumur Champigny ranges from light and fruity, to more complex fuller-bodied flavours where we'll taste the Montée des Roches Saumur-Champigny Rouge 2010 (€14) and the top wine the Clos Moleton Saumur-Champigny Rouge 2010 (€21).

Chateau de Breze, Saumur

Owned by Saint Just, this magnificent chateau is one of the great tourist attractions of the Loire Valley. One of 'Legends' of the Chateau is the absolutely stunning Clos David 2010 Saumur Blanc (€16), made from 100% Chenin Blanc, which was one of the best white wines of the trip.

Domaine du Closel, Savennieres

This old domaine, with it's real name actually being Château des Vaults, has 17ha of vines planted, producing three separate expressions of Savennières on a regular basis. The ‘Le Clos du Papillon’ is the flagship style, from a 6 hectare holding, spends between 12 and 18 months in barrel, producing around 15-20,000 bottles per year – we'll taste the elegant 2006 (€21) versus the layered and complex 2007 (€21).

Pierres-Jacques Druet, Bourgueil

The gregarious Pierres-Jacques makes a wide range of very well-made wines, mainly made from Cabernet Franc. We'll taste his Bourguiel Rose 2010 (Yes rose can age here!), and two well-aged Cabernet Francs, Les Cent Boisselees 2006 (€11) and the Grand Mont 2006 (€14).

So you'll taste 10 fantastic wines ranging from €8 to €21 (£12 to £30 in UK) hand-picked by Jimmy Smith, including grape varieties such as Chenin Blanc, Melon Blanc and Cabernet Franc. They'll be lots of pictures thrown in too.