2007 Didier Dagueneau Silex |
| Vintage | 2007 |  | |
| Type | White | ||
| Producer | Didier Dagueneau | ||
| Variety | Sauvignon Blanc | ||
| Designation | Silex | ||
| Vineyard | n/a | ||
| Country | France | ||
| Region | Loire Valley | ||
| SubRegion | Upper Loire | ||
| Appellation | Pouilly-Fumé | ||
| Options | Show neither variety nor appellation | ||
| UPC Code(s) | 4000145291161, 7070334397346 |
| Drinking Windows and Values |
| Drinking window: Drink between 2011 and 2019 (based on 35 user opinions) | |
| Wine Market Journal quarterly auction price: See Dagueneau Pouilly Fume Silex on the Wine Market Journal. |
| Community Tasting History |
Community Tasting Notes (average and median of 93 pts. in 160 notes) | |
| Tasted by Krokfjord on 4/8/2024 & rated 92 points: Servert blindt; bordet landet på «Loire, ca 2008», noe som må sies å være anstendig. Utrolig elegant i munnen, flytende glass, hvit frukt med hint av urter, nesle og gule toner. Ørlitegrann oksidativ. Nydelig. Såvidt jeg kan se siste fulle årgangen til Didier før han døde. (210 views) | |
| Tasted by jhngo on 4/2/2024 & rated 87 points: It’s very advance oxidized. Some acids left but freshness is gone. (253 views) | |
| Tasted by Ludono on 1/5/2024 & rated 95 points: I believe this was the perfect time to drink it. Had it over 4 hours. Really opened after a while, would not guessed that this was SB (337 views) | |
| Tasted by michaelschmitt8 on 7/30/2023: Over the hill. (1031 views) | |
| Tasted by crumblemore on 6/30/2023 & rated 95 points: What an eye-opening journey. Perhaps it was my first time having an aged Sauvignon Blanc in excellent condition. This was simply mind-blowing. After my last sip I was simply reminded of every time I had this varietal, what I thought, how it tasted, what I liked, what it could’ve been, and really gave me a new appreciation for this noble grape. What a captivating drinking experience. Complex, long, and beautiful. Evolving in the glass, the wine has captivating salinity, zest, flowers, and hints of parmesan. On the palate, excellent balance of tropical fruit, minerality, flint, truffles, and forest floor. Beautiful savoury notes. Velvety mouthfeel, complexity, excellent precision, and finesse. Although this is the first time having a Didier Dagueneau wine, it may also be the last. Simply glad that I was able to experience it. Perhaps, not the best wine I’ve ever had but one of the most memorable. Raising my glass to a true maestro RIP. (887 views) | |
| Tasted by jhngo on 1/22/2023 & rated 88 points: It’s okay. Starting to ox and acids are very soft and muted (1432 views) | |
| Tasted by Perfect Palate on 10/29/2022 & rated 92 points: delicious complexity but wished it had more acid (1495 views) | |
| Tasted by jhngo on 7/17/2022 & rated 85 points: Very closed and tight. Not sure if flawed bottle. Will let it sit overnight. Day 2 a little more giving but still shut down. (1604 views) | |
| Tasted by Peech on 9/2/2021: overripe, a little bitter, still got some acidity, short finish. (1290 views) | |
| Tasted by gteran76 on 4/2/2021 & rated 94 points: Brought to our monthly CWG-D by My L. Bright yellow color, pretty nose. Medium plus body, lots of fruits, citrus, and minerals going on. Hard to guess a Sauvignon Blanc in a blind tasting. But I did! (2394 views) | |
| Tasted by steinersing on 5/9/2020 & rated 93 points: very clean and focused - lovely minerality. light and expressive still. (3117 views) | |
| Tasted by Collector1855 on 5/9/2020 & rated 96 points: During a Zoom blind tasting. Truly amazing nose with lemon rind, quince, chalky elements. Lots of fruit, exciting freshness on the palate, complex finish. A benchmark SauvBlanc. 96+ (3600 views) | |
| Tasted by gb0913 on 11/27/2019 & rated 94 points: Delightful! (3188 views) | |
| Tasted by Jeffrey Brennan on 11/8/2019 & rated 92 points: Bright almost luminescent green/gold colour. Green vegetable and grass on the nose but with that unmistakable flinty stone of a Pouilly Fumé. Just a little musty to suggest that maybe last year would have been better. Restrained fruit with a dry, bottom of the river bed stony finish and a taut crisp acid back bone to clean up after a decent length. This is why Dagueneau is worth the price. 92 (3042 views) | |
| Tasted by dcwino on 11/1/2019 & rated 91 points: A lost Friday afternoon gathering – Mostly blind, some double blind (Blacksalt, Washington DC): It is easy to guess as this is clearly darker, reflecting the age. Medium expressive nose displaying mature ripe yellow fruit, passion fruit, kiwi, lemon curd, cat pee, jalapeno, burnt sugar, spice spices and earth. Excellent concentration, very ripe yellow fruit, rich oily, dense and deeply toned, good acidity, medium mineral and a medium long ripe yellow fruit driven finish with burnt sugar and jalapeno at the end. Although it remains interesting and enjoyable, it would have been better a few years back, YMMV. (3091 views) | |
| Tasted by Argrath on 10/11/2019 & rated 90 points: Full, very mature nose of dried apple and apricots. Complex spiciness. Modelling clay and hints of nettles. Not the greatest of depths. Medium body. Mature palate with dried apples and a minerally hint. Some herbal spices. No SB-character. Too advanced. Fullish and harmonious and high acidity, but this was better 2-4 yrs ago. Drink up. (975 views) | |
| Tasted by jcomm on 4/6/2019 & rated 94 points: Superb! (2603 views) | |
| Tasted by skifree on 12/28/2018: This felt a little over the hill, or slightly oxidized, so no score. Pleasant with some richness, but lacked the crispness, precision, and stoniness that I think of as the hallmark of these wines. (2808 views) | |
| Tasted by rocknroller on 7/26/2018 & rated 94 points: IPNC Weekend 2018; 7/26/2018-8/2/2018 (Linfield College, McMinnville, OR): Light gold color. Simply stunning tonight and a brilliant pairing to our oyster course. This has such focus and precision, it has balance to the nth degree. I love the earth, dank nose with crushed crustacean minerality, lime, citrus and wet stones. This adds a honeyed note on the nose that is quite captivating. This has such nice acidity, very pretty and it just resonates. SB doesn't get much better. (4024 views) | |
| Tasted by Raage on 7/9/2018 & rated 94 points: Cd5 Sublime nez vibrant et ciselé, pas démonstratif comme le 98, mais tellement énergétique, difusant ses arômes comme seul ce domaine sait l’offrir. Nez d’agrumes et de chèvrefeuille, élancée comme un parfum feminin frais et végétal, il s’ébroue dans le verre pour glisser en bouche avec grâce tactile et subtile longueur. Je m’attendais à un vin plus riche, plus puissant, nous avins eu affaire à un modèle d'équilibre, à?un vin extraordinairement délicat et profond avec sa finale minérale si subtilement acidulée; magique! (3348 views) | |
| Tasted by diggydan on 6/16/2018 & rated 97 points: Beautiful nose - yellow fruits, smokiness, and cut grass. Ripe, big, dense and powerful. Long as the day with tart green and yellow apple flavors, great minerality, and a steely, salty finish. Awesome wine. $197 at CDC. (3293 views) | |
