The Loire River transects northern France, rising in the Massif Central and flowing north, then west to the city of Nantes on the Atlantic coast. There are some famous names among Loire wines – Vouvray, Muscadet, Sancerre and Pouilly-Fumé being among the most notable. There is also, however, a veritable galaxy of other Loire wines which generally receive short shrift in this country. Menetou-Salon is a wine-growing village in the upper Loire Valley just a few miles west of Sancerre. While Sancerre is famous for its wines, those of Menetou languish in relative obscurity. The vintners there would like to change all that, and so would we, for Menetou bottlings are often as good as those of Sancerre and cost substantially less--no small factor in these days of $30+ Sancerres.
The 2007 Menetou-Salon ‘les Bornés’ from Domaine Henri Pellé clearly demonstrates the high quality of the village. Made from the same Sauvignon Blanc grape as Sancerre, it has the classic rich, smoky, herbal and invigorating nose that defines upper Loire Sauvignons. The flavors are distinctive and zesty, with forward, ripe melony fruit, a hint of peach, plus the full, smoky, herbal complexity of the Sauvignon Blanc. This is a perfect choice when you need an accompaniment for richer seafood dishes. It would also be a fine companion to many poultry, veal and pork preparations.