Domaine Les Pins St. Nicolas de Bourgueil 2011 / 750 ml.

Following the path of the Loire River, the Loire Valley region runs from North Central France's Sancerre district near the town of Orleans, all the way to the Muscadet district on the shores of the Atlantic Ocean. With such a vast topography, the region's wine offerings are understandably diverse. Some of the signature grapes you'll find as you traverse this region include Chenin Blanc, Sauvignon Blanc, and Cabernet Franc.

The French did not invent winemaking. They simply perfected it. For centuries, France has been producing wines that inspire poetry, awe, and wonder; wines that blur the lines between nature, craftsmanship, cuisine and art. These are the wines that inspired cultures around the globe to follow in France’s footsteps, planting Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Syrah, Grenache, Merlot, Semillon and more.

Yet as often as they are emulated, the magic of their terroirs can never be duplicated. You may taste Cabernet from around the world, but perhaps none as elegant and regal as Bordeaux. You may try Pinot Noir or Chardonnay from various climates, but none with the earth-bound soul and ethereal reach of Burgundy.