A mythical winemaker in Loire and Clos de la Neore, from the heart of Les Monts Damnes vineyard is probably the finest Sancerre out there. Made from 50+ year old vines, aged in small enameled vats, bottled unfiltered. Shy aroma at first but with time and warmth builds up to complex and subtle notes of lemon, honey, pineapple, flint, stone, jasmine, lime, chalk. Medium+ body, divine crystalline and ethereal mineral concentrated vibrant structure, salty shellfish hints, pleasantly bitter, braced with high acidity.
My first Vatan. I was not sure what to expect but it was interesting to say the least. Surprisingly chiselled when cold but the moment it warms up, it becomes massive on the palate. Strangely, I felt that the palate profile was similar to Pinot Blanc. Definitely not an archetypal Sauv Blanc, really alcoholic on the finish too. That said the finish is incredibly long which saves this wine. Not sure I’d pay the current premium though.
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Consumed from a magnum acquired at auction. Dense and monolithic upon first sip, as denoted by other notes.
But this wine gained tremendous complexity and aromatics over the course of the next several hours.
I had the pleasure of revisiting this magnum of Vatan Sancerre and it completely transformed on the second day. A kaleidoscope of citrus, white flowers and precise minerality, which went on in a finish that seemed to last forever.
This truly belongs as one of the great white wines of the world, and has a long life ahead of it. Highly recommended and worth the price of admission. Drink 2024-2050.
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Dense, monolithic. Hard to read for the first 30-40 minutes. But around 1 hr it was beginning to unfurl. Waves of rich dry fruit and extract. Nothing about this screamed Sancerre. Lacking thé excitement and energy that I usually find in these wines. Where will it go in 5 years?
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Quite monolithic. One of the tasters, who is very familiar with Vatan (has been to the estate and tasted really old vintages there), said it was oxidized a bit. Didn't really taste that. What a complex, savory and deliciously long wine.
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Nose is quite light, but with lots of minerals, citrus, and saline notes. Great acidity with tart peach, lemon, rocks, and chalk on the palate. Good finish. Great wine, but wouldn't buy at today's prices...
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Light golden yellow. Chalk, vanilla, orange peel, mint and tarragon on the nose. Rich warm juicy tropical fruits in the mouth without too much sweetness. Has a dense visors feel. The finish is bizarrely long. Really exceptional wine. Enjoyed at a dinner with lots of really good wines (Dauvissat, Raveneau, Cathiard, Dujac, Roumier and Rousseau) and this one held its own. Made from a single hectare in Chavignol by Anne Vatan, Edmund's daughter. Apparently she is married to Nadi Foucault from Clos Rougeard.
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Not sure if this bottle was entirely sound -- just seemed a little more apple-juicy and advanced than expected. It's a heady, ripe, and thick wine, with some significant alcoholic burn on the back end. But end of the day, I think this showed slight oxidation issues.
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I TRE TENORI (WESTIN MILANO): Chavignol impone il silenzio aromatico a uno dei vitigni più loquaci del panorama vitivinicolo mondiale. L' afasia aromatica lascia il posto a una bocca che sa di sassi bagnati, terra, aria e acqua, ma mai di frutti. Anne Vatan perpetua il miracolo laico di produrre un vino che non odora di nulla se non dei sassi da cui nasce. Vino di non facile lettura, immortale e ieratico. Astenersi ricercatori di profumi inebrianti.
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Vatan Vertical (TDS): The youngest of the 9-vintage vertical, and it showed. This was all youthful exuberance and no poise. Big nose of ripe fresh-cut apple and mineral. The palate is tasty, rich and almost bordering on sweet given it's primary ripeness. Stuffed with acidity too, it's just not in harmony with the dense, youthful fruit. Lots of upside, I suspect.
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Vatan-a-thon at TDS (Chicago, IL): Eh. This was tasty enough, but did nothing for me - bright citrus fruit tinged with herbs and chalky minerality, but it's lacking a gear in terms of both depth and intensity relative to most of the others. Perhaps its too young, perhaps my palate was just tired by this point in the night, but I didn't enjoy it all that much beyond finding a few sips quite nice.
