Sweet wine from France’s Loire Valley

December 25, 2010

About Dessert Sweet Wine
Best wine supplier in Philippines discusses wine related topics

An enormous amount of wine is created in this vast region, mostly white, but with a good deal of red too. Styles change as you follow the course of the river, according to the grape varieties planted and wine-making techniques practised. But the one thing all of these wines share is that they are made to display freshness and relatively high acidity, and rarely is oak used to ferment or age the wines.
The Loire, like Champagne, is close to the northern limits of commercial grape growing. Long, hot summers are the exception here rather than the rule, and the worry is always whether the grapes will ripen sufficiently. The relatively sharp style of these wines is rather out of favour at the moment, the world seeming to prefer oaky, full-bodied whites and tannic, strong, fruit-driven reds.
Geography and climate
The Loire valley covers a huge tract of land that follows the river from the Atlantic ocean near Nantes, all the way east and south almost to the Rhône. There is a huge variation in climate and soil.
The Loire splits quite neatly into 3 separate sections:
The western Loire, around Nantes, is the home of Muscadet. This is an area of low, sandy hills and the climate is cool.

In the middle Loire things heat up a little, and the climate is mild with moderate rainfall. The west of this area has a tendency towards the noble rot, and is capable of making some great sweet wines.
The upper Loire is to the extreme northeast of the valley. A more continental climate, summers are hot but short. The soil is a mixture of limestone, sand and chalk, known as “Tufa”.

Grapes

The Loire has a large number of different grape varieties, some of which dominate different parts of the region. They include:
• Muscadet which dominates the western Loire, making dry white wines
• Chenin Blanc which is the great grape of the middle Loire, with red wines made from Cabernet Franc
• Sauvignon Blanc which is the star of the upper Loire. Reds are made from the Pinot Noir
The great wines of the Loire
The western Loire
This coastal area, the “Pays de Nantes” is the home of Muscadet. The Muscadet grape makes a “neutral” wine. In cool years it can be rather tart. The better Muscadets come from Sèvre-et-Maine to the east of the city of Nantes. When choosing a Muscadet, perhaps the most important thing to look out for on the label is the term “Sur Lie”. This means that the wine has been aged on its “lees”, the mix of yeast cells and grape fragments that remains after fermentation. Sur Lie wines are bottled directly off the lees without filtration and have added fruitiness, a nutty quality and sometimes a little hint of sparkle on the tongue.

The middle Loire

This area includes such well known wine regions as Vouvray, Tourraine and Chinon. A whole range of wines is made in this large area, including red, white, rosé, sweet and sparkling. The great white grape of the region is the Chenin Blanc, which is used for both dry and sweet, sometimes Botrytis-affected wines. Dry Chenin Blanc may appear as Vouvray Sec, Savennières or under a variety of different regional names. This wine can be rather acidic and sharp, but the best examples have a honeyed, buttery taste which becomes more pronounced as they age. Chenin Blanc, even in quite modest bottles, makes one of the longest lived dry white wines.
From AC Coteaux du Layon come some great sweet wines. There is a micro-climate here not unlike that of Sauternes, that creates the conditions for Botrytis cinerea. These wines are luscious and balanced and reasonably priced. Look out for the wines of AC Quarts de Chaume and AC Bonnezeaux, the top two individual ACs within Coteaux du Layon producing brilliant sweet whites.
The middle Loire reds deserve to be better known than they are. AC Chinon produces Cabernet Francs that are fresh with raspberry fruit and an earthy quality. Look for estate bottled examples and there are some bargains to be found at around £6 or £7.00 ($10-$12). AC Bourgueil and St-Nicolas-de-Bourgueil produce very similar wines, and the quality is just about as good.
There are fine sparkling wines made in many districts, often signified with the word Mousseux on the label. Sparkling Vouvray is probably the best of the lot, made by the Champagne method and again, reasonably priced. Best producers include Domaine des Aubuisières and Marc Brédif.

The upper Loire

Confusingly, this area is often referred to as the “central vineyards” – confusing, because though roughly in the centre of France, it is the northeastern limit of the Loire Valley. The greatest name of the region is undoubtedly Sancerre. This world famous wine of the region is 100% Sauvignon Blanc, the best of which comes from the chalky hills around the town of Sancerre. At its best, Sancerre is an incredibly vivid, pungent wine, with grassy, gooseberry aromas and plenty of acidity.

