The 7 Best Red Wines From France’s Loire Valley to Buy in 2026
Alphonse Mellot, Clau de Nell, Thierry Germain
Every wine lover knows about the stunning Loire Valley whites made from Chenin Blanc and Sauvignon Blanc, but many may not have had the opportunity to taste the amazing reds made here. Two of our favorite types of red wines from the region are made from Pinot Noir and Cabernet Franc.
Cabernet Franc has been grown here for over 700 years and generally does very well in the valley. One of Cabernet Sauvignon’s parents—its mate is another Loire Valley staple, Sauvignon Blanc—Cabernet Franc from the Loire is known to produce well-structured wines with complex berry flavors and touches of smoke. It thrives in the Chinon, Saumur-Champigny, Bourgueil, and Saint-Nicolas-de-Bourgueil appellations, and while it is mainly used as a blending grape farther north in Bordeaux, it is the star of the show here.
Pinot Noir is made in an elegant, medium-bodied style in Sancerre and Reuilly. It has soft tannins, a light color, and a lot in common with locally grown Gamay, but it is worlds apart from over-extracted New World versions. Because the Loire has traditionally been colder and wetter than Burgundy, it has always been difficult for winemakers to produce high-quality Pinot Noir wines, but as the climate has moved towards warmer and drier growing seasons, we are now seeing many high-end Loire Valley Pinot Noirs that showcase flavors of cherry, raspberry, and baking spices. Here are seven of our favorite Liore reds.
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Gauthier Pere et Fils 2020 Domaine du Bel Air Bourgueil Clos Nouveau
Image Credit: Gauthier Pere et Fils Pierre Gauthier began working in the family winery in 1979, but he is preceded by 16 generations of family winemakers stretching back to the early 1600s. Today, he is joined by his son Rodolphe, and together the pair make wine from their 49-acre estate in the village of Benais just east of Bopurgueil. Their gravel soils sit upon a limestone plateau and give the wine its chalky characteristics and bold minerality. Their 2020 Clos Nouveau has enticing aromas of rose petals and crushed violet flowers, red raspberry, and black cherry. Balanced acidity and rounded tannins support flavors of red plum, raspberry, and dried cranberry.
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Bernard Baudry 2021 Chinon La Croix Boisée Chinon Touraine
Image Credit: Bernard Baudry Bernard Baudry inherited a few acres of vines from his family in the early 1980s, began making wine, and founded his eponymous estate a few years later. His son Matthieu joined him in 2000, and today the estate comprises just about 80 acres. This stunning Croix Boisée is made with Cabernet Franc grapes grown in the family’s best vineyards with soils composed of clay and limestone. It has enticing aromas of crushed rose petals, smoked charcuterie, black plum, and brown spices. Generous and full-bodied, with firm tannins and flavors of ripe red fruits, blackberry, and plum.
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Thierry Germain 2021 Saumur-Champigny La Marginale Saumur
Image Credit: Thierry Germain Thierry Germain left Bordeaux in the early 1990s and settled in the Loire Valley, where he immediately became enamored with biodynamic viticulture. Thierry chooses to harvest his fruit a bit early to maintain freshness and pronounced fruit flavors, and his winemaking choice is very evident in this delicious Cabernet Franc. It has aromas of freshly picked raspberry, red currant, and red plum with vibrant but balanced acidity and flavors of crushed violet petals, black raspberry, and cherry.
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Alphonse Mellot 2022 La Moussiere Sancerre Rouge
Image Credit: Alphonse Mellot Alphonse Mellot 2022 La Moussiere Sancerre Rouge
The Mellot family history shows them producing wine in Sancerre since 1513, and in 1698 Cesar Mellot was appointed wine advisor to King Louis 14th. His descendant Alphonse Mellot, a well-respected tavern owner, started distributing his family’s wine throughout France in 1881 and eventually began exporting it to other countries. Today, Alphonse 18th and his son Alphonse 19th run the family business. Made from 100 percent Pinot Noir, their La Moussiere has aromas of red raspberry, brown baking spices, and red raspberry with soft tannins and flavors of dried raspberry, Bing cherry, cinnamon, and a touch of candied orange peel in the finish.
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Clau de Nell 2022 Cabernet Franc Anjou
Image Credit: Clau de Nell Christian Jacques and his wife Anne Claude Leflaive first visited Clau de Nell in 2008 and eventually purchased the estate from the owners. Today, their three daughters work in the wine trade and maintain a foothold in the family estate. Theirs is one of the few estates to grow both Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon in the region, with a strong focus on biodynamics. Their Clau de Nell 2022 Cabernet Franc has aromas of ripe red plum, red raspberry, and black olive paste with flavors of red plum, roasted red peppers, and red currant sheathed in velvety tannins.
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Charles Joguet 2021 Clos De La Dioterie Chinon
Image Credit: Charles Joguet The Joguet family proudly traces their history in the Loire Valley back to 1830, but records show that their Clos de la Dioterie vineyard has an additional 200 years of history. Located in the small town of Sazilly, the vineyard is planted entirely with Cabernet Franc. Charles Joguet took over the family property upon his father’s death in 1957 and ran it for years with his mother, Madame Veuve Joguet-Malécault. Today, the property is run by Kevin Fontaine, who manages the vineyards and the cellars. Joguet’s Chinon Clos de la Dioterie has intense aromas of red raspberry jam, red currant, and a touch of forest floor. It is full-bodied in the mouth with silky tannins and flavors of black plum, red raspberry, and dried cherry.
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Guiberteau 2020 Saumur les Arboises Rouge
Image Credit: Guiberteau Romain Guiberteau was studying law when his family’s vineyard lease came up for renewal in 1996. Rather than rent the property to another winemaker as his family did in the past, Romain decided to take back his land and make wine. His first production run was a mere 5,000 bottles, which sold out quickly and gave him the courage to continue. He converted the vineyards to use organic techniques in 2000 and received AB Organic Certification in 2007. His Les Arboises Rouge is cherry red in the glass and has aromas of roasted red pepper, red cherry, and black raspberry that transfer seamlessly to the palate with additional flavors of raspberry tart, plum, and dried cranberry.
