Loire Valley Rarities

The Loire Valley has long been a source of insider gems for collectors with the patience to do the work to track them down. Mature bottles of Clos de la Neore, Dagueneau “Silex”, and Clos Rougeard are a sign that a cellar master was “in the know” long before the current generation of sommeliers cracked the lid on the Loire Valley greats. These days, young wine lovers have propelled the Loire to new heights in terms of name recognition and availability, with countless obscure cuvées now available stateside despite their minuscule production.

Today we have combed the market for the best examples of Sauvignon Blanc, Chenin Blanc, and Cabernet Franc, perhaps the three most noble pursuits of Loire Valley winegrowers. The producers featured have a range of methods, but share one thing in common – a desire to produce the very best wines of the region, packed with character and built to last in the cellar.

Perhaps the best news of all – value can still be found in the Loire Valley for the savvy collector. We are not aware of any better values in the cellar than, say, Thibaud Boudignon’s Clos de Frémine 2020 or the already beautifully-aged 2003 Les Perrières from Catherine and Pierre Breton. This kind of quality at such a reasonable price point (in the context of the world’s best wines) is increasingly difficult to find. Get them while you can!