Just across the river lies Pouilly-Fumé, home of very similar wines, though prices are now creeping up to similar levels. Pouilly-Fumé is said to pick up subtle, flinty flavours from Silex, the flint-rich soil of the area.
Red Sancerre is 100% Pinot Noir, and although less common and needing a good sunny vintage to fully ripen, can be very good. Top Sancerre producers include Bourgeois, de Ladoucette, Cotat, Château de Tracy and Crochet.
Just to the west of Sancerre lies an interesting region: AC Menetou-Salon. This area produces lovely wines using the same grapes, both red and white. Cheaper than Sancerre (and sometimes even better), top producers include Pellé, Chavet and Teiller.
The New World
Undoubtedly the biggest world-wide success for any Loire grape variety is with Sauvignon Blanc. Fine examples are produced in Chile, California, South Africa, Australia and, especially, New Zealand.
It is in New Zealand – more specifically in the Marlborough region of New Zealand – that Sauvignon Blanc has found possibly its greatest expression. The long, cool, dry ripening season and free-draining stony soil seems ideal for the variety. Marlborough Sauvignons are particularly intense: grassy and gooseberry flavours as in Sancerre, but with an added dimension of tropical fruit and really zingy, grapefruit acidity. Top producers include: Isabel, Montana, Cloudy Bay, Jackson Estate, Hunters and Villa Maria. Other areas, in the south of North island are coming on stream with superb wines, as are some suitable areas such as Tasmania, off the south coast of Australia, and cooler areas of Chile and South Africa.

Source: http://www.wine-pages.com/resources/loireexp.htm

Are these articles useful for enhancing your wine and dine experience in the Philippines. Do they also help you with travel, leisure, vacation, dining out, nightlife and other leisure activities plans in Manila and other major cities of Philippines? Yats Restaurant hopes to provide you with ample information so you can plan your trips to Pampanga Angeles City Clark Freeport Zone whether you are travelling from Manila or other Asian countries such as Hong Kong, Shanghai, Singapore, Malaysia or Korea.

Restaurant reservations in Manila Philippines, planning of menu, selection of wine for dinner and booking a private function and event in Angeles City Clark Freeport Zone can all be handled. Yats Restaurant and Wine Bar has been regarded by many to be the premier restaurant north of Manila Philippines. Its 3000-line award-winning restaurant wine list has kept many wine lovers happy dining in this restaurant in Angeles City Clark Philippines for over a decade.

Yats Restaurant and Wine Bar was built by Hong Kong-based Yats International in 2000 to provide a world-class cozy fine dining restaurant, business meeting facilities and venues for private dinners and functions in Pampanga Angeles City Clark Freeport Zone. Pampanga Angeles City Clark Philippines was selected for this restaurant because of safety, clean air, absence of traffic and proximity to Manila and Subic.

For comments, inquiries and reservations, email Restaurant@Yats-International.com or call these numbers:

(045) 599-5600 0922-870-5178 0917-520-4401

Http://www.YatsRestaurant.com

Getting to this fine dining restaurant of Angeles City Clark Freeport Zone Pampanga Philippines
How to get to this fine-dining restaurant in Clark Philippines? Once you get to Clark Freeport, go straight until you hit Mimosa. After you enter Mimosa, stay on the left on Mimosa Drive, go past the Holiday Inn and Yats Restaurant (green top, independent 1-storey structure) is on your left. Just past the Yats Restaurant is the London Pub.

Good restaurants in Pampanga are capable of offering a real fine dining experience to visitors from Manila and tourists from all over the world. One of the best restaurants in Pampanga is Yats Restaurant and Wine Bar, generally known as the best restaurant in Clark Philippines. Gourmet dining at its best can be experienced in this popular restaurant outside of Manila. Frequent guests favor gourmet dishes like venison, escargots and kangaroo while some prefer to enjoy a really good U.S. Angus steak with a bottle of fine vintage wine from Bordeaux or California. After dinner, guests can relax and unwind in the wine bar of this restaurant in Clark Pampanga, enjoy a dessert wine, a glass of port with cheese for example.







View/Hide Sitemap
Mimosa Golf Estate, Clark Field (Clark Airbase), Clark Freeport Zone, Pampanga, Philippines
Tel: (045) 599-5600 0922-870-5194 0917-520-4401 Ask for Daniel, Lito or Cosh

Banquet, Events and Functions, Manila Sales Office 3003C East Tower, Philippines Stock Exchange Center
Exchange Road, Ortigas Center, Metro Manila, Philippines
Tel: (632) 633-1566 ask for Rea or Chay


About Us
Culinary Team
Awards
Customer comments
About Clark and Angeles City Pampanga
Menu
A la Carte Menu
Prix Fixe (Set Menu)
Vegetarian
Other Menus & Specials
Wine List
Award-Winning Wine List
Wines for Everyday Enjoyment
Facilities Tour of Restaurant
Wine Cellars
Magnum Room Wine Lounge
Burgundy Room Private Dining
Wine Tasting Room
Bordeaux Room
Reservations & Inquiries
Reserve a Table
Function, Party and Event
General Inquiry
Getting to Yats Restaurant
Events & Happenings Reciprocal Membership
Contact Us
Map and Direction
Contact Information
Contact Form
Submit a Resume