This week in Wine Back Wednesday, seeing that the festive season is just around the corner, I decided to road test a sparkling wine from the Loire Valley in Western France. The NV Veuve Laperrière Blanc de blancs was originally made by Monmousseau, a family run sparkling house started in 1886 and located in Touraine, a broad appellation in the Loire Valley, although in 2018, the Ackerman group purchased Monmousseau. The label remains the same, and with Ackerman's grand history, I'm sure the quality will be maintained.

Maison Ackerman is the oldest sparkling house in the Loire, started by an energetic 21 yo Jean Baptiste Ackerman in 1811. Based in the appellation of Saumur, the soils are very chalky, dominated by tuffeau limestone, resulting in wines with great minerality. These limestone soils are similar to those in Champagne and the SE of England (think Kent and its "White Cliffs of Dover", Surrey, east and west Sussex), the new home of some very good sparkling wines. This Blanc de blancs is 100% Chardonnay and is of "methode traditionnelle". The vineyards are farmed sustainably, the limestone and its water holding capacity, coupled with the climate produce fruit that is full flavoured at low sugar and good acidity.

Pale straw in the glass, there are aromas of fresh lemons, brioche, white flowers of honey suckle and star jasmine. The palate has a fine bead, great acidity and mousse, with lemon curd, minerality and good length. Fresh and lively brut style. It won't last long.

smidgewines #mattdecanted #loire #chardonnay #blancdeblancs #limestone #methodetraditonnelle

To watch, click here: https://youtu.be/ryeV7rz6Kto