Explorer Loire Reds, Whites, Sparkling 6-Bottle Set (Greater Portland delivery included*)
Explorer Loire Reds, Whites, Sparkling 6-Bottle Set (Greater Portland delivery included*)
At Wine Wise, we’ve made it easy and compelling to buy local—and now you can enjoy our sommelier-curated wine selections delivered to your door in Greater Portland. *
Of all of the four Loire Valley wine sets released this month, this one delivers the widest selection of classic and new Loire wine styles, colors, and grape varieties that this beloved cool-climate region is known for. It includes two reds, a medium-bodied and terroir-driven Pinot Noir and a fuller and textured blend, two classic Loire whites from two sub-regions at opposite ends of the Loire, and two sparklers, a fun and fruity pet-nat rosé, and a classic bone-dry white made in the methode traditionnelle.
Our Explorer level delivers sommelier-curated wines that will introduce you to different grape varieties, styles, and/or regions from around the World. Each bottle of wine we offer is hand-selected for taste and quality. These wines deliver incredible value and do not need to be further aged to taste their best. Hurry—the wines we select are only available in small quantities, and once they’re gone, they’re gone. That’s the whole point of the explorer set—to keep trying new wines to expand one’s tasting experiences.
Wines included in this set:
2018 Henri Bourgeois, Les Baronnes, Sancerre Rouge, France
100% Pinot Noir
Perfect for fans of lighter-styled, earthy and terroir-driven Pinot Noir. Les Baronnes is made from 40-year-old vines and aged in neutral oak for eight months. The result is a refined Pinot with notes of fresh raspberries, red cherries, and orange zest, mushrooms, violet, and subtle warm spices. The palate is dry with high-acdity adding abundant freshness an logevity on the palate’s mediium body and light but firm tannins. We love this style of pinot with savory Japanese noodle dishes (in particular anything Yakisoba at Mami Portland.)
2019 Terre de l'Elu, "Maupiti", Loire, France
40% Gamay, 40% Cabernet Franc, 20% Grolleau
In January 2008, Charlotte and Thomas Carsin embarked on a winemaking adventure with the acquisition of the Terre de l'Élu domain (formerly Clos de l'Elu) on the schist-rich lands of Anjou. Thomas, with many years of experience as a wine consultant, and Charlottle, in the fields of communication and management. They are both deeply passionate about life on this domain. The Maupiti is medium ruby and slightly hazy from being unfiltered and unfined. The nose is subtle, with notes of ripe raspberry, sour cherry, cranberry, pepper, and graphite. It's medium-bodied, medium-tannin, and in balance with finesse, depth of flavor, and a rich texture.
2021 Nicolas Girard, Quincy, France
100% Sauvignon Blanc
Quincy is a rather unknown region in the Upper Loire Valley, specializing in racy Sauvignon Blancs, usually at an excellent value, compared to neighboring Sancerre. Nicolas Girard is one of the region's rising stars after taking over his family farm in 2007. His 2021 Quincy is a medium straw, bright, and terroir-focused with notes of fresh-squeezed lemon, grapefruit pith, and underripe pineapple with herbaceous and bountiful minerality. It’s dry, fresh, and tangy with medium body, medium+ acidity, and exposing layers of complexity as it opens in the glass. It is gorgeous! Try it with Veal Scallopini with Piccata Sauce (recipe).
2020 Domaine de la Fessardiere, Muscadet Sevre et Maine Estelle Sauvion, France
100% Melon de Bourgogne
About 1 hour from the Atlantic, along the Loire River, in the region of Muscadet the Sèvre Nantaise and Petite Maine rivers border this more specific region within that requires sur lie (on the yeast) aging of the wines for an extended period, providing texture and complexity to an otherwise neural grape variety. Jérôme and Emeline age their 100% organic wines in large ‘foudres’ (oak barrels), making a fuller-styled Muscadet from 30-year-old vines that delivers layers of texture. The wine is pale straw with notes of lemon, grapefruit, brine, and cream with medium-body, texture, and medium-plus acidity.
NV Patrice Colin Perles Grises Brut, Pineau d'Aunis, Coteaux du Vendomois, France
100% Pineau D’Aunis
8th generation vigneron Patrice Colin makes a delightful range of wines from his old vine, organic vineyards in the northernmost reaches of the Loire Valley in the Coteaux du Vendomois along the Loire River. The Perles Grises is a non-vintage Vin de France rosé Pét-Nat at just 11.3% alcohol. If there was ever a wine that was textbook flavors of ripe and savory red cherries, this is it. We have not met a person that has not fallen head-over-heels in love with this light, refreshing, quality-focused pet-nat. It is so fresh and delicious.
NV Chateau Gaudrelle, Alexandre Monmousseau Estate, Ammonite, Extra Brut, Cremant de Loire, France
50% Chenin Blanc, 50% Chardonnay
Chateau Gaudrelle is owned by fifth-generation winemaker Alexandre Monmousseau and is one of the leaders of the Sec-Tendre (soft-dry) movement that includes producers like Huet and Champalou. We love having this crisp, bone-dry, and elegant sparkler on hand, chilling in the fridge, for when we want something light, refreshing, low alcohol (11.5%), and elegant, and delicious. It’s perfect as an aperitif.
PLEASE NOTE
Purchasers must be 21 years of age or older and be present with an ID upon delivery.
Price includes 5.50% Maine State sales tax and Maine’s fifteen-cents redemption deposit per bottle.
If your billing address is different from your delivery address, please include your delivery address in the comments section at checkout.
*Delivery is by Wine Wise—not third-party carriers. Our delivery area is Cape Elizabeth, Cumberland Foreside, Falmouth, Old Orchard Beach, Portland, Saco, Scarborough, South Portland, and Westbrook. We have a larger delivery area for Wine Club deliveries.