| Tasted by Cipivts on 12/30/2017 & rated 95 points: Deep gold, mineral, smokey, flint, wet stones, hints of green with a lot of citrus fruit, herbal notes, some richness on the palate, great balance, very long finish, a great wine! (3516 views) | |
| Tasted by wineappellation on 10/15/2017 & rated 96 points: Medium to Deep lemon green color. Complex, open aroma of white flower, herbaceous, citrus fruits, stone fruits, very flinty, toast, hint if underlying oak, dairy, sweet spices. Rich and round on palate, sheer concentration and focus with lemon, apricot, salty minerality, oak, some nuttiness ad honey, all supported by the sharp acidity. This is as good as it gets. Think it is at the best moment. (4070 views) | |
| Tasted by originalverkorkt on 9/21/2017 & rated 95 points: 2007 Silex. Didier Dagueneau's last vintage. Bottle in perfect condition. On the first evening there is a lot of lemon and lime going on. Lemon grass, curry leaf, stone, smoke and burnt rubber subtly in the background. Austere and precise. On the palate there is again this basket of yellow and green citrus fruits, again burnt rubber and caramel. Very juicy with lots of pressure on the palate. On the second evening there is still this perfect precision. The caramel has disappeared, but the Silex has become creamy. Everything fits together, the Silex is salty and limy and has so much. This is what i call minerality. One of the best, maybe the best Sauvignon blanc i have had so far. (3897 views) | |
| Tasted by NoTrollingerPlease on 9/14/2017 & rated 92 points: An evening with wine geeks (Private location, Trier): What a pleasure to taste this wine twice within a year. Quite differently than the Magnum on Christmas. Pale, golden yellow color. Clean, medium+ intense with some funky and musty notes (not flawed). Dry, great tension, smoke, some oak that gives it structure, complex and in the end some SB notes and flint. Young, potential of at least 5+ years. 92 (3924 views) | |
| Tasted by Christine Havens on 6/22/2017 & rated 94 points: The best Pouilly-Fumé I've ever tasted—the 2007 Silex was indeed a special bottle, the last vintage Dagueneau crafted before a crash in an ultralight plane cut his life and career short. Full and nuanced without being weighty, ever changing and evolving in the glass. Lemon curd, apple blossom, dried honey, and dried apricots. In the mouth the profile is reminiscent of a still Champagne, with toast and and lees co-mingling with candied pink grapefruit, dried thyme and a flourish of smoky minerality on the finish. 12.5% ABV (4406 views) | |
| Tasted by tcarter on 5/20/2017 & rated 90 points: I might be missing something here. Sweeter and simpler than I would have liked. I didn't love this, but Ana really did. Maybe my palette was thrown by the reds I had first. (4005 views) | |
| Tasted by dhammer53 on 3/16/2017 & rated 93 points: This is why you go to wine dinners. Drank this in Albany with Ken. Wow! Smooth, elegant, graceful. This was the last vintage before he died. It's still young. Drink now and enjoy, or hold. (3525 views) | |
| Tasted by m_arcon on 12/29/2016 & rated 92 points: From Mag. At first citrus notes all over the place. After some time in the decanter you get cold smoke, mixed herbs, yellow stone fruit and just a hint of fresh green grass. The acidity is very high but nowhere too sharp. Salty, medium body, tension, good finish. Can easily age for another 10 years if you consider the format. But not as good as the 2004 I've had some time ago. (4041 views) | |
| Tasted by NoTrollingerPlease on 12/29/2016 & rated 92 points: Post Christmas Tasting (@Private location): My first Silex and what an experience! If somebody asked me before, which grape varieties I would detect blind, Sauvignon Blanc would probably among the very view varietals I can think of. But this wine is a complete different story! Clear, medium- lemon/gold color. Clean, medium intense at first quite youthful nose driven by citrus fruit. With a lot of air it developed very beautiful, complex notes of smoke, flint stone and very, very little aromas of green pepper. Dry, high- acidity, medium alcohol and body. Very elegant, nothing loud or screaming, driven by the terroir (flint stone), very little fruit, hard to detect as a Sauvignon Blanc. Very interesting wine, quite youthful wine. My only problem with it is it’s lack of length. Compared to the great nose and interesting palate the finish was not that great, long and complex. This wine (especially from a Magnum) is really young and has just started to become an adult. It has certainly 5-10 years of further development ahead and may gain some more complexity on the finish. Unfortunately, I will never know, because this was my only bottle… (4280 views) | |
| Tasted by Zweder on 10/17/2016 & rated 93 points: Weekly tasting group RWP: Really Special Wines (@ DJ): Expressive bouquet with minerals and nutty flavors. On the palate green herbal/grass impressions, citrus, salty minerals, hazelnuts. Beautiful and complex wine with a long finish. (4159 views) | |
| Tasted by DugyDog on 5/1/2016 & rated 92 points: Drinking very well. Medium golden color, flinty and saline on the nose, beautiful rich honey, brinyness reminiscent a bit of Chablis (4472 views) | |
| Tasted by MC2 Wines on 4/16/2016: Zachys Fine & Rare Wines - Apr 2016 & an evening w/friends (Smith & Wollensky (48th & 3rd Ave)): Similar to the last time we had this it's very green green grass. Sauvignon blanc in the most forward of the style. In a perfect spot right now. Drinking really well. (5015 views) | |
| Tasted by PC73 on 2/12/2016: Slightly corked. Rather honeyed. Lacking minerality and citrus flavours (3984 views) | |
| Tasted by Rani on 1/23/2016 & rated 94 points: Super flinty nose. Huge concentration. Both honeyed and salty. Wonderful wine that should be paired with pork or veal. Ready now. (4042 views) | |
| Tasted by manonthemoon on 1/9/2016 & rated 92 points: Small taste at a gathering. Nose had jalapenos, tropical and citrus fruits on the nose. Palate was more of the same with lemon-lime and saline and some green pepper skin as well. Still a decent amount of minerals, but not as much as anticipated. Very well made wine and one of the last DD had a hand in. (3850 views) | |
| Tasted by isaacjamesbaker on 1/9/2016 & rated 91 points: Bright, zesty, lemon-lime-driven, with lots of chalk and saline notes. Dead ringer for sliced jalapenos as well. Smoky minerals and crushed rocks on the finish. Very good stuff - but I wonder about how much longer I'd cellar some if I had any. (2644 views) | |
| Tasted by ekirby on 12/11/2015 & rated 90 points: Had My last bottle of DD's 2007 Silex at a wonderful dinner out with friends who had never even heard of him. Made the mistake of saving it for a "Special Occasion". Was over the hill by probably 3 years. Oxidization was evident. Hope you haven't keep yours beyond 5 years, (2797 views) | |
| Tasted by bacchusnyon on 11/20/2015 & rated 90 points: This starts to live up to its reputation - opened 1.5 hours before drinking, and not too chilled. Little of the herbacious and grassy/lemon notes that one often gets, but a rather chiseled and crystalline pure citrus note, with a slightly round mouth feel. But it did not knock my socks of! (2467 views) | |
