I’m scratching my head desperately trying to recall if I am supposed to be buying a red wine (“Just buy the bloody bottle… it will go fine with the spag-bol”) or a white (“Haven’t we had enough Sauvignon’s this summer?!”) and to be honest the selection was a tad disappointing. I’m standing in one of the larger Oddbins and don’t know what to buy.

I text Jeanne.. “Is Wine Blogging Wednesday for white Loire or Red?” I ask. The reply is simple and to the point “Loire Whites”. Vinography is the host and I’m a day late anyway. My soon to be housemate, he of French origin and prolific swear words (the quotes above are toned down), points out a nicely presented bottle and translates ‘Terroir de Silex’ as the stone that makes sparkles… I think he means sparks and assume he means flint.. which fits in nicely, if I remember correctly, with the flint and clay soils of the region. But what I hadn’t come across before is ‘Coteaux de Gennois’. This, the little rear label map helpfully shows, is just north of and on the other side of the river to that most famous of Loire towns, Sancerre.

Wine Tasting Note: Etienne de Loury Terre de Fumée Sauvignon Blanc, 2004, Coteaux du Gennois, Loire, France.
Oddbins £8.99
Rich and quite creamy, spiked through with piercingly clean lemon acidity.Crisp, flavoursome, and nicely aromatic with a combination of herbs, flowers and citrus fruits mirrored on the palate. Strawberry leaf flavoured finish. It’s good but would have been even better with a seafood or fish dish. It’s a 100% Suavignon Blanc and, apart from being a little richer perhaps and less obviously stony, could pass for a might good quality Sancerre. Alcohol 12.5%.
Scribblings Rating – 94/100