Retail $50? 100% Savagnin. This is one of those bottles. One of the bottles that I "inherited" when a dear friend passed away two and a half years ago. He was, at various times, my boss, my wine mentor, an "uncle" to my children, a friend, a brother. He died unexpectedly, leaving behind a wife, two daughters, and a full cellar. His widow urged me to pull a few bottles since she no longer cared for wine, and this is one that I felt he would want me to have. He loved wines from the Jura, particularly from Rolet, a man he knew well, or as well as anyone "knows" a winemaker. I met M. Rolet only once, in New York as chance would have it, a few years before both of their deaths, and once I mentioned my friend's name, Monsieur Rolet's face lit up. And we became instant friends. Our interaction was brief, but I promised M. Rolet that my friend and I would visit him in Arbois, pull a few corks, and have a grand feast. Alas, M. Rolet had died within six months of our meeting and my friend was not too far behind. I now have a half-dozen or so wines from the Domaine, but obviously I would trade them all back, 1,000,000 times over to have that feast that we discussed. Not for the meal, the wine, or even the comraderie, but for the chance to tell my dear friend goodbye and to thank him for the profound impact that he has had on my life. Even though my eyes are moist, clouded with memories and sadness, I feel the need, even obligation to add a few notes about the wine. Vin Jaune is not for everyone. In fact, it is not for practically anyone as it is oxidized, nutty (intense walnut), practically devoid of fruit (at least in the traditional sense), and has no obvious pairing. But. It. Is. Delicious. As mentioned, golden, nutty, rich, lengthy, holy cow and bless the mother of Jesus, this is incredible. Hand to God, the aromas, the taste, the vibe makes me harken back to all those late nights sharing bottles with my friend, with his wife laughing at our inane commentary and his girls running about, jumping on my lap giving me a hug, and making me wish that the moment would never end.
Savory sherry notes. On the thinner side of the vin jaune spectrum. Lovely bracing acidity framing typical aged nutty / curry flavors. It opened a bit by night 4, and was quite enjoyable throughout.
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Doesn't quite seem to stand in the league with Puffeney or Gaihier (sorry about the sp.), yet still delightful. And offered an amazing step up from the the "Chardonnay" or "regular" Arbois wines. Love the ox thing.
I also think the 375 ml format does it no favors.
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Very strange wine. Lemons, gasoline, vanilla, caramel. Medium sherry flavors and a very long finish. Highly recommended for the sheer audacity of flavor.
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"Mr. & Mrs. White" Birthday Dinner (Private Room, Caprice Restaurant, Four Seasons Hotel, Two IFC, Hong Kong): A recommendation by the Head Sommelier of Caprice. My first experience of this wine from the region that brought you Comte cheese….apparently mushrooms grow on the inside of the barrels and thus prevent the Semillion grape from oxidization. To match the esoteric introduction, this has a distinctive squat and square-shouldered bottle and that is followed through in the colour….dusty, cloudy Weissebier in appearance. Nose is unusual barley, hay and cattle pee….but great! There is wheat and weissebier in there too. Palate is intense, ultra dry and totally not what the nose would suggest……ultra-Fino Jerez Tio Pepe sherry…wow!, gorgeous and different…..then a heady, ultra-nutty dry hazelnuts finish. Incredible….what a discovery.
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Interesting. Sherry-like—very dry and restrained. A hint of bitterness. I don’t have enough experience with this genre to rate it. My honest first reaction is that I’d rather drink sherry, but that's probably hasty. Perhaps I’ll take another taste in a day or so and revisit this inclination.