| Tasted by aagrawal on 9/17/2015 & rated 92 points: Didier Dagueneau Tasting (Arlequin wine bar): Golden richer color; very intense nose with great complexity, flint, minerality, grassy, very well integrated; palate is medium bodied, wonderfully integrated, green apple, richness, balanced medium acid; medium-long finish. Very nice. 92 (3380 views) | |
| Tasted by karl.1480 on 5/7/2015 & rated 95 points: The wine has a clear, medium intensity yellow color. Fully developed on the nose with a medium+ aroma intensity. Aromas of dried stone fruit, resin, slightly botrytis(?), yellow raisins, over ripe red apples, some nutty/oxi notes and mushrooms. With aeration aromas of fresh peach, spice box and fennel seeds came through. Really impressive and intriguing nose. It's dry on the palate with a high acidity and medium body. The flavor intensity is medium+. It shows flavors of bruised apples, yellow raisins, apricot, wet stones and fennel. The mouthfeel is slightly waxy. The finish is long and acidic with flavors of apple core and stone fruits. I like how the acidity kinda grows on the palate and leaving a very refreshing and light feeling. Doubtless a wine of outstanding quality which is ready to drink now and for another 1-2 years. It lacks all of my classic Sauvignon attributes and even when the bottle was revealed I had a hard time finding any herbal, black currant or grassy notes. This is how to treat this grape right in my opinion. (3802 views) | |
| Tasted by grapist on 4/4/2015 & rated 93 points: Lacks the crispness and minerality of the '02 and '05, but otherwise great. (3878 views) | |
| Tasted by LW31 on 2/26/2015 & rated 92 points: Tense. Alive. Pure rocks. Others not fans of its austerity but I'm smitten. Needs more time still. (3962 views) | |
| Tasted by Winekrupt on 10/13/2014 & rated 90 points: Boxwood, Cat pee- yes, but also some nice tropical notes. Mouth watering acidity on the palate, tight and mineral- though more accessible than some of the younger vintages I have had- with some mouth weight and roundness. A little toasted cereal sneaking up, with more to develop hopefully. (5164 views) | |
| Tasted by MC2 Wines on 9/20/2014: Charleston III - the Weekend; 9/18/2014-9/20/2014 (Charleston SC - various locations incl. Red Drum, Halls, Circa 1886, and Kings Courtyard Inn): Comes across as very green. Like eating sour grass stalks. I kindof get lemongrass, but what I'd imagine if you chewed it and it had the consistency of normal grass. A bit bitter. Not really my wine although I think others were more impressed. (5521 views) | |
| Tasted by Tim Heaton on 9/18/2014: Chicago: wine, food, friends...cigars!; 9/17/2014-9/20/2014 (Blackbird, Les Nomades, Naha, with lunch at Shaw's Crab House): Herbs, hay, a whiff of anise seed, wet rocks, loam; the palate is medium-bodied, chewy at times, with a narrow (temperature) band of enjoyment for my palate. Distinctly rocky, and minerally on the nose, the aromas seem in a somewhat bitter contrast to the viscous fruit. In retrospect, we should have decanted this an hour. Give it another year or so in hopes that further integration is possible. Served side by side with the '09 Silex, I think the latter was my favorite my a fair margin (if only because the '09 is fully integrated and ready to roll, now). Slow-O 30 minutes, served non-blind. (5792 views) | |
| Tasted by grapist on 8/28/2014 & rated 92 points: The '07 does not have the crispness, minerality and complexity of better vintages. Still very good, but very overpriced. (3847 views) | |
| Tasted by LFCHALA on 8/20/2014 & rated 97 points: Confraria - Agosto - 2014 - Segunda (Saint Vin Saint): Sensational. Spectacular. Mineral. Salty. Spectacular acidity. (4241 views) | |
| Tasted by Paul S on 7/23/2014 & rated 94 points: Whites and Fish @ Tonny's (Tonny Restaurant, Geylang Lor 3, Singapore): A wonderful wine. I was rather underwhelmed by a good but not great bottle that I had a few years back, but served blind again, this just about smashed all the other wines tonight, including a white Hermitage and two Chablis Grand Crus, that preceded it. The nose was pure Sauvignon Blanc, and yet clearly not of the new world, kiwi variety. There was a little shade of cat's pee and a little rubbery bounce in there somewhere, but this was all about summery fruit – green mangoes, lychees, passionfruit – all lovely sunny aromas, with the littlest rivulet of earthier mineral scents just starting to emerge at the edges of the bouquet. The palate had superb weight. The sticker read only 12.5%, but this felt like it had more depth and power and presence than even the 14% Rhone. Great depth of flavours too – from citrusy notes of green mangoes and green apples to more exotic lychees and a hint of passionfruit at the edges of the midpalate. Glorious balance all round, with rivers of perfectly integrated acidity and muscular mineral undertones running through into a super long finish, where chalky mineral and a little spice lingered with a lick citrusy freshness. Beautiful stuff. I was very taken by this wine. It was solid and impressive, and can probably last another 20 years with that amazing minerality and structure, but it was already so enjoyable on the night – complete, complex and absolutely compelling. 92-94-95 (2919 views) | |
| Tasted by mike l. on 6/30/2014 & rated 96 points: very special with lots evolving and jumping out of the glass as it opened up. simultaneously precious and daring. apricot was singing especially. will seek out more. (3421 views) | |
| Tasted by christophee on 6/29/2014 & rated 92 points: Lite gold with medium viscosity in the glass. Complex nose of herbs, flowers, matchstick, pit fruit, meringue, melon, spice, white tea, wet stone and grass. Medium body with an unbelievably rich, round and complex halo of fruit, flint and spice around an uncut, almost flabby core. Somewhat diluted edges. Opening helped with the edges, but I preferred it at cellar temps. Medium finish. Entirely pleasing, though I need more focus and precision at this price. (2891 views) | |
| Tasted by tooch on 6/19/2014 & rated 92 points: Dinner at Jason's (Jason's House): This bottle far exceeded the other bottle I had. Lots of powerful citrus tones, flinty notes, some tropical fruits but very low acidity. Normally, low acidity would turn me off, but I couldn't get enough of this... (3623 views) | |
| Tasted by M.Batard on 6/18/2014 & rated 91 points: This was lovely, and we couldn't stop until the bottle was gone. But really, not in the higher echelons of complexity & taste. (2793 views) | |
| Tasted by AV2012 on 5/9/2014 & rated 95 points: Sauvignon Blanc tasting (Riga): Light golden colour. Intense, interesting, clean nose of lime, citrus, lemongrass, very sweet but with perfect balance and poise, not sugary in any way, just superbly pleasant. Like a spring breeze from a flower meadow after a long winter. Hard candy, flowers, watermelon bubble gum. Exquisite. (A) (3468 views) | |
| Tasted by PC73 on 4/25/2014 & rated 92 points: Smoky. Citrus. Grapefruit on the palate. Complex. Hint of dryness on the mid palate. Chalky? Really great drinking. (2853 views) | |
