Alphonse Mellot 2001 Sancerre Domaine La Moussiere ($19). Racy acidity shines through the layers of citrus, mineral, grass and green apple flavors. Gains intensity and depth through the finish. Very good value. Ready to drink now and over the next two or three years. (Winery Spotlight 08/03)

Alphonse Mellot 2000 Sancerre Domaine La Moussiere Cuvee Edmond Vielles Vignes ($40). Concentrated, spicy, herbal aromas introduce focused lime and gooseberry fruit. Slight mineral and herbal note emerges on the full finish. Ready to drink now and over the next four or five years. (Winery Spotlight 08/03)

Bouchie-Chatellier 2006 Pouilly-Fume La Renardiere ($22). Very nice, with pretty citrus and mineral playing off crisp, clean nectarine. Finishing with a subtle zing of acidity. Quite versatile. Delicious! Ready to drink now and over the next couple of years. Locate this wine online or in your area. (2009-07-30)

Clos la Perriere 2000 Sancerre ($15) – This Loire Sauvignon Blanc was surprising in that it tasted so much like a California Chardonnay. It was creamy and somewhat oaky with a hint of cinnamon. It seemed to be missing the usual citrus, melon, or grassy flavors one expects from a Sauvignon Blanc. It was an okay wine, but a strange Sauvignon Blanc. (Weekend Wine, 08/01)

Didier Dagueneau 2003 Pouilly-Fumé Silex ($85). This is the granddaddy of Pouilly-Fumé, with a pricetag to match. But it’s worth trying at least once! With complex mineral and smoke notes accenting elegant apricot and white peach. Dry, crisp finish. Ready to drink now and over the next three or four years. (Wine Tasting 08/06)

Domaine des Aubuisieres 2008 Vouvray Cuvee de Silex ($17). Another excellent value, seemingly dry and definitely crisp, with juicy apple, nectarine and touches of mineral and floral notes that linger on the long finish. At this point, I was so enamored of the Forme d’Ambert that I didn’t explore further cheese matches! Ready to drink now and over the next 3-4 years. Locate this wine online or in your area. (2010-01-26)

Domaine du Salvard 2007 Cheverny ($16). Rather intense for a Cheverny, with loads of mouthwatering lemon character accented with herbal, dill and capsicum notes, and a broad, lingering finish. Ready to drink now. Locate this wine online or in your area. (2009-07-30)

Domaine de Vaugondy 2006 Vouvray Ph. Perdiaux Demi-Sec ($13). Slightly less lush than I might have expected from a demi-sec, but still appealing for its layers of mineral-tinged peach, wildflower honey and apple peel. A delicious match for salty Roquefort. Ready to drink now and over the next 4-5 years. Locate this wine online or in your area. (2010-01-26)

Foreau 2003 Vouvray Domaine du Clos Naudin Demi-Sec ($33). Loved, loved, loved. Lush but not heavy, tropical-fruit-sweet, but certainly not cloying. Musk, honey, mineral and even a little smoke accent an array of ripe, silky fruit. Long, complex, mouthwatering finish. Heaven with a blue cheese & almond-stuffed Medjool date. Lovely now and over the next 6-7 years. Locate this wine online or in your area. (2010-01-26)

Hubert Brochard

J.-C. Pichot 2008 Vouvray Domaine le Peu de la Moriette ($15). Just a spectacular value here, offering bright, tangy, honeyed orange marmalade character with a definite mineral edge. The touch of sweetness upfront disappears in the dry, crisp finish. Really good with an aged chevre. Even better with raw milk Forme d’Ambert blue cheese. Ready to drink now and over the next 3-4 years. Locate this wine online or in your area. (2010-01-26)

J.M. Monmousseau

2007 Vouvray ($14). Easy-going and refreshing, with juicy pear, soft green apple and citrus that stay light and quaffable through the fresh finish. Ready to drink now. Locate this wine online or in your area. (2009-07-30)

NV Brut France Étoile ($8). 100% Chenin Blanc, this happy little bubbly from the Loire offers surprising complexity, with apricot and orange rind flavors with nice structure. Finishes with pretty almond tones. Ready to drink now. (Weekend Wine 04/05)

Marc Bredif

2006 Vouvray ($22). Really delicious, with chestnut honey notes balanced by juicy quince and citrus, with a long, rich, complex finish. Ready to drink now and over the next couple of years. Locate this wine online or in your area. (2009-07-30)

2000 Vouvray ($14). Crisp and refreshing, with good acidity and definite floral notes underlying the sweet apple and honeyed pear fruit. Lovely finish. Ready to drink now. This wine really seemed to emphasize the sweet flavor of grouper fillets and worked surprisingly well with the salty feta and herb seasonings. An interesting match, but probably not for everyone. (Weekend Wine, 02/02)

Pascal Jolivet

2004 Sancerre ($23). Always like this wine, this vintage offers ripe citrus and gooseberry, mineral and lemongrass notes. Dry, mineral-driven finish. Ready to drink now. (Wine Tasting 08/06)

2004 Sancerre Les Caillottes ($30). Elegant and ripe, with pretty pear fruit layered with citrus zest, flint and a touch of cream on the generous, complex finish. Ready to drink now. (Wine Tasting 08/06)

1999 Pouilly Fume ($18) is a delightful and delicious wine. Nicely integrated fruit is accented with grass and chalky notes — this could only be a Pouilly Fume. Sauvignon Blanc just doesn’t taste like this from anywhere else in the world! Ready to drink now. (Weekend Wine, 09/01)

1999 Sancerre ($19) displays textbook Sancerre flavors — racy and tart, with a definite grassy note. The light to medium bodied sort of diminishes the overall effect of the flavors, but it is still quite tasty and enjoyable. Ready to drink now. (Weekend Wine, 09/01)

Pierre Cherrier & Fils 2007 Sancerre Domaine de la Rossignole Cuvee Vieilles Vignes ($20). Fresh, aromatic, tart lime and green pear character is backed up with stony mineral notes, with a long, clean finish. Made a tasty pairing with grilled oysters topped with diced tomatoes and creme fraiche. Ready to drink now and over the next couple of years. Locate this wine online in your area. (2009-07-30)

Remy Pannier

2007 Vouvray Loire Valley ($14). Smooth and fragrant, with white peach, pear, fig and almond notes that linger delicately on the soft finish. Ready to drink now. Locate this wine online or in your area. (2008-12-28)

2005 Sauvignon Blanc Loire Valley ($11). Fresh and pretty, with sweet pea and hay accents to the crisp pear and citrus fruit. Picks up just a touch of mineral on the moderate finish. Not overly complex, but still tasty. Ready to drink now. (Drinks with Les Dames 04/07)

Sauvion & Fils 2007 Muscadet de Sevre et Maine ($13). Crisp and refreshing, with light lime zest notes accenting green pear and white peach fruit. Fresh finish. Ready to drink now. Locate this wine online or in your area. (2009-07-30)

Serge Dagueneau 2004 Pouilly-Fumé Les Pentes ($20). One of the best Fumé in recent memory, and at an affordable price, with pretty peach, apricot, mineral and smoke notes that build through the creamy vanilla finish. Ready to drink now. (Wine Tasting 08/06)