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6/30/2023 - The Drunken Cyclist Likes this wine: 97 Points
Retail $50? 100% Savagnin. This is one of those bottles. One of the bottles that I "inherited" when a dear friend passed away two and a half years ago. He was, at various times, my boss, my wine mentor, an "uncle" to my children, a friend, a brother. He died unexpectedly, leaving behind a wife, two daughters, and a full cellar. His widow urged me to pull a few bottles since she no longer cared for wine, and this is one that I felt he would want me to have. He loved wines from the Jura, particularly from Rolet, a man he knew well, or as well as anyone "knows" a winemaker. I met M. Rolet only once, in New York as chance would have it, a few years before both of their deaths, and once I mentioned my friend's name, Monsieur Rolet's face lit up. And we became instant friends. Our interaction was brief, but I promised M. Rolet that my friend and I would visit him in Arbois, pull a few corks, and have a grand feast. Alas, M. Rolet had died within six months of our meeting and my friend was not too far behind. I now have a half-dozen or so wines from the Domaine, but obviously I would trade them all back, 1,000,000 times over to have that feast that we discussed. Not for the meal, the wine, or even the comraderie, but for the chance to tell my dear friend goodbye and to thank him for the profound impact that he has had on my life. Even though my eyes are moist, clouded with memories and sadness, I feel the need, even obligation to add a few notes about the wine. Vin Jaune is not for everyone. In fact, it is not for practically anyone as it is oxidized, nutty (intense walnut), practically devoid of fruit (at least in the traditional sense), and has no obvious pairing. But. It. Is. Delicious. As mentioned, golden, nutty, rich, lengthy, holy cow and bless the mother of Jesus, this is incredible. Hand to God, the aromas, the taste, the vibe makes me harken back to all those late nights sharing bottles with my friend, with his wife laughing at our inane commentary and his girls running about, jumping on my lap giving me a hug, and making me wish that the moment would never end.
www.thedrunkencyclist.com
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12/17/2019 - peternelson wrote: 92 Points
Viscous, dry, sherry-aldehydic notes, nutty, bitter, strange, intriguing, so good. Wendy's blind party
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11/25/2019 - Deux Chevaux wrote:
Savory sherry notes. On the thinner side of the vin jaune spectrum. Lovely bracing acidity framing typical aged nutty / curry flavors. It opened a bit by night 4, and was quite enjoyable throughout.
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12/28/2013 - tbriggs wrote:
A little thin in texture, but good nutty nose and length. Rebuy: maybe.
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7/7/2013 - Ben Christiansen wrote:
Doesn't quite seem to stand in the league with Puffeney or Gaihier (sorry about the sp.), yet still delightful. And offered an amazing step up from the the "Chardonnay" or "regular" Arbois wines. Love the ox thing.
I also think the 375 ml format does it no favors.
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11/12/2012 - drwine2001 wrote:
Birthday Dinner-Maturing Friend, Mature Wines (Nopa, San Francisco): Amber. Varnish and other high tones. Full, dry, sherried and mineral-in short, vin jaune, whether you like it or not.
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11/3/2012 - sam welch Likes this wine: 90 Points
Very strange wine. Lemons, gasoline, vanilla, caramel. Medium sherry flavors and a very long finish. Highly recommended for the sheer audacity of flavor.
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9/15/2012 - Goldstone wrote: 93 Points
"Mr. & Mrs. White" Birthday Dinner (Private Room, Caprice Restaurant, Four Seasons Hotel, Two IFC, Hong Kong): A recommendation by the Head Sommelier of Caprice. My first experience of this wine from the region that brought you Comte cheese….apparently mushrooms grow on the inside of the barrels and thus prevent the Semillion grape from oxidization. To match the esoteric introduction, this has a distinctive squat and square-shouldered bottle and that is followed through in the colour….dusty, cloudy Weissebier in appearance. Nose is unusual barley, hay and cattle pee….but great! There is wheat and weissebier in there too. Palate is intense, ultra dry and totally not what the nose would suggest……ultra-Fino Jerez Tio Pepe sherry…wow!, gorgeous and different…..then a heady, ultra-nutty dry hazelnuts finish. Incredible….what a discovery.
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8/30/2012 - jconwell wrote: 79 Points
Has a nose like a maderia, but just not a flavor I like. Way acidic
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2/16/2012 - Nuncestbibendum wrote:
Interesting. Sherry-like—very dry and restrained. A hint of bitterness. I don’t have enough experience with this genre to rate it. My honest first reaction is that I’d rather drink sherry, but that's probably hasty. Perhaps I’ll take another taste in a day or so and revisit this inclination.
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