| Tasted by BBencz on 2/16/2014 & rated 93 points: Medium straw color. One hour slow ox in the fridge. Nose is reserved at first, with notes of preserved lemons, stone and light hints of oak. Palate started out like a typical SB, but evolved as the wine's temperature increased and with more air in the glass. Lots of steely minerality, balanced with sweet grapefruit and maybe a bit of lychee fruit. Wine is in nice balance, but probably on the back end of its useful life. Very enjoyable. Don't wait on this one much longer. (3588 views) | |
| Tasted by PC73 on 1/9/2014 & rated 91 points: Golden. Tropical nose. Lovely balance on palate. Tropical fruits. Grapefruit. Gooseberry. Minerally. Smoky. Long finish. Still seems very young. (3635 views) | |
| Tasted by Thirsty1 on 11/13/2013: enjoyed at bistro db moderen in miami. pnp, this wine is simply wow. i haven't had better sauv. blanc. it's showing no signs of age. citrus zest and incredibly minerality like a cross between chablis and white burgundy. timeless and beautiful, i can't believe this is 6 almost 7 years old, it tastes fresh and brand new. (4111 views) | |
| Tasted by strickt01 on 10/1/2013 & rated 93 points: Slightly muted on the nose but then it oozes class in every other department. It may have lost the citric intensity of its younger days but this has been replaced by a minerality that gives it a graceful elegance. Whilst the classic sauvignon blanc flavours are there they give way on the long finish to layers of hazelnuts and, well, minerals that one might normally associate with a quality white burgundy or top riesling. It may lack the burst of florality that make the 2005 so phenomenal but it is still a wonderful Silex. It is showing no signs of deterioration, quite the opposite, so my remaining bottles will remain where they are for a couple of years at least. (4223 views) | |
| Tasted by grapist on 8/12/2013 & rated 95 points: Followed a fabulous Baron L and I think this was the better. The Silex had an edginess that carried more complexity while still maintaining balanced nuances of citrus and tropical fruit. Surely the best pair of SB's I've had in one evening. (5237 views) | |
| Tasted by f22nickell on 7/19/2013 & rated 91 points: Seattle Wine Group - July 2013 Wine Tasting Event - Theme: Old World Whites ABCR (Freelon's house - Kent/Covington Area): Color: Bright straw, light and clear Aroma: grapefruit, herbs, minerals, a bit of peach Palate: Citrus lemon and flint. Medium acidity, medium complexity. Good balance. Moderate length Bottle "E" - 2nd place for me, seven entries. (5680 views) | |
| Tasted by skifree on 7/19/2013 & rated 92 points: Tasted as part of Seattle CT offline ABCR blind tasting that I hosted (so not blind for me). Very intense sauv blanc, flowers on the nose, creamy, complex, citrus, stone. Long finish. (4643 views) | |
| Tasted by SmoothPalate on 7/6/2013 & rated 88 points: Subtle, reserved nose. Does not give anything away easily. Hints of grapefruit, pear, white fowers, mineral. Green apples on the palate, tart acidity. Elegant. Maybe served a little too warm. (3689 views) | |
| Tasted by Ilker Ozdemir on 7/6/2013 & rated 93 points: Parlak,temiz saman sarısı renkli bu şarabın, kapalı olan ön burnunda is, mineral çakıl taşı notaları ile birlikte limon, yeşil erik ,yeşil elma benzeri meyve aromaları var. Arkada otsu dokunuşlarla, kompleksite katan ve yıllanmadan geldiğini düşünebileceğimiz silik oksidasyon notaları algılanıyor. Damaktaki izlenimi, orta gövdeli, yumuşak , hafifçe yağlımsı , konsantre ,diri asitli ,tazeleyici ve tamamen sek olması ile birlikte,genel dengesi ile, zarif olarak tanımlanabilir. Burunla uyumlu olarak limon, yeşil elma, yeşil erik ve mineral tatları bırakıyor. Ortanın üstü uzunluktaki canlı bitimi, gevrek diye tanımlayabileceğimiz bir bitimin güzel örneği iken,tüm bunlar, bir stile de işaret ediyor.Şu an ve önümüzdeki 8-10 sene içinde rahatlıkla içilebilir. (3111 views) | |
| Tasted by ŞarapTutkunları on 7/6/2013 & rated 93 points: Parlak,temiz saman sarısı renkli bu şarabın, kapalı olan ön burnunda is, mineral çakıl taşı notaları ile birlikte limon, yeşil erik ,yeşil elma benzeri meyve aromaları var. Arkada otsu dokunuşlarla, kompleksite katan ve yıllanmadan geldiğini düşünebileceğimiz silik oksidasyon notaları algılanıyor. Damaktaki izlenimi, orta gövdeli, yumuşak , hafifçe yağlımsı , konsantre ,diri asitli ,tazeleyici ve tamamen sek olması ile birlikte,genel dengesi ile, zarif olarak tanımlanabilir. Burunla uyumlu olarak limon, yeşil elma, yeşil erik ve mineral tatları bırakıyor. Ortanın üstü uzunluktaki canlı bitimi, gevrek diye tanımlayabileceğimiz bir bitimin güzel örneği iken,tüm bunlar, bir stile de işaret ediyor.Şu an ve önümüzdeki 8-10 sene içinde rahatlıkla içilebilir. (1787 views) | |
| Tasted by grapist on 6/21/2013 & rated 94 points: My first choice of any SB of the 07 vintage...and most others. (3871 views) | |
| Tasted by lator on 6/9/2013 & rated 93 points: No formal notes. 93-94 points. (3558 views) | |
| Tasted by SimonG on 4/29/2013 & rated 92 points: Keith P @ Trompette (La Trompette, London): Bright and obviously Sauvignon nose. Classy. Quite creamy. One of Keith's new-discovery Cape numbers or maybe a Cotat? The latter I think. Relatively young. Oops, no, Tom goes for Dageneau and it's confirmed. Quite flinty and focused, light on its feet and with great line. With air it becomes more expressively Sauvignon on the nose. **** (4277 views) | |
| Tasted by grapist on 4/2/2013 & rated 93 points: Popped and poured at Joe's. ( I keep forgetting that I want to decant a Silex and see if it opens more.) IMO, Silex is the best Sauvignon Blanc on earth for it's vintage. I don't think this comes close to the '05, but nothing much comes close to this. Crisp, mineral, fllnty. Great with King Crab Legs. (3846 views) | |
| Tasted by grapist on 3/1/2013 & rated 95 points: Simply about as good Sauvignon Blanc gets. Crisp, flinty, with subtle citrus and tropical fruit. (4033 views) | |
| Tasted by markellen.foodies@gmail.com on 2/9/2013 & rated 91 points: The wine looks Yellow gold colored. The legs are Medium. It smells like and Grapefruit. It tastes like Diesel, Grapefruit, and Stoniness. The body is Medium/Full. The wine has Round texture. The wine finishes Long. @ Michael's Genuine w Spring, Erica, Christine & John. Christin'es wine. Had just purchased from their new distributor, not as good as my 07's, Either needed to settle, or their storage or provenance is off! (4181 views) | |
| Tasted by mattsix on 12/27/2012: Limes, grapfruit,tropical. Big acidity but balanced. Very sav blanc. Long finish, very interesting wine. (4522 views) | |
| Tasted by tooch on 12/3/2012 & rated 90 points: Dinner at Marc's (Marc's House - Bellingham, WA): Big wine and hardly recognizable as Sauvignon Blanc. What this does do well is showcase abundant tropical fruit, nice texture (so weird to say for a sauvignon blanc!) and great acidity. So while this steps outside the realm of Loire Sauvignon Blanc, it still tastes pretty darn good. (5672 views) | |
| Tasted by WST on 12/2/2012 & rated 93 points: No subtlety here; almost a caricature of sauvignon blanc fruit: dense grapefruit jumps from the glass followed by lime, some tropical notes of pineapple. Nice minerality, low alcohol. (4796 views) | |
