Cazin Cheverny

[Innkeeper]

2002 Francois Cazin, Le Petit Chambord, Cheverny ($11 Chambers Street). This one came to us as an acceptable substitute for a one bottle short of our favorite Savennieres. Glad we got it. For those of you who never heard of Cheverny (it is new to us too) it is a circa 1993 appellation at the eastern end of the Lorie Valley vinicultural zone. It is also slightly north of the rest of the zone. The result of all this is a very interesting wine that is a very good bargain now; hurry! The most interesting characteristic is minerality. This rare attribute apparently gets better in the Loire as you get further north.

The Cazin Cheverny SB greets you with gooseberries (think kiwis) on the nose and upfront. The keen and lean body shows very nice complexity and the afore mentioned minerality across the palate. And the finish is lovely, sitting in a easy chair in front of the fire. Matched it with quickly broiled flounder fillets with butter and paprika, deep fried eggplant, and as small vinaigrette salad. Very nice wine, that we will get more of; try it and you will like it.