For greatness and value in France, we go directly to Domaine de la Pépière on the western edge of the Loire. Pepiere's wines offer immediate satisfaction, age at a glacial pace, and rival the sophistication found in Sancerre and Chablis at half the price.

Clos des Briords is located on the hillsides of the river Maine, a tributary of the Loire. The site totals 4.40 hectares and the vines were planted between 1950 and 1989, with the vast majority of the vines between 50 and 70 years old. Only a small part of the oldest vines produce the Clos des Briords bottling.