| Tasted by Fur in the glass on 9/22/2012: Much racier than the 2003 we drank last month. Feels like one of those bottles that will stick in your memory for a long while. Had great depth, fruit and finish. (4885 views) | |
| Tasted by Sleepy Dave on 7/6/2012 & rated 91 points: 2012 - Gary's wine bash! (Jade Palace Seafood Restaurant, The Forum Shopping Mall, Orchard Road): Alcohol :: 12.5% Light gold with green tint. This got to be the best Sauvignon Blanc for the region or a most funky one? The aromas is a bit shy. Discreet, focus with hint of pineapple and underlying sweetness of pear, melon then added better complexity with fresh grass, a bit of nut and floral. Medium - full bodied, good creaminess and nuttiness over soft mineral, concentrated of lemon fruits. This does taste like a Raveneau except the hint of grassiness. It is so intense, with razor sharp precision and focus. Long, lingering finished. Really tasty and delicious. (6953 views) | |
| Tasted by marckuipers on 6/22/2012 & rated 93 points: Top, mooie afgestemde volle wijn. Gedronken met Ad (5416 views) | |
| Tasted by andrewdodd86 on 6/15/2012 & rated 93 points: Very very good, best Sauv Blanc I've ever had, but not worth the price (1989 views) | |
| Tasted by drwine2001 on 5/31/2012: Dagueneau (2005-2008) (Arlequin Wine Merchant, San Francisco): Light yellow. Wow, this wine is all about the precise focus of its tart lemon fruit and a dusting of crushed rock. Incredible intensity, length and purity without overbearing Sauvignon varietal character. A great wine and leagues ahead of anything else tonight. (5625 views) | |
| Tasted by cardsandwine on 4/12/2012: Rich & stoney palate with great complexity and a long finish. (5476 views) | |
| Tasted by grapist on 4/1/2012 & rated 93 points: Not my favorite vintage, but surely my fave Sauv. Blanc. So crisp, clean and focused. (5534 views) | |
| Tasted by Headless on 2/29/2012 & rated 92 points: No notes taken but I have to say, although this was really really good. I was expecting a bit more from the comments I read here, my other bottle is going to sleep a few more years. (5938 views) | |
| Tasted by scotty_b on 2/18/2012 & rated 95 points: Simply the best sauv blanc I've ever had. Balanced with amazing citrus, smokey nut and minerality. Drank beautifully on its own before dinner. Opened up after about 15 mintues of air. Drink now. (5771 views) | |
| Tasted by Fausto_Coppi on 1/20/2012 & rated 90 points: Brilliant wine with crisp green flavours, perfect balance and lengthy finish. (6021 views) | |
| Tasted by WST on 1/14/2012 & rated 94 points: Controversial wine, and I'm one who loves it. Dense grapefruit, lime, green apple, with intense mineral tones. These drink very well young; not sure how they'll age. (6594 views) | |
| Tasted by WST on 11/26/2011 & rated 96 points: Still a baby, started to develop a bit more complexity. Outstanding wine with uncanny structure and texture, weight and depth, without excessive alcohol or ripeness. Grapefruit, lime and green apple. Bracing acidity maintains the balance. Massive mineral concentration. I wish I could stop drinking these and let them reach their potential, but my self control breaks down a few times a year. Still my WWOTY. (7317 views) | |
| Tasted by Kirk Grant on 11/12/2011 & rated 92 points: A wonderful and complex wine...but just not at the same level as the Pur Sang I had less than a month ago...everyone loved this...but to me this is Didier's second label...and on par with his normal Pouilly-Fumé (7213 views) | |
| Tasted by jseal@hotmail.com on 9/23/2011 & rated 93 points: blind tasted against 16 others in my cellar with friends, this showed strongly. deep straw and bright, it smelled lightly of herb and peach. light, clean, classic SB, a full citrus with clear current of lemon and flint. good length, medium acidity and medium complexity. good balance. (7416 views) | |
| Tasted by reichken on 8/20/2011 & rated 88 points: The Hawksmoor Lunch- clean light yellow, easy wine. not as complex as i had hoped for (7495 views) | |
| Tasted by grapist on 8/10/2011 & rated 92 points: Not as much character and complexity as previous bottles, but this is still about as good as Sauvignon Blanc gets. Enjoyed at Joe's with Crab Cakes. (7530 views) | |
| Tasted by M.Batard on 8/6/2011 & rated 93 points: Perhaps setting it up to fail, squeezing this in between a fruity NZ sauv blanc and a ten year old Barolo. But it was all class, a chiseled work of art against the sauteed ocean perch. Strict and austere, it had mineral, grassy, and citrus notes. Extremely balanced fruit and acidity. Long finish. Held some in reserve for the cheese course, and preferred it as companion over the (good) Barolo. (7308 views) | |
| Tasted by vespa110 on 8/1/2011 & rated 90 points: Giallo paglierino carico con riflessi oro, naso floreale, camomilla , poi molto varitale senza sconfinare nella lettiera del gatto :lol: , foglia di pomodoro e peperone verde, ritorni di ananas con curry, bocca molta materia, copre bene tutto il palato , molto persistente con una piacevole freschezza, finale ritorna il verde da peperone. (7563 views) | |
| Tasted by Gian on 7/30/2011 & rated 90 points: light yellow gold color, mineral, citrus , tropical fruit , silky on the palate and with a very long finish. (7193 views) | |
| Tasted by WST on 6/27/2011 & rated 98 points: Consistent with my previous note. If there were Loire classifications, this would be Grand Cru. Light yellow-gold color. Almost contradictory virtues of lithe grace and dense concentration. The most striking quality is its minerality, both on the nose and palate. Aromatically ripe without high alcohol, the dense grapefruit, lime, and mowed grass are foiled by crisp acidity. Complex and harmonious, perfectly balanced. My WOTY. (8173 views) | |
| Tasted by Biskuit on 6/25/2011 & rated 94 points: Loved this wine, great balance of fruit, mineral, grassy notes, vibrant and rich. (7470 views) | |
| Tasted by Paul S on 3/26/2011 & rated 92 points: Loire Odyssey, Part I - the Non-Chenin Whites (Imperial Treasure Super Peking Duck, Paragon): A very good wine, but nowehere near as good as it should be given its price tag and reputation. This had always been one of my very favourite bottlings to come out of the Loire, but on the day, served blind, it was neither more or less outstanding than the best couple of other (much cheaper) Loire whites on show. Granted, it was still very young and will need plenty more time to show, but it was nowehere near the heights of previous bottles of Silex from the vintages that immediately preceded this (i.e. 2004, 2005 or 2006). Sure, this had a lovely nose, with touches of grass, passionfruit, green guava and a bit of chalky earth. Still tight, but very pleasant in an unshowy way. The palate still had a long way to go though. There was great balance - this much was obvious, with really well-integrated acidity forming a backdrop for rather simple, primary flavours of sweet lemons flecked with green grass and gooseberry notes on the attack. There was nice depth, along with a very classy, silky feel on the midpalate moving into a long juicy finish was more citrus fruit notes - lemons and tangerines I thought - alongside some flassic flint and nutty accents. All very tight and monolithic at this stage though. It did open up slowly in the glass, but this is a wine clearly deserves a few more years before broaching again. Right now clearly good, but not quite great. It lacked something in terms of both the breadth of expression and the precision of focus that I usually look for in a Silex. I liked the wine, but must confessed that I felt a twinge of disappointment when it was unveiled. Time might still transform this bottle into something else - but at the moment, not quite worth the entry fee. (8982 views) | |
| Tasted by Javachip on 3/19/2011 & rated 96 points: Saturday night in the O.C. (Chez GlennK): Possibly the best dry white still wine I have tasted. Bright, fresh notes of gooseberry, white grapefruit, and lemon, with crisp flinty minerality. Somebody, take this bottle away from me before I empty it. Reminds me of the 2009 Merry Edwards Sauvignon Blanc, or a top quality Sancerre, or even a Muscadet. This is what California fume blancs wish they could be, but aren't ... although Merry Edwards comes close. But ... $100 for a sauvignon blanc? I dunno... This tied for first place as wine of the night. (8801 views) | |
| Tasted by Puteljen! on 1/29/2011 & rated 94 points: @restaurant 28+ Incredibly powerful and concentrated for a sauvignon blanc. Almost burgundian as the bouquet punches out of the glass. Tons of citrus, stonefruit, some herbs, yeast and nuts. On the palate more fruit, a plentitude of stony minerals and light smoke. Almost waxy in the mouth. Best sauvignon blanc I've had. If you've never had any of Didier's wines, take the first opportunity you get to taste some. (1742 views) | |
| Tasted by DonalOB on 1/28/2011 & rated 94 points: A great Pouilly Fume, if somewhat unusual with the oak treatment. However, that is not evident - no Fume Blanc here! Coated the tongue in creamy mineral flavours - fabulous. (5518 views) | |
| Tasted by JohnFalstaff on 1/28/2011 & rated 91 points: Nose: mineral, refreshing, vibrant. Flowery rather than fruity. Taste: complex and subtle. Aplles, lemon, grass, limestone. Long acid finish. Still the price tag and reputation are quite a bit beyond my personal experience. Could try again, just to check. If someone is good enough to foot the bill. (8316 views) | |
| Tasted by Share 67 on 10/9/2010 & rated 94 points: Delicious despite its youth... (9146 views) | |
| Tasted by markellen.foodies@gmail.com on 9/8/2010 & rated 94 points: Paired perfectly w grilled salmon. Citrus, with lingering anise notes. Superb. (8932 views) | |
| Tasted by Khamaj on 9/4/2010 & rated 91 points: My first experience with this wine ... not as precise as I'd expected. A bit fleshier. Tons of orange peel, melon, honeysuckle, pencil shavings on the nose. Nice. long, citrusy finish. Almost a little saline mouthfeel. (8168 views) | |
| Tasted by Zweder on 8/31/2010 & rated 91 points: Beautiful and pure bouquet. A little green, also some caramel and elegant. On the palate clean green apple, grapefruit and gooseberry. Very pleasant fresh acidity. Really special. (7107 views) | |
| Tasted by WST on 8/27/2010 & rated 98 points: Despite its youth, easily the best Sauvignon Blanc I've had, and one of the most profound white wines I've encountered. Light yellow-gold color announces its elegance but belies its weight. Almost contradictory virtues of lithe grace and dense concentration. The most striking quality is its minerality, notable on the nose and palate. Dense pear, grapefruit, lime, green apple are foiled by crisp acidity. This was the first time my wife and I raced through a bottle to prevent the other from getting an extra glass. Complex and harmonious, one of the most perfect wines I've ever drunk. (8380 views) | |
| Tasted by Rani on 8/20/2010 & rated 88 points: Zesty and mineral, with a nice midpalate of tropical fruit and a slight cat-pee aromas. A nice enough wine but definitely not worth the price. (7396 views) | |
| Tasted by Harneloot on 8/8/2010 & rated 88 points: Maybe this wine is beyond me, but I simply don't get what the fuss is about. Some citrus, some minerality, very austere and certainly not anywhere near worth the $100 price tag. Not sure its even much better than Oyster Bay. (7454 views) | |
| Tasted by Jossik on 7/26/2010 & rated 89 points: Sauvignon molto preciso, all'inizio l'ho preso per italico per note intense ma non fastidiose di salvia e buccia di pomodoro, poi si apre su toni più minerali e molto floreali (7011 views) | |
| Tasted by chrisa23 on 7/21/2010 & rated 91 points: Seemed much more like Blanc Fume de Pouilly or something with this last bottle. High acidity. (7237 views) | |
| Tasted by beezer6 on 7/20/2010 & rated 89 points: Taste at Elysian. Had been open for one day. Served a bit cool. Nice citric notes of lemons, limes and light petrol quality. Some alcohol showing on the palate on the back end. Not worth the price tag but some unique characteristics. A nice minerality upon second taste. (6773 views) | |
| Tasted by ctulsky on 7/5/2010: Like Didier said, "Wine is like a painting and music, it's great that my wine can be part of people's memorable moment." His last vintage 2007, this wine undoubtedly commemorated his attitudes towards wine. Light golden yellow with medium to high viscosity. Complex and seductive nose boasts a basket of citrus fruits including lemon, lime, grapefruit, tangerine and pomelo with stone fruits undertone such as apricot and nectarine wrapped together nicely in malic fruits like La France pear and green apple. It also includes honey dew melon and honey suckle with a hint of herbaceousness. Tamed scent of silex is present but not overpowering. On the palate, it demonstrates overwhelming concentration and thick mouth feel unlike any other Sauvignon, that is almost reminiscent of Mosel Auslese or Montrachet with emphasis on crisp, rigid acidity towards the end. All the juicy and tangy citrus fruits come together and leads to a washed stone like mineral, acidic and infinitely long finish that lasts for well over a minute. It was almost too powerful and chaotic at the beginning, then it settled down and brought out clean focus on aroma and palate. This wine will overpower almost any seafood due to sky rocking high concentration and it should be enjoyed by itself. Serve slightly chilled at 10C-12C (50F-54F). Certainly let it breathe for a while. I was blown away and overwhelmed by the potential of Sauvignon Blanc and the man's dedication to his grape, terroir, and meticulous viticulture and vinification. It definitely was an experience. I wish if I had more of this to see how this develops over the years. Cheers to the bottling, and cheers to its great vigneron. (7367 views) | |
| Tasted by jreis on 7/3/2010: Opened to celebrate my wife's birthday and did not disappoint - Rose petals, honeysuckle, grassy lemon peel and pure limestone on the nose. Still quite young but palate consistent with the nose, with elegant construction and really vibrant acidity. Only going to get better with age, but drinking fantastically well at the moment! (7209 views) | |
