2025 Loire Trade Tasting Salons: Highlights & Observations
No.52 | Out & About
For the third year in a row, I ventured to the Loire Valley for four busy days of tastings and conversations at the annual trade tasting salons, which include the Salon Saint-Jean and La Levée de la Loire in Angers, and La Dive Bouteille in Saumur. These fairs have become an opportunity for me to touch base with producers whom I know well, as well as discover new producers, wines and/or trends across the region. While it is impossible to take precise notes on the 250+ Cabernet Francs tasted over the course of the salons, it does allow me to share some observations from my tastings, as well as bookmark some key producers that I hope to visit in the future.
So, without further ado, here are some highlights:
Recent Vintages
2024: As I reported in October after returning from the Loire at the tail end of harvest, this was an extremely challenging and heterogeneous vintage. During the salons, I had a chance to taste a few tank samples of some of the early-drinking cuvées from select vignerons…