April 6, 2024 - Birthday party (Chicago, IL): I mean, it's not fucked up, so it's got that going for it. But it's still Coulée de Serrant -- a fat, oily wine that doesn't carry acidity at all, though the botrytis and almost sweetness helps there. Still it's pretty obvious that I am not the target market for this wine.
December 17, 2023 - I couldn’t help feeling a bit anxious as I prepared to uncork this magnum bottle. Knowing its extreme fragility over the years added to the anticipation. Yet, the provenance of this bottle is unmatched—a direct purchase from the cellar, surviving the journey home intact. After a few weeks of careful resting, the moment arrived. Thankfully, the delicate cork came out intact. The wine, instantly expressive with its light golden hue, presented an olfactory profile reminiscent of desert Chenin Blanc. However, the palate revealed a remarkable, almost bone-dry character, boasting incredible acidity.
As the evening unfolded, this wine underwent a surprising evolution. Hour by hour, it transformed into what felt like six different wines. The once-light golden color deepened into a rich, dark gold. Aromas of butterscotch, apple, and melon wafted from the glass. On the palate, the wine remained remarkable, exhibiting intense acidity and hints of oxidation while retaining a powerful and youthful vigor. It transcended the realm of mere wine; it became a true work of art. Words fall short in capturing the essence of this experience—an unforgettable journey from meeting Nicolas a few weeks ago to savoring this bottle now leaves me utterly speechless.
August 30, 2023 - Having held on to this for 30 years, and its label gone astray years ago, we were pleasantly surprised to find this was the 1989 vintage. It has a light amber colour and restrained on the nose, some fruity notes when first opened, now faintly organic. Which makes for a pleasant surprise in the mouth - plenty of fruit with some acidity giving it length. We drank it with monkfish gratin with a cream sauce and it matched it perfectly.
November 1, 2021 - lovende aprikosbasert nese – i munnen var dette sherry og ox. Døde fort i munnen og ute av gamet dessverre.
October 30, 2021 - Denne var kjørt.
November 9, 2018 - Corked.
October 30, 2018 - Nicolas Joly Coulee de Serrant 1962 - 1995: Corky
June 24, 2017 - Jim & Joe's Burgundy Lunch (1243 Bourgogne Society - Beaune): Baked apple and ripe melon are nicely maturing, but ever-so-fresh for an almost 30yo wine. I adore how the richness and acidity support and enhance each other. Lots of energy, very good length. Don't tell anybody that my favorite wine at a Burgundy lunch is from the Loire Valley. I even think this has upside from here.
May 18, 2017 - Beguiling, complex and so pure with beeswax texture and lots of mineral flavors. There is delicious mellowed yellow fruit and very little of the funk I often get in this bottling. The finish is spectacular with a very fine spice-driven complexity that is rare for a Chenin. A beautifully elegant and perfectly aged white wine.
April 21, 2017 - Rather dark, some complexity, orange peel, bitter finish.