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2005 Didier Dagueneau Pouilly-Fumé Pur Sang |
| Vintage | 2005 |  Label 1 of 6   | |
| Type | White | ||
| Producer | Didier Dagueneau | ||
| Variety | Sauvignon Blanc | ||
| Designation | Pur Sang | ||
| Vineyard | n/a | ||
| Country | France | ||
| Region | Loire Valley | ||
| SubRegion | Upper Loire | ||
| Appellation | Pouilly-Fumé |
| Community Tasting History |
Community Tasting Notes (average 93.4 pts. and median of 93 pts. in 49 notes) | |
| Tasted by Anonymous on 2/7/2010: Strangely disjointed superposition of crisp, firm flavors and a blowsy, fat element. Forward and aggressive. OK. (52 views) | |
| Tasted by markelln@bellsouth.net on 1/29/2010 & rated 93 points: I drank most of it. Paired perfectly wit h Salmon Tartar w Salmon Caviar. (203 views) | |
| Tasted by Papies on 1/26/2010 & rated 92 points: Originