Great profile! I never knew that Terres Chaudes came from the Poyeux vineyard (even though 2 years ago I drove past the Domaine and unknowingly past the vineyard on my way to Chateau de Chaintres. Doh!) I recently received a "sampler" case of Loire wines, including Sable Verts Les Poyeux (2022), Duveau Varrains Les Menais (2021) and a couple of Puy-Notre-Dame selections (learning about the appellation from your recent review of Paleine). I was able to find La Pied a l'Etrier (2020) and Magniacus (2018). Thanks for always expanding my Loire Cab Franc horizons!
Hi Michael! Thank you for reading and taking a moment to comment. With a vineyard of this prestige, it would only natural to want to put it on the label, so this decision is an interesting one for any vigneron, and one I look forward seeing evolve in the future. That sounds like a nice mixed pack! I actually have a video on the Sables Verts Les Poyeux coming out on Monday, so you’ll be able to learn more about their parcels specifically.☺️ Thank you, as always, for reading and your continued support! 🙏
Oh my, Allison, this is such a great essay. Thanks so much. I ride my bike through Les Poyeux all the time and often stop to wonder where the boundaries are. As you say, no signs or any kind of designations. But now I know. Again, thanks! Makes me want to hop on a plane and get back “home.” And as you might suspect, I’ve tasted all the bottles in your photos. The barrel-tasting at Clos Rougeard last summer was a top experience. And the Petite Saint. Vincent has always been a go-to bottle. Recently, the recent Sable Verts bottlings have begun to mature and my goodness I think they will be wonderful over the next few years. However, two recent experiences stand-out. We had a 2017 bas Poyeux from Fabian Duveaux at Table des Closiers and it knocked us back. Deeply fruitful and beautifully balanced, it re-set my standard for Les Poyeux. So I ran to the winery to see if I could buy the 2017s. No such luck but we tasted the new releases from both bas Poyeux and Haut Poyeux. The new bottling of Haut Poyeux (2022 I think) just stunned me. Even deeper fruit and with the potential to mature…oh my goodness. Let’s share a bottle next time you’re in town!!!
Thank you for reading, Rick! So happy you enjoyed the piece, and now you might have even more fun on your bike rides through Les Poyeux! I still need to taste with Fabien Duveau, so I hope I can prioritize that for my next visit. Either way, we will definitely enjoy a bottle when I’m back in May. Thank you, as always, for your kind support and wise intel!! 🙏❤️
Thank you for reading and taking the time to comment. At the moment, I am not entirely sure where all the producers plots are. I’m hoping that I can get that info in time. I know that Clos Rougeard’s parcels are on the orangey section in the heart of Les Poyeux, and Le Petit Saint Vincent is just next door, also on the Upper Turonian yellow tuffeau. Sables Verts are in the northwest corner of Les Bas Poyeux. Antoine Sanzay has a mix of parcels. Thierry Germain’s parcels are in the western part of the lieu-dit. I will be sure to include these details (if available) on future updates to this post. Thank you again for reading, your interest and support! 🙏❤️
What a great read. I visited the Loire a couple summers ago and felt like I consistently preferred cab franc from Samur-Champigny over Chinon. I’m so intrigued by Poyeux and will seek out wines from these plots! (And loved your Vougeot analogy too). Thank you for this write up!
Hi Kristen! Thanks for reading and taking time to comment. Wines from Les Poyeux are definitely worth seeking out. Hope you can track them down near you. I’m so glad you’ve had a chance to visit the Loire! Saumur-Champigny tends to show a little more ripeness of fruit, while Chinon is often the most earthy side of Cabernet Franc from the Loire based on what I’ve tasted. Thanks again for reading and for your support!
Yes! That is how it struck me, too. There is more of a dried flower and vegetal note for me, too, on the Chinon expressions. I also liked them- but I felt like the cab francs from Samur-Champigny were charming right away- so drinkable. I can’t wait to find Les Poyeux- I may message you if I do!
Yup, you nailed it! The cab francs from Saumur-Champigny always have a bit more polish for me. Uber drinkable too. If you try a Les Poyeux, I’d love to know what you thought of it. Cheers!
What a great article Allison, thanks for writing this and putting this out there for us to learn from. I had no idea Terres Chaudes was Les Poyeux from Germain!
