no
233
Saint-Pourçain
Gamay
A well respected fairly recently accredited AOC region upstream in the Loire Valley
France, Saint-Pourçain, Cuvée du Bourg, Saint-Pourçain AOC, Union de Vignerons Saint-Pourçain-sur-Sioule (Allier), NV
Introduction
The region is on the tributary rivers Allier and Sioule, just north from the town of Vichy, which run further north into the Loire. The small town of Saint-Pourçain-sur-Sioule in the Auvergne area forms the centre of this wine region and is also home to the local Coop Union de Vignerons, further named after the little town, with 85 winemakers. A VDQS since 1951 it became an AOC in 2009, for red, white and rosé.
The cooperative was founded in 1952 and is the leader of Saint-Pourçain wines overseeing 2/3 of the regional harvest with ca. 2 million bottles. 19 Communes represent this quite small AOC of ca. 600 ha., with the vineyards on the leftbank of the rivers Allier and Sioule, mostly owners with quite small plots. Since the eighties the area and the Coop re-organised itself ready for modern times and expectations of (AOC) wines, respecting the regional traditions and many vines are now over 30 years old. Producing now good value wines, largely for the French market.
Introduction
The region is on the tributary rivers Allier and Sioule, just north from the town of Vichy, which run further north into the Loire. The small town of Saint-Pourçain-sur-Sioule in the Auvergne area forms the centre of this wine region and is also home to the local Coop Union de Vignerons, further named after the little town, with 85 winemakers. A VDQS since 1951 it became an AOC in 2009, for red, white and rosé.
The cooperative was founded in 1952 and is the leader of Saint-Pourçain wines overseeing 2/3 of the regional harvest with ca. 2 million bottles. 19 Communes represent this quite small AOC of ca. 600 ha., with the vineyards on the leftbank of the rivers Allier and Sioule, mostly owners with quite small plots. Since the eighties the area and the Coop re-organised itself ready for modern times and expectations of (AOC) wines, respecting the regional traditions and many vines are now over 30 years old. Producing now good value wines, largely for the French market.
Year:
NV
Approx:
£ 5.00
Best Served:
16-18 °C
Vol:
12.5 %
Review Date:
13 . 03 . 2019
Origin:
France, Saint-Pourçain
Wine specifics
Ready to drink, advised to drink young, 1 or 2 years. Fresh, fruity, quite light, hints of spices. Serving red meats, game, pasta, mild cheeses. Obtained in France, may have (very) limited availability in the UK (9% is exported to a few countries, incl. UK). Cuvée du Bourg, private label for major French supermarket chain. Grape: Gamay. Cork.
Ready to drink, advised to drink young, 1 or 2 years. Fresh, fruity, quite light, hints of spices. Serving red meats, game, pasta, mild cheeses. Obtained in France, may have (very) limited availability in the UK (9% is exported to a few countries, incl. UK). Cuvée du Bourg, private label for major French supermarket chain. Grape: Gamay. Cork.
Insights:
For the reds it is Gamay and Pinot Noir, whilst a third of the vineyards produce for whites Chardonnay and Tréssallier, an indigenous variety (also called Sacy) and some Sauvignon Blanc. Rosé’s are fully based on Gamay. The region is ‘surrounded’ by the rest of the Loire to the north-west (Sancerre is ca. 100km north), Burgundy to the east and Rhône to the south-east. This AOC was one of the latest awarded for the Loire region. It is a wine region to keep an eye on, being so young as an AOC, even though wine making can be traced back to the Romans. The Coop is ageing some of their wines in oak barrels (the oak is from a nearby dedicated forest area), but it is not common practice for the region.
Video presentation of the coop; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gP-EEvSAknc
Video presentation of the coop; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gP-EEvSAknc
Review Date:
13 . 03 . 2019
