Coteaux du Loir
Styles
Principal grape varieties
Accessory grape varieties
Terroir
Natural factors
- Stony, well-drained soils over Turonian tuffeau and Senonian clay-with-flints; a few plots on Eocene formations or alluvial terraces.
- Cliffs bordering the valleys shelter caves hewn up to 20 m deep and sometimes more than 150 m long.
- Degraded oceanic climate (~680 mm/year); the Loir river moderates temperatures and the valleys drain cold air away from the slopes.
Human factors
- Pineau d'Aunis, the key red-wine variety, has been documented since monks settled at Chahaignes, under various local names (Plant de Mayet, Mançais noir…).
- Jules Guyot (1876) cites chenin and pineau d'Aunis as the 'two principal grape varieties of the Sarthe', foreshadowing the grape mix of the AOC created in 1948. (via Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0)
Product characteristics
- Pale rosés with salmon highlights, a peppery nose, light and delicate on the palate.
- Ruby reds with spiced aromas and ripe red fruits; ageing potential of 2 to 6 years, serve at 12–14 °C.
Terroir / wine link
- Stony soils on the slopes ensure optimal drainage, directly linked to the vine's healthy water balance.
Facts drawn from the cahier's terroir-link section (Lien au terroir) by automatic interpretation — see the source.
Sources
- Product specification (BO Agri, PDF), JORF 29 mars 2022
- Official INAO text (show_texte)
- INAO product entry
- Official trade body site — InterLoire