Loire Valley (wine) a variety of limestone with excellent drainage that is known as tuffeau which is the same material used to build many of the famous Loire Valley Châteaux. The area around Chinon, Bourgueil and Saint-Nicolas-de-Bourgueil produces the majority of the Loire Valley's red wine based on the Cabernet franc grape—known in this areas as "Breton". The wines of the Chinon area are the softest and rich expression of the grape while the Bourgueil area produces more tannic and firm wines. The St-Nicolas-de-Bourgueil area produces the lightest colored wines. In the 19th century, the wines of the Chinon area were compared favorably
French frigate Loire (1796) and was forced to strike after she ran out of ammunition. Out of the 664 men, including three artillery regiments and their "Etat-Major", carried on board "Loire", 48 were killed and 75 wounded. She was also found to be carrying a large store of clothing, weapons, ammunition and tools for her troops' intended operations. "Anson" had two men killed and 13 wounded, while the "Kangaroo" appears to have suffered no casualties. HMS "Loire" was commissioned by Captain Frederick Lewis Maitland at Portsmouth in October 1802. On 27 June 1803 "Loire"s boats captured the French navy brig "Venteux" while she was