($17, Kobrand Wine & Spirits):  Taittinger, a top Champagne house, has owned Bovet-Ladubay since the mid-1970s and that likely explains, at least in part, the wine’s elegance and focus.  A blend of Chenin Blanc and Chardonnay, this bubbly is steely, crisp, and refreshing. … Read more

($13, Vintage ’59 Imports):  Claude Branger along with his wife, Thérèse, and son, Sébastien, run this family property, also known as Domaine Haut Févrie.  They are an exceptional team, insisting on hand harvesting, which is unusual in Muscadet, and committed to converting fully to organic production. … Read more

($13, Vintners Alliance):  Rosé d’Anjou always has a hint — sometimes more — of sweetness since regulations require a minimum of 7 grams of residual sugar per liter.  In my mind, the residual sugar in this rosé does what it does in German Kabinett wines: it amplifies the fruitiness without imparting a cloying sweetness because of the wine’s inherent vibrant and balancing acidity. … Read more

($13, Misa Imports Inc): Sooner or later, consumers will discover the joys of red wine from Anjou.  And of course, then the price will go up.  But for now, stock up on this mid-weight red.  Pleasantly austere, this Cabernet Franc-based wine focuses on herbal notes as opposed to just ripe fruity one. … Read more

($22):  Vouvray is potentially one of the world’s great wines.  Made from Chenin Blanc, a grape that, like Riesling or Chardonnay, can transmit the flavors of the site beautifully.  But sadly, buying it is tricky and can be frustrating because it has a wide range of styles, from sweet to dry and riveting. … Read more

($25, AP Wine Imports):  Jasnières, a tiny (161-acre) appellation, is well away from the river and the Loire’s northern-most outpost.  Similar to Savennières, another lesser-known Loire appellation, Jasnières uses only Chenin Blanc to produce its steely, impressive white wines. Les Maison Rouges, founded almost 25 years ago, in 1994, has rapidly become one of the area’s top producers. … Read more

($20):  In addition to still wines, Vouvray is also home to delightful sparkling wines.  Made exclusively from Chenin Blanc, this one combines the subtle fruitiness of that grape with a racy spine of bubbles.  Slighter fruitier than Champagne, but similarly enlivening, it’s a good choice this summer.… Read more

($20):  Three years aging on the lees of this Chenin Blanc-based sparkling wine explains its enormous depth and refinement.   It’s a lovely expression of Vouvray, with a perfect balance of lively fruitiness backed by a firm spine.  Elegant and long, it’s a good choice for simply grilled fish this summer.  … Read more

($40):  Thierry Germain is one of the most talented and enthusiastic winemakers in the Loire.  He makes small quantities of outstanding individualistic reds and whites that are always worth the search.  Take this one, for example, L’Insolite (unusual).  Made from 95-year-old Chenin Blanc vines planted on silex, it conveys a hint of white flowers, minerals combined with freshness and verve.… Read more

($26):  The wonderful thing about really good Sancerre is that, though made from the Sauvignon Blanc grape, it doesn’t taste like most Sauvignon Blanc, which can be raspy and vegetal.  Good Sancerre, such as Mellot’s, has a chalky minerality underpinning the bite provided by the grape. … Read more