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Vatan (2002 rouge, 2004-12) (Chicago, IL): It's almost fitting that the best wine of the night (2010) was followed by the worst (2011), which was then followed by this, which was was so ordinary and foursquare. It ticks all the tickboxes, crosses the t's and dots the i's, but I'm not sure there's too much to be excited about here. Yes, it tastes like Vatan, and it's definitely typical for the producer, but this just doesn't quite have the pizzazz that I found in all the better bottles tonight.
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Grumpy and unfriendly tonight. Over the course of a couple hours, had moments where there was a dense mix of pretty floral and tropical layers, but for the most part monotone. Would be curious to try again after a good bit of age.
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Took some time to open up, but even after an hour or two of air, this was still somewhat monolithic. Had drips of tropical tones and not much else. Will let my other bottles slumber...for a while.
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Friday Afternoon at Domaine (Domaine Wine Storage): Young and monolithic at this stage. Even with 60-90 minutes of decanting, this was showing non-delineated and heady. Big, round and lush in the mouth make for a powerful presence. Needs time to flesh out and develop some nuance.
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Very young as expected, but very linear with the acidity and saline finish. Clearly sancerre but doesn't have the classic sauv. Blanc nose. Beautiful stuff and would love to see it with age.
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The nose was incredible, as it seemed to constantly change in the glass, displaying notes of tarragon, cut grass, orange peel, yellow flowers, almond skins, and wet stone. On the palate, it showed textural heft with an oily feel, which was quickly washed away by green apple-tinged acidity, notes of lemon rind, herbs and moist minerals. Lasting on the finish and focused in the middle of the palate with a mix of herbal-tart citrus. This is a mind-bending style for Sancerre.
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Holiday Party (Domaine Wine Storage - Chicago, IL): Big, juicy and powerful. This is Sauvignon Blanc on steroids. Grassy, and herbal with pronounced lemon and lime tones throughout. Alcohol peaks through a bit, but I've found that to be the case with very young Vatan wines. Time should even that out. Nice racy acidity keeps this balanced. This will need some time.
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Domaine End of Year Party (Chicago, IL): Clearly identifiable as sauvignon blanc from the cat pee note, this is sauvignon blanc like I've never had before. The nose has tons of tropical fruit -- guava, pineapple, passionfruit -- which carry over the the palate, but at the same time, this is bone dry and insanely acidic (keep your Rolaids handy!). Incredible concentration that just beats you over the head over and over again. Wow. Despite being 14% abv, this shows absolutely no heat at all.
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Pretty exceptional wine. This began rather taut, and nothing like any Sauvignon Blanc I've ever had, none of the herbal lift I was expecting, more like liquid rocks but with a smooth texture. With air, the tautness experienced some release, the wine broadened and took on very interesting nuances of white meringue, and salted creme fraiche. Long finish with plenty of acidity. This was really unique. With Neil at Racines in Tribeca.
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1/18/2024 - Ernestas Likes this wine: 95 Points
A mythical winemaker in Loire and Clos de la Neore, from the heart of Les Monts Damnes vineyard is probably the finest Sancerre out there. Made from 50+ year old vines, aged in small enameled vats, bottled unfiltered. Shy aroma at first but with time and warmth builds up to complex and subtle notes of lemon, honey, pineapple, flint, stone, jasmine, lime, chalk. Medium+ body, divine crystalline and ethereal mineral concentrated vibrant structure, salty shellfish hints, pleasantly bitter, braced with high acidity.
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11/17/2023 - chngpw wrote: 91 Points
My first Vatan. I was not sure what to expect but it was interesting to say the least. Surprisingly chiselled when cold but the moment it warms up, it becomes massive on the palate. Strangely, I felt that the palate profile was similar to Pinot Blanc. Definitely not an archetypal Sauv Blanc, really alcoholic on the finish too. That said the finish is incredibly long which saves this wine. Not sure I’d pay the current premium though.
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10/2/2022 - BordeauxBuff Likes this wine: 97 Points
Consumed from a magnum acquired at auction.
