Cremant de Loire, toast?

Hi,

The French Tourism Promotion Board (or the like) was (is?) having a wine promotion in our city. Was feeling rather thirsty after a spot of shopping and decided to take up their offer of free tasting even at the cost of having to listen to some of their marketing spiel. Well, even that was not that bad, and my companion got a chance to practice French.

Had a disagreement though about a Cremant de Loire 2001(?) Brut Cuvee Saphir. I thought there was clear toast on the nose, though the companion's arguement was that it was from the bakery next door. I am certain that some of you have experience toast on sparkling wine, have you not? Any feedback would be welcome.

Also, is it common for Cremants to be sold with the year mentioned?

Thanks in advance. Cheers

Salut/Hi TB,

le/on 26 Jul 2004 02:59:28 -0700, tu disais/you said:-

Shame to have a fight about a nice wine!

I thinbk it's perfectly possible to find toast on sparkling wines. In fact it's an expression often used to describe them. I've most often seen it used to describe high end champagnes but I see no reason not to find it in a good Loire Cremant.

Yup. Just as in Champagne, Alsace and Burgundy - all makers of high class sparklers in France, quite a lot of wine is sold NV and is blended from year to year to produce consistency. Nevertheless, in very good years, growers may decide that their wine is good enough to be sold from one vintage, and thus to justify the higher price such vintage wine commands.