Wine Region: Loire

(2022) Cabernet Franc from the limestone soils of Saumur-Champigny and a family winery. Really lovely fragrant nose, with lots of ripeness in this 2017 vintage, a touch of earthiness but clean and ripe black fruits. The fruit dry and savoury, but again such layered creamy black fruit, concentrated and ripe from a low-yielding year. Long and delicious.

(2022) From 100-year old vines, this lees-aged Melon de Bourgogne comes from the western Loire, close to the Atlantic coast. It has a golden colour after four years in bottle, and a succulent, nicely maturing character of waxy lemon rind and juicy apple, with a hint of ocean spray. The palate has that juiciness too, a hint of nutty maturity, but lovely mouth-filling texture and balance. Long and delicious. Part of the special 10% off offer for wine-pages visitors until end September 2022.

(2022) From Reuilly, not far from Sancerre and using mostly similar grapes, this however is Pinot Gris. Though often made as a white wine, the variety does develop deep pink skins. An interesting coppery gold colour, there's custard and cream over ripe yellow apple fruitiness, but there's reserve too with a stony suggestion of minerality. Rounded and creamy stone fruits on the palate with a hint of spice and lively acid. Different and very good.

(2022) Cabernet Franc along with some Grolleau and Gamay, from the very traditional Loire appellation of Rosé d'Anjou. It's quite a vibrant and slightly deeper salmon colour, the nose not giving much except a vague citrus and hint of redcurrant. Sweet on the palate - too sweeet for me - with Eton mess flavours and though there is acid, it's a style that might work with - Eton mess - but certainly requires a sweet tooth. If you fancy it, look out for promotions and discounts.

(2022) From the Corent appellation that is only for rosé wines, this comes from a co-op in the Puy-de Dôme département and is a wine I really enjoyed for its bite and 'certainty'. Perhaps the volcanic soils gave the Pinot Noir and Gamay that edge, but the palate has a fat, pure lemony thrust that scythes through the small red berries, into a long, concentrated and decisive finish. Pretty delicious.

(2022) From granite soils, this Melon de Bourgogne spent a full three years on the lees in concrete vats. Super breezy and fresh, there is iodine and ozone and a crisp citrus and ripe apple fruit personality. In the mouth that bracing lick of seaside air is somehow still evident, a delightful featherlight breeziness of flavour, juicy acids and a long and delightful finish. A little star.

(2022) The chamelon Cabernet Franc can reach high alcohols, but here a very modest 12.5% does for a certified organic Anjou wine made in concrete tanks. It is pretty, brightly red-fruitd and has a certain floral and green herb lift. In the mouth it is lightweight and elegant, with nicely ripe fruit, no great length, but good balance as some spices join the modest tannins and pert cherry acid of the finish. Useful summer drinking, maybe lightly chilled.

(2022) Fruit comes from Touraine and other regions of the Loire, punchy elderflower and a touch of passion fruit, thiols quite pronounced. The palate has ripe and tropical fruit with plenty of pithy acidity to balance.

(2022) From a small family property farming on chalk soils, this is made with a non-interventionist policy, and opens with great elegance, citrus and gentle peach aromas, a touch of stone or flint. The fruit has real ripeness on the palate, so juicy with plenty of lime and orange, the fresh citrussy finish beuatifully balanced.

(2022) At £10.95 this has to count as a cracking bargain, combining the punch and fruit intensity of Marlborough with the mouth-watering freshness of Sancerre. There is leafy green vibrancy and that lychee exoticism, then the streaking lime juice punch of the acidity extends the finish perfectly.