Big fan of Philippe Alliet! 🤩 Though I haven’t had his Chenin Blanc. I will need to look for it next time I’m in the Loire. Thank you for reading, Jesko ! 🙏
Great profile! I never knew that Terres Chaudes came from the Poyeux vineyard (even though 2 years ago I drove past the Domaine and unknowingly past the vineyard on my way to Chateau de Chaintres. Doh!) I recently received a "sampler" case of Loire wines, including Sable Verts Les Poyeux (2022), Duveau Varrains Les Menais (2021) and a couple of Puy-Notre-Dame selections (learning about the appellation from your recent review of Paleine). I was able to find La Pied a l'Etrier (2020) and Magniacus (2018). Thanks for always expanding my Loire Cab Franc horizons!
Hi Michael! Thank you for reading and taking a moment to comment. With a vineyard of this prestige, it would only natural to want to put it on the label, so this decision is an interesting one for any vigneron, and one I look forward seeing evolve in the future. That sounds like a nice mixed pack! I actually have a video on the Sables Verts Les Poyeux coming out on Monday, so you’ll be able to learn more about their parcels specifically.☺️ Thank you, as always, for reading and your continued support! 🙏
Oh my, Allison, this is such a great essay. Thanks so much. I ride my bike through Les Poyeux all the time and often stop to wonder where the boundaries are. As you say, no signs or any kind of designations. But now I know. Again, thanks! Makes me want to hop on a plane and get back “home.” And as you might suspect, I’ve tasted all the bottles in your photos. The barrel-tasting at Clos Rougeard last summer was a top experience. And the Petite Saint. Vincent has always been a go-to bottle. Recently, the recent Sable Verts bottlings have begun to mature and my goodness I think they will be wonderful over the next few years. However, two recent experiences stand-out. We had a 2017 bas Poyeux from Fabian Duveaux at Table des Closiers and it knocked us back. Deeply fruitful and beautifully balanced, it re-set my standard for Les Poyeux. So I ran to the winery to see if I could buy the 2017s. No such luck but we tasted the new releases from both bas Poyeux and Haut Poyeux. The new bottling of Haut Poyeux (2022 I think) just stunned me. Even deeper fruit and with the potential to mature…oh my goodness. Let’s share a bottle next time you’re in town!!!
Thank you for reading, Rick! So happy you enjoyed the piece, and now you might have even more fun on your bike rides through Les Poyeux! I still need to taste with Fabien Duveau, so I hope I can prioritize that for my next visit. Either way, we will definitely enjoy a bottle when I’m back in May. Thank you, as always, for your kind support and wise intel!! 🙏❤️
really great detail here, appreciate the maps. would love one with the producers plots pinpointed...
Thank you for reading and taking the time to comment. At the moment, I am not entirely sure where all the producers plots are. I’m hoping that I can get that info in time. I know that Clos Rougeard’s parcels are on the orangey section in the heart of Les Poyeux, and Le Petit Saint Vincent is just next door, also on the Upper Turonian yellow tuffeau. Sables Verts are in the northwest corner of Les Bas Poyeux. Antoine Sanzay has a mix of parcels. Thierry Germain’s parcels are in the western part of the lieu-dit. I will be sure to include these details (if available) on future updates to this post. Thank you again for reading, your interest and support! 🙏❤️
What a great read. I visited the Loire a couple summers ago and felt like I consistently preferred cab franc from Samur-Champigny over Chinon. I’m so intrigued by Poyeux and will seek out wines from these plots! (And loved your Vougeot analogy too). Thank you for this write up!
Hi Kristen! Thanks for reading and taking time to comment. Wines from Les Poyeux are definitely worth seeking out. Hope you can track them down near you. I’m so glad you’ve had a chance to visit the Loire! Saumur-Champigny tends to show a little more ripeness of fruit, while Chinon is often the most earthy side of Cabernet Franc from the Loire based on what I’ve tasted. Thanks again for reading and for your support!
Yes! That is how it struck me, too. There is more of a dried flower and vegetal note for me, too, on the Chinon expressions. I also liked them- but I felt like the cab francs from Samur-Champigny were charming right away- so drinkable. I can’t wait to find Les Poyeux- I may message you if I do!
Yup, you nailed it! The cab francs from Saumur-Champigny always have a bit more polish for me. Uber drinkable too. If you try a Les Poyeux, I’d love to know what you thought of it. Cheers!
What a great article Allison, thanks for writing this and putting this out there for us to learn from. I had no idea Terres Chaudes was Les Poyeux from Germain!
Thank you for reading Tom! I’m so glad you find it helpful. I appreciate your support!
Check out Philippe Alliet in Chinon!
The white Chenin Blanc also if you get your hands on it
Big fan of Philippe Alliet! 🤩 Though I haven’t had his Chenin Blanc. I will need to look for it next time I’m in the Loire. Thank you for reading, Jesko ! 🙏