Philippe Auchere - The Loire Valley Traditionalist

Something tells me the Loire Valley is tired of playing second fiddle to Bordeaux, Burgundy, and the Rhone.  Over the past decade, there has been a renewed commitment from the old guard and a whole new wave of ambitious new producers who are driven to escalate the region’s status.  The results have been outstanding; it’s no wonder Loire wines are drank more in the restaurants of France than any other region’s wines. 

Long before the Loire’s viticultural renaissance, winemaker Philippe Auchere had established himself in Bue, one of the fifteen villages of Sancerre and one of the very best.  He’s spent the last 20 years focused on making beautiful, small-production wines from here with a recent expansion to up and coming Coteaux du Giennois.  He was one of the region’s earliest producers to incorporate biodynamic farming.  Never bending to trends in the wine world, Philippe has become the foundation of our Loire Valley portfolio, crafting a number of terroir-driven, food-friendly wines that we’ve loved importing and sharing with our clients. 

There is such beauty in his traditionally made wines.  Like other great Loire wines, these are not ego-driven, palate-searing wines that demand your attention.  Philippe’s wines fall back to the basic principles that work so well; great vineyards, hand-harvesting, and simple vinification with and a goal of balance and complexity.  Just like a great chef, you can play with the recipe all you want but you’ll never get great results unless you have the right ingredients.  It’s obvious with his brilliant, mineral-laced Sancerres but you also see it in his Coteaux du Giennois wines.  Philippe knows how to get the very best out of his fruit without forsaking its terroir. 

Below are tasting notes on a few of the Philippe Auchere wines we’ve imported:

2006 Philippe Auchere 'Cuvee les Deserts' Sancerre
A sublime example of Sancerre from our favorite producer in the Loire. The wine has a piercing platinum color and a striking perfume of lemon zest, chalk dust, and white flowers. Such a pleasure to drink, the soft citric flavors flow effortlessly across the palate, lending nuances of herbs and minerality through the finish.

2006 Philippe Auchere ‘Cuvee de la Bergerie’ Coteaux du Giennois Blanc
All the freshness and precision you can ask for from a great springtime white. The piercing gold color is your first hint at the wine's vibrant personality. The nose is full of orange blossom and lime with hints of herbs and chalk dust. The flavors wake up the palate with zingy grapefruit and quince and a subtle touch of minerals and freshly cut grass. Bright acidity keeps the finish alive and carries out nuances of gooseberry and white flowers.

2005 Philippe Auchere ‘Cuvee de la Bergerie’ Coteaux du Giennois Rouge
A great example of the finesse achieved from Pinot Noir in this up and coming region.  The wine glows in the glass like a ruby and carries a perfume of cherry skins, currant, and violets.  The silky body is layered with rhubarb and raspberry that evolve with hints of pine sap and smoke.  The wine’s elegant nature continues through the finish with cranberry, dried flowers, and pomegranate.