| Tasted by jkoenen on 6/20/2010 & rated 90 points: White Icons @ my place (Netherlands): Nice and pure on the nose, showing bright notes of gooseberry, cotton candy, lemon-peel-preserve. In the mouth this is still very young and nervous. Mineral-driven, creamy and mouth-watering. Pure like glacier water. Lovely now, but needs a few more years to become really impressive by gaining depth and complexity. 17.5/20 (3422 views) | |
| Tasted by Benj on 6/16/2010 & rated 91 points: The "Grand Cru" tasting with Bacchus Wine Society (Merton College, Oxford): With the 2007 we were in much more familiar territory than the bizarre 2006. Stony, citric, lots of grapefruit, a drumstick-like creaminess, very pure, very focused, very very good, but still nothing crazy. One of the best Sauvignon Blancs I've had, but I didn't fall in love. The price tag (what, £70-100) is absurd in my book. (7201 views) | |
| Tasted by Umay Ceviker on 6/12/2010 & rated 94 points: First experience ever of a Didier Dagueneau Sauvignon and it is ironic that this is the last wine he has made. Before a sniff or a sip this wine displays its qualities through the appearance. A shiny, greenish, pale yellow in colour it looks so viscous that it is highly possible to misjudge the variety at sight. Initially, the nose is elegant and compound and poses its charm after the first swirl. A complex array of green flavours; fruity and herbaceous covers the nose with aromas of fresh cut grass, rosemary and gooseberry along with artichokes and asparagus. Very well balanced on the palate, young and refreshing despite its weight, with a long, pleasant finish displaying a strong mineral edge. (6549 views) | |
| Tasted by abh on 6/8/2010: I found this rather muted. There is lots of clarity and minerality there, but it isn't fully expressing itself at the moment. Whether this is a lack of age or of air I'm not quite sure, but this wasn't quite what I was hoping for. (6403 views) | |
| Tasted by fm449789 on 5/3/2010 & rated 98 points: The wine looks Yellow colored. The legs are Medium. It smells like Grapefruit, Lime, and Pineapple. It tastes like Pineapple, and Papaya. The body is Full. The wine is textured Narrow. The wine finishes Long. (6631 views) | |
| Tasted by chrisa23 on 4/30/2010 & rated 93 points: beautiful thick complex wine with that dark silex spiciness. Long evolving finish. Needs a bit of air and warmth to really shine. I can see how this is a bit young after recently having a bottle of 2005. A pretty unique SB. One to keep on hand for special occasions, and it will last and grow... (6199 views) | |
| Tasted by KeithAkers on 4/26/2010 & rated 94 points: connoisseur wines spring european portfolio (Vivere, Chicago IL): nose: polished and deep nose filled with tones of minerals, crushed stones, white fruits, pears, and loads of white florals taste: light bodied with medium/high acidity and pure tones of minerals, crushed rocks, white fruits, pears and lots of peach blossoms overall: this was a really wonderful wine. Very pure and mineral driven with lots of depth on both the nose and palate (3539 views) | |
| Tasted by samwe on 4/3/2010 & rated 93 points: complete and complex nice acidity very drinkable now (6678 views) | |
| Tasted by cayout on 3/21/2010 & rated 93 points: wow quelle longueur (6897 views) | |
| Tasted by avp on 3/9/2010: Intense nose of grapefruit, gooseberry, stone dust and herbaceousness. Dry and medium bodied on the palate with slyly rising acidity bringing struscture to the sweetish ripe fruit: pear, gooseberry and citrus. Some nutty and yeasty notes and huge smoky minerality in the long finish. Intense interplay between the sweet ripe fruit and the refreshing qualities. I sure did like it now, but would like to see it again after some years in the bottle. (6391 views) | |
| Tasted by drwine2001 on 3/7/2010: Poured by a generous co-diner. Very light. All grapefruit. Light, clean, crisp citrus with powerful soil-filled finish. Great focus and drive. I haven't had this cuvee in years and this was a world apart from the more oily, weighty examples I remember from the '90s. (6144 views) | |
| Tasted by Jared on 1/25/2010 & rated 94 points: This was the shiznit. Easily the best sauvignon blanc I've ever had. Light yellow in color, the nose just bursts of limestone, chalk, citrus. Touch of sweet butter on the palate with freshly cut green grass, unripe pear, fuji apple, and a nice balance of acid to cut the sweet butter. Absolutely loved it! 94pts. (6607 views) | |
| Tasted by last chance on 1/20/2010 & rated 96 points: The nose of this wine had ripe citrus with notes of crushed limestone and salty minerals. The palate had beautiful candied lemon and grapefruit flavors while remaining crisp yet smooth at the same time. Really great balance, and one of the most satisfying white wines that I have ever had. The finish was long and the mineral notes lingered long after the citrus notes started to fade. (5297 views) | |
| Tasted by brooklynguy on 1/16/2010: much richer than the pur sang, the nose has a deeper and more intense oily citrus and smoke perfume. broader and deeper on the palate too, with great fragrant length. the acidity is here, but kind of buried beneath fruit right now. this is incredible wine, of great intensity and also great balance, and it seems to offer great aging potential. (5593 views) | |
| Tasted by davidselvia on 12/24/2009 & rated 92 points: How sauv blanc is meant to taste. No in-your-face tropical fruits, no overt grassyness. Excellent. Pty that DD is no longer around. (5189 views) | |
| Tasted by rjonwine@gmail.com on 8/29/2009 & rated 92 points: Sandy's Birthday Potluck Dinner (Chez Sandy, San Jose, California): Nice lime, cucumber, lemon grass, grapefruit nose; youthful, tart grapefruit, focused, mineral palate; medium-plus finish (4166 views) | |
| Tasted by Kirk Grant on 7/1/2009 & rated 92 points: Showing a pale canary yellow with scents of citrus, cats pee, minerals and a hint that reminds me of the breeze off the sea. In the mouth there is tart lemon, lime, minerals, and good acidity that cuts through the mid-palate and opens up a lingering flavor of fresh lemon zest along a medium length finish. Having only one bottle left I will not be revisiting this for at least two more years... (5424 views) | |
| Tasted by rjonwine@gmail.com on 5/28/2009 & rated 92 points: 2007 Didier Dagueneaus (& '06, late released, Clos du Calvaire) (Vin Vino Wines, Palo Alto, California): Light canary yellow color; refined ripe and tart grapefruit and citrus nose; tart grapefruit, citrus, lime palate with definition and medium-plus acidity; medium finish 92+ pts. (4149 views) |
