2009 Le P’tit Blanc du Tue-Boeuf

2009 Le P'Tit Blanc du Tue-Boeuf

The  Touraine AOC has been officially recognised since 1939 and, as you’d kind of expect, surrounds Tours in the Loire Valley, adjacent to the Anjou-Saumur region. The brothers Puzelat have 10 hectares of vines around Montil and rent another 6 hectares close by and produce vibrant, natural wines that grace the lists of some of the funkiest wine bars in Paris & beyond.

The Le P’tit Blanc du Tue-Boeuf is a blend of Sauvignon Blanc and Menu Pineau. Menu Pineau also goes by the name “Arbois” , probably not a household name but it is widely planted in the Loire. It’s a vigourous, high yielding vine, generally producing a fairly mediocre end-point but when the yields are kept in check it is very similar to Chenin Blanc…maybe a little softer in the acidity stakes.

The Puzelat brothers actually produce a straight Menu Pineau called Le Brin de Chevre which is well worth a try if you are interested in the variety. Straight Menu Pineau are a rarity and the Puzelat model is an edgy, interesting number……slightly oxidative in style, laden with minerals and snappy fruit….but here we are concerned with the blend.

In the glass it sit’s with a pale yellow/gold sheen with aromatics of citrus, stone fruits (peach & nectarine) and some slight tropical, estery hints. There’s enough stoney goodness to keep the most moody of mineralogists happy with hints of white flowers, lemon pith, almond paste, nettle & grass.

Lively in the mouth….and textured too which comes as quite a suprise. Again pithy citrus and stone fruits predominate with some tropical flushes. A lovely lively line of minerally acidityb with some light creamy, lees-like hints, marzipan and a herbaceaus, grassy lilt. A little bit of alcohol heat rears its head on the finish which is lively, clean and certainly moreish. Good, uncomplicated, honest drinking.

Price: $28

Closure: Synthetic

Alcohol: 14%

Jean-Marie & Thierry Puzelat