Dense and monolithic upon first sip, as denoted by other notes.
But this wine gained tremendous complexity and aromatics over the course of the next several hours.
I had the pleasure of revisiting this magnum of Vatan Sancerre and it completely transformed on the second day. A kaleidoscope of citrus, white flowers and precise minerality, which went on in a finish that seemed to last forever.
This truly belongs as one of the great white wines of the world, and has a long life ahead of it. Highly recommended and worth the price of admission. Drink 2024-2050.
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10/21/2021 - LW31 Likes this wine:
Dense, monolithic. Hard to read for the first 30-40 minutes. But around 1 hr it was beginning to unfurl. Waves of rich dry fruit and extract. Nothing about this screamed Sancerre. Lacking thé excitement and energy that I usually find in these wines. Where will it go in 5 years?
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8/17/2020 - Nojomoschwa Likes this wine: 93 Points
Quite monolithic. One of the tasters, who is very familiar with Vatan (has been to the estate and tasted really old vintages there), said it was oxidized a bit. Didn't really taste that. What a complex, savory and deliciously long wine.
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6/27/2020 - glou.sf Likes this wine: 93 Points
Nose is quite light, but with lots of minerals, citrus, and saline notes. Great acidity with tart peach, lemon, rocks, and chalk on the palate. Good finish. Great wine, but wouldn't buy at today's prices...
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1/27/2020 - short and confused wrote: 95 Points
Light golden yellow. Chalk, vanilla, orange peel, mint and tarragon on the nose. Rich warm juicy tropical fruits in the mouth without too much sweetness. Has a dense visors feel. The finish is bizarrely long. Really exceptional wine. Enjoyed at a dinner with lots of really good wines (Dauvissat, Raveneau, Cathiard, Dujac, Roumier and Rousseau) and this one held its own. Made from a single hectare in Chavignol by Anne Vatan, Edmund's daughter. Apparently she is married to Nadi Foucault from Clos Rougeard.
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6/2/2019 - acyso wrote: flawed
Not sure if this bottle was entirely sound -- just seemed a little more apple-juicy and advanced than expected. It's a heady, ripe, and thick wine, with some significant alcoholic burn on the back end. But end of the day, I think this showed slight oxidation issues.
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1/28/2019 - galenico wrote:
I TRE TENORI (WESTIN MILANO): Chavignol impone il silenzio aromatico a uno dei vitigni più loquaci del panorama vitivinicolo mondiale. L' afasia aromatica lascia il posto a una bocca che sa di sassi bagnati, terra, aria e acqua, ma mai di frutti.
Anne Vatan perpetua il miracolo laico di produrre un vino che non odora di nulla se non dei sassi da cui nasce.
Vino di non facile lettura, immortale e ieratico. Astenersi ricercatori di profumi inebrianti.
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1/21/2018 - Nanda wrote: 90 Points
Vatan Vertical (TDS): The youngest of the 9-vintage vertical, and it showed. This was all youthful exuberance and no poise. Big nose of ripe fresh-cut apple and mineral. The palate is tasty, rich and almost bordering on sweet given it's primary ripeness. Stuffed with acidity too, it's just not in harmony with the dense, youthful fruit. Lots of upside, I suspect.
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1/21/2018 - salil wrote:
Vatan-a-thon at TDS (Chicago, IL): Eh. This was tasty enough, but did nothing for me - bright citrus fruit tinged with herbs and chalky minerality, but it's lacking a gear in terms of both depth and intensity relative to most of the others. Perhaps its too young, perhaps my palate was just tired by this point in the night, but I didn't enjoy it all that much beyond finding a few sips quite nice.
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1/21/2018 - acyso wrote: 90 Points
Vatan (2002 rouge, 2004-12) (Chicago, IL): It's almost fitting that the best wine of the night (2010) was followed by the worst (2011), which was then followed by this, which was was so ordinary and foursquare. It ticks all the tickboxes, crosses the t's and dots the i's, but I'm not sure there's too much to be excited about here. Yes, it tastes like Vatan, and it's definitely typical for the producer, but this just doesn't quite have the pizzazz that I found in all the better bottles tonight.
