OK so I lied, I really didn’t meet with Nicolas Joly. BUT I did have the pleasure of tasting with his daughter, Virginie, the next generation of biodynamic viticulturists. In fact she’s now in charge of winemaking at Coulée de Serrant. After this first tasting, I stopped by Domaine aux Moines for a tasting with owner and former winemaker, Monique Laroche. My final stop was with Luc Bizard, owner of Château d’Epiré. I’ve always been a huge fan of Savennières wine, especially for its complexity, minerality and great expression of terroir. However, I’m now an even huger fan I must say. The majority of the wines were showing very well and the commitment of each producer was evident. These visits were part of my second day on the job at Closel – Château des Vaults in order to gain a better taste of what our neighboring wineries are pumping out. This is not about competition. This is about spreading the word on the beauty and quality of Savennières, which so many of the local producers are offering, including us I might add ! 
Below are my tasting notes. The overall conclusion is that I’m a huge fan of the 2008 Savennières vintage …
2008 Coulée de Serrant “Vieux Clos” Savennières
Tasting Notes : 100% chenin blanc, 14.5% vol., 3.7 g/l residual sugars, 4.02 g/l total acidity. Fresh and fruity nose of peaches. Good acidity in the mouth but with a balanced richness and sweetness, despite the low residual sugars. There are flavors of citrus and peach.
Rating : 15/20
Price : 20€ @ estate
2008 Coulée de Serrant “Clos de la Bergerie” Savennières-Roches aux Moines
Tasting Notes : 100% chenin blanc, 15.5% vol., 0.8 g/l residual sugars, 4.12 g/l total acidity. More spice in the nose with notes of apricot. Good balance and great acidity and fruity sweetness in the mouth, despite being a bone dry wine. There are flavors of peaches and dried apricot.
Rating : 16/20
Price : 29€ @ estate
2008 “Clos de la Coulée de Serrant” Savennières-Coulée de Serrant
Tasting Notes : 100% chenin blanc, 15% vol., 1 g/l residual sugars, 3.9 g/l total acidity. A very pretty and elegant nose of flowers, almonds, and peach. Perfect balance in the mouth with a great complexity and flavors of dried apricots, almonds, and spice.
Rating : 17/20
Price : 45€ @ estate
2004 Domaine aux Moines Savennières-Roche aux Moines
Tasting Notes : 100% chenin blanc, 14% vol., 2 g/l residual sugars, 4.5 g/l total acidity. A sweet nose of peach and flowers. Bitterness in the mouth with notes of dried apricot, spice, and almonds.
Rating : 15/20
Price : 13€ @ estate
2006 Domaine aux Moines Savennières-Roche aux Moines
Tasting Notes : First vintage of biodynamic production. 100% chenin blanc, 14.5% vol., 2 g/l residual sugars, 4.5 g/l total acidity. A more fresh and crisp nose with minerality. Richness and complexity in the mouth with notes of white peaches.
Rating : 16/20
Price : 12€ @ estate
2008 Domaine aux Moines Savennières-Roche aux Moines
Tasting Notes : 100% chenin blanc, 14.5% vol., 4.9 g/l residual sugars, 5.6 g/l total acidity. More concentration in the nose with good roundness, fleshy and rich notes and minerality. Great balance in the mouth with good acidity and flavors of citrus and grapefruit.
Rating : 17/20
Price : 14€ @ estate
2000 Domaine aux Moines Savennières-Roche aux Moines
Tasting Notes : 100% chenin blanc, 12.8% vol., 2 g/l residual sugars, 3.8 g/l total acidity. Complex nose of peach confit and white flowers. A low acidity in the mouth, almost watery and flabby with flavors of canned peaches.
Rating : 13/20
Price : 15€ @ estate
1994 Domaine aux Moines Savennières-Roche aux Moines
Tasting Notes : 100% chenin blanc, 12% vol., 1.5 g/l residual sugars, 6 g/l total acidity. A still fresh nose with floral, peach and honey notes. High acidity in the mouth with flavors of lemon, spice, minerals, and peach.
Rating : 15/20
Price : 15€ @ estate
1992 Domaine aux Moines Savennières-Roche aux Moines
Tasting Notes : 100% chenin blanc, 12.5% vol., 2 g/l residual sugars, 3.9 g/l total acidity. Complexity and sweetness on the nose with spice notes. Low acidity in the mouth with flavors of peach and dried apricot.
Rating : 14/20
Price : 16€ @ estate
2007 Domaine aux Moines “Moelleux” Savennières-Roche aux Moines
Tasting Notes : 100% chenin blanc, 13% vol., 44 g/l residual sugars, 5 g/l total acidity. Spice and peaches on the nose. Bitter notes in the mouth with flavors of canned peaches an d spice.
Rating : 14/20
Price : 16€ @ estate
2007 Domaine aux Moines”Doux” Savennières-Roche aux Moines
Tasting Notes : 100% chenin blanc, 13% vol., 88 g/l residual sugars, 6 g/l total acidity. Minerality, spice and peach confit on the nose. The nose does not suggest a sweet wine, containing 88 g/l of residual sugars. Very sweet yet with a great acidic balance in the mouth, with flavors of spice, apricots, minerality and almonds. The finish is long.
Rating : 16/20
Price : 18€ @ estate
2008 Château d’Epiré Savennières
Tasting Notes : 100% chenin blanc, 13% vol., 2 g/l residual sugars, 3.8 g/l total acidity, malolactic fermentation. Aromas of almonds, minerals, and spice. Very dry in the mouth with flavors of peach.
Rating : 14/20
Price : 10€ @ estate
2008 Château d’Epiré “Cuvée Spéciale” Savennières
Tasting Notes : 100% chenin blanc, 13.5% vol., no malolactic fermentation. Good complexity and minerality on the nose. Great balance and good acidity in the mouth with notes of grapefruit.
Rating : 16/20 (WS 89)
Price : 13€ @ estate
2006 Château d’Epiré “Hu-Boyau” Savennières
Tasting Notes : 100% chenin blanc, 13.5% vol., 9 months aging in oak, malolactic fermentation. A very complex, slightly funky nose with smoky notes. Good balance in the mouth with subtle creaminess coming out in the mid palate through to the finish. There are flavors of citrus and spice.
Rating : 14/20
Price : 13$ @ estate
1998 Château d’Epiré “Cuvée Spéciale” Savennières
Tasting Notes : 100% chenin blanc, 13% vol., no malolactic fermentation. Complexity, concentration and richness on the nose with notes of dried apricot. In the mouth this wine is very dry with flavors of peach.
Rating : 14/20
Price : Pricing unknown
2002 Château d’Epiré “Moelleux”
Tasting Notes : 100% chenin blanc, 13.5% vol., 40 g/l residual sugars. A sweet nose with peach aromas. Acidic in the mouth with flavors of spice and peach confiture.
Rating : 15/20
Price : 14€50 @ estate
[...] ? Not really although wait I think I do ! I guess the key difference is that Clos du Papillon (and Coulée de Serrant and Roches-aux-Moines) are designated Loire Valley Grand Crus. Savennières is essentially [...]