Touraine Amboise

Vineyards

Location: The Touraine Amboise vineyards lie upstream from Tours, and include 6 communes on the right bank of the Loire and 3 on the left bank.

Vineyard Area: 180 hectares

History: The appellation vineyards surround Château d’Amboise, one of the finest châteaux in Touraine. Louis XI is known to have been enthusiastic about Touraine d’Amboise wine, and declared in 1463 that as the quality was so high, it should be sold on the Tours market ahead of any other wine. Touraine Amboise wines first came to court in the reign of François I.

Soil: Flinty clay perruches which heat up quickly, and clay limestone aubuis which gives the wine its power.

Climate: The weather here still has some influence from the Atlantic, but a combination of oceanic and continental influences makes this a mixed zone.

 

Wines

Average annual production over the last 5 years: 7,000 hl.

White: 1,200 hl,

Red: 2,800 hl,

Rosé: 3,000 hl.

Growing practice:

Minimum planting density: 6,600 vines per hectare.

Base yield: 55 hl/ha for reds and rosés, 60 hl/ ha for whites

Varietals: Gamay, Cabernet and Côt for reds

 

Tasting Notes

Reds: Perfect balance, a deep, intense colour

Rosés: Fresh and supple with notes of cherries and redcurrants.

Whites: Fresh fruit and citrus. Demi-secs and sweet wines develop notes of quince and honey.

Serve rosés and whites at 10˚C, reds at 15˚.

 

 

Food/Wine Pairings

Charcuterie, grilled fish, white meat (in sauce if serving with white demi-secs), red meat and game.

 

Aging potential

Most wines are at their best within two years; the more full-bodied benefit from at least 5 years’ aging.