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10/22/2017 - Andyofoto wrote:
This wine is one of the great whites of the world. I you open this decant for 2-3 hours. World Class.
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12/22/2016 - esh44 wrote:
Grumpy and unfriendly tonight. Over the course of a couple hours, had moments where there was a dense mix of pretty floral and tropical layers, but for the most part monotone. Would be curious to try again after a good bit of age.
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9/24/2016 - tooch wrote:
Took some time to open up, but even after an hour or two of air, this was still somewhat monolithic. Had drips of tropical tones and not much else. Will let my other bottles slumber...for a while.
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9/23/2016 - Nanda wrote:
Friday Afternoon at Domaine (Domaine Wine Storage): Young and monolithic at this stage. Even with 60-90 minutes of decanting, this was showing non-delineated and heady. Big, round and lush in the mouth make for a powerful presence. Needs time to flesh out and develop some nuance.
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9/23/2016 - Burgundy Al wrote:
Friday Afternoon at Domaine Storage (Domaine Storage - Chicago IL): Tasting, brief note. Great nose, then closed palate with great concentration that hints at this wine's excellent 92-93 point potential, even if not lots of pleasure on the taste buds right now.
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9/2/2015 - JOsgood wrote:
This was just awesome. Huge and dry. Lots of complexity. Should age wonderfully.
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9/1/2015 - the godfather wrote:
An absolute beast full of complexity, massive finish
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7/25/2015 - AYHuang wrote: 92 Points
Very young as expected, but very linear with the acidity and saline finish. Clearly sancerre but doesn't have the classic sauv. Blanc nose. Beautiful stuff and would love to see it with age.
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7/17/2015 - Eric Guido Likes this wine: 93 Points
The nose was incredible, as it seemed to constantly change in the glass, displaying notes of tarragon, cut grass, orange peel, yellow flowers, almond skins, and wet stone. On the palate, it showed textural heft with an oily feel, which was quickly washed away by green apple-tinged acidity, notes of lemon rind, herbs and moist minerals. Lasting on the finish and focused in the middle of the palate with a mix of herbal-tart citrus. This is a mind-bending style for Sancerre.
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3/26/2015 - tcarter Likes this wine: 93 Points
Fantastic bottle of 100% sauvignon blanc sancerre. Total unicorn wine. Tough to find. Drinking well young but could use some age.
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12/12/2014 - tooch wrote: 92 Points
Holiday Party (Domaine Wine Storage - Chicago, IL): Big, juicy and powerful. This is Sauvignon Blanc on steroids. Grassy, and herbal with pronounced lemon and lime tones throughout. Alcohol peaks through a bit, but I've found that to be the case with very young Vatan wines. Time should even that out. Nice racy acidity keeps this balanced. This will need some time.
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12/11/2014 - acyso wrote: 93 Points
Domaine End of Year Party (Chicago, IL): Clearly identifiable as sauvignon blanc from the cat pee note, this is sauvignon blanc like I've never had before. The nose has tons of tropical fruit -- guava, pineapple, passionfruit -- which carry over the the palate, but at the same time, this is bone dry and insanely acidic (keep your Rolaids handy!). Incredible concentration that just beats you over the head over and over again. Wow. Despite being 14% abv, this shows absolutely no heat at all.
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9/4/2014 - Pknut wrote:
Pretty exceptional wine. This began rather taut, and nothing like any Sauvignon Blanc I've ever had, none of the herbal lift I was expecting, more like liquid rocks but with a smooth texture. With air, the tautness experienced some release, the wine broadened and took on very interesting nuances of white meringue, and salted creme fraiche. Long finish with plenty of acidity. This was really unique. With Neil at Racines in Tribeca.
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11/6/2013 - Harley1199 Does not like this wine:
Cata Dagueneau con Luis Gutierrez (Cuenllas - Madrid): Out of place.
Nothing more than a NZ SB-like, asparagus juice.
Fuera de lugar.
Nada más que un SB de NZ, jugo de espárragos.
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