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Didier DagueneauProducer WikipediaDidier Dagueneau has been called a nonconformist, independent, eccentric, and maverick. He is also dedicated to producing some of the greatest white wines of the Loire — and all of France for that matter. He is considered by many to be a master of the sauvignon blanc grape. He is on a crusade to redeem the reputation of authentic Pouilly-Fumé. Domaine Didier Dagueneau is located in Saint Andelain, a village in the Pouilly Fumé Appellation. He owns about 28 acres of land consisting of mainly clay and flint based soils (or ‘Silex’ in French). Dagueneau is a perfectionist and he attends to every detail — from vineyard management (biodynamic since 1993) to the cellar, which is said to look like a cathedral. He goes way beyond the regulations of the appellation — pruning severely, de-budding, de-leafing, thinning clusters, and keeping low yields — and each harvest is done manually over several tries (he has the labor receipts to prove it). Others have written more eloquently about Dagueneau. The following passage was translated from Vallee de la Loire – Grandeur Nature by James Turnball. A young rebel with convictions. Dagueneau owes his success to the strength of his convictions. A local winemaker’s son, he set out on his own in 1982. He began using oak barrels for his vinifications a couple years later and wines of great quality were not far behind. Certain traditionalists, however, said that his wines were not “real” Pouilly Fume. Dagueneau’s non-conformity has helped him more than hurt him: his long tousled hair, his bushy beard, his intense gaze, not to mention his passion for sled dogs have all earned him the nickname “the madman of Saint-Andelain” and made him very popular with the press. What does Dagueneau have that the other don’t? He is extremely meticulous and possesses a special intuition where winemaking is concerned. His goals are always authenticity and perfection. To obtain grapes of the highest quality, his vineyard workers spend at least three months carefully de-budding even after a severe pruning earlier in the year. And when the grapes are perfectly ripe, the harvest is done by hand, so that only grapes of impeccable condition are picked, the others are either thrown out or left on the vine to be picked later. His new winemaking facilities, specifically adapted to Dagueneau’s techniques, use gravity for moving liquids and allow him to apply his ideas without the slightest compromise. After fermentation, the wines are aged in a beautiful cellar containing big barrels and “cigares” (small, long oval barrels which he designed and are made especially for him). The cellar is kept quite cool to limit interaction between the wine and the oak, thus avoiding an overly oaky aroma in the wine. Dagueneau makes four different dry white wines, all Pouilly Fumés. His basic wine is the En Chailloux, a blend from several vineyards. Next step up is the Buisson Menard, more flinty in style, but still round, and more ageworthy. The remaining two wines are both superstars from single vineyards, and are barrel fermented. Both come from slate soils with one being called Silex, and the other known as Pur Sang. Pur Sang means “Thoroughbred” in English. The flavors tend to fall somewhere in between the En Chailloux (which accounts for half his production and is his softest, friendliest wine) and Cuvée Silex (his most structured cuvée). The Pur Sang is said to be a more hedonistic Sauvignon (often on par with the Silex), but less mineral driven. That being said the minerality comes through loud and clear on the nose as well as lemon, citrus, white flowers and some fresh hay. On the palate, very structured, rich and creamy with pronounced mineral components, chalky and loads of lemon zest with a hint of tangerine and nectarine. Great acidity with a very clean, pure and an extremely long finish. The acidity and strong mineral components make this a great pairing for mussels, raw clams or oysters as well as other seafood dishes. Also, seems as though this wine might benefit from 2-3 years of cellaring…. They say that in the United States, scores sell wine. In Europe, a good story sells wine. Dagueneau is a great story — and his wines are also scored well and often included in TWS Top 100 Wines in any given vintage. View releated post Didier Dagueneau Blanc Fumé de Pouilly, 2006. This wine may not be a great value (ok, it isn’t a good value) or very easy to find, but it is worth seeking out — and it might be a good time to do so given that 2006 was such a good year in Loire. Not to mention that his lore will only continue to increase and the dollar shows no signs of getting up off its knees. A stunning wine. Imported by Polaner Selections. Didier Dagueneau was tragically killed on September 17, 2008 when the ultralight plane he was piloting experienced problems during take off and crashed. He was only 52 years young. He had accomplished so much and his wines established a benchmark for sauvignon blanc, yet it seemed as though he was just getting started. He will be missed. 2007 Didier Dagueneau SilexThis is Dagueneau's Grand Cru if you will. Produced only from plots high on the slopes of Saint Andelain, and only from vineyards that possess high amounts of silex. Vines here range from 15-50 years of age and are cropped to lower yields than in some other vineyards. Before Didier's tragic death in September, he described this wine as perhaps his favorite of all vintages. For him, the incremental changes made in both the winery and vineyards over the years had come together with a vintage that could best express what he was trying to say. Aromatic ripeness without high alcohol. Massive mineral concentration that will yield over time and marry perfectly with the high-toned fruit components and barrel and bottle complexity that seem in perfect harmony. The most young and backward of the bunch (as usual), this wine has massive acidity that provides the perfect balance to the mineral profile that is so prevalent in the mouth. No shortage of fruit, but for the time being, this wine is all about structure and potential. Those familiar with older vintages of Silex will attest to the fact that if given the time in bottle, it will always rise above the rest.Sauvignon BlancVarietal CharacterFranceVins de France (Office National Interprofessionnel des Vins ) | Pages Vins, Directory of French Winegrowers | French Wine (Wikipedia)Wine Scholar Guild vintage ratings 2018 vintage: "marked by a wet spring, a superb summer and a good harvest" 2019 vintage reports 2021: "From a general standpoint, whether for white, rosé or red wines, 2021 is a year marked by quality in the Rhône Valley Vineyards. Structured, elegant, fresh and fruity will be the main keywords for this new vintage." 2022 harvest: idealwine.info | wine-searcher.com Loire ValleyVins du Val de Loire (Interprofession des Vins du Val de Loire)Jancis Robinson vintage reports Wine Spectator vintage reports Wine Scholar Guild vintage reports 2016 vintage: "Quality and concentration is good, with Chenin Blanc being particularly noteworthy in 2016 while Sancerre is thought to be the best of the Sauvignon Blanc appellations. Cabernet Franc is 'delicious, ripe and fruity' according to Loire courtier Chris Hardy." - Jancis Roninson 2017 vintage reports: Jancis Robinson Vinfolio "2018 wines will not be typical of the Loire rather they will have the characteristics of wines from much further south" - Philippe Gilbert 2019 vintage: Academie du Vin report "the warm 2019 vintage is characterised by a surprising freshness" - Jim Budd Vineyards on weinagen-info Pouilly-FuméSingle vinyards on weinlagfen-info |