JR had this as better than the top cuvee; a bold call that I'd now interpret as reflecting a headline judgement about the value of obvious acidity, ie her preference for a dry, table-wine style. I think that was a mass-wine-tasting-induced misjudgement. Today this tastes v much of its Grenache Blanc (ie a minor/inferior grape variety) and of a dry white wine. It's a broad, dry, crisp, clean, unoaked table wine. Compare that with how Janasse can sometimes express the class of a grape like Roussanne, the concentration of old-vines / a top cuvee, and the luxury of top-quality, well-integrated, new oak. I'd bet a lot that if solely this and the Prestige were tasted together today (ie a yr later, which is a factor too), the Prestige would win for most people by a country mile. I bet it would win for JR now, too. 85 now. I'd expect it to gain a little with air. Right now, this is awful value. I've been down on '09 S Rhone reds (in contrast to how wonderfully the vintage has delivered in naturally cooler French regions); this wine isn't encouraging me about the whites!
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– tasted a single glass non-blind over 5 minutes – – 50% Grenache Blanc, 25% Roussanne, 25% Clairette – NOSE: light and perfumy. TASTE: a bit fruity with good minerality; hint of apricot comes through on the short finish; not much concentration of fruit.
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10/6/2011 - campingfleurie wrote: 85 Points
JR had this as better than the top cuvee; a bold call that I'd now interpret as reflecting a headline judgement about the value of obvious acidity, ie her preference for a dry, table-wine style. I think that was a mass-wine-tasting-induced misjudgement. Today this tastes v much of its Grenache Blanc (ie a minor/inferior grape variety) and of a dry white wine. It's a broad, dry, crisp, clean, unoaked table wine. Compare that with how Janasse can sometimes express the class of a grape like Roussanne, the concentration of old-vines / a top cuvee, and the luxury of top-quality, well-integrated, new oak. I'd bet a lot that if solely this and the Prestige were tasted together today (ie a yr later, which is a factor too), the Prestige would win for most people by a country mile. I bet it would win for JR now, too. 85 now. I'd expect it to gain a little with air. Right now, this is awful value. I've been down on '09 S Rhone reds (in contrast to how wonderfully the vintage has delivered in naturally cooler French regions); this wine isn't encouraging me about the whites!
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11/18/2010 - Yagil wrote: 88 Points
pleasant herbal mineral aroma, salty mineral on palate, rich, tasty;€27
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10/27/2010 - grafstrb wrote:
– tasted a single glass non-blind over 5 minutes –
– 50% Grenache Blanc, 25% Roussanne, 25% Clairette –
NOSE: light and perfumy.
TASTE: a bit fruity with good minerality; hint of apricot comes through on the short finish; not much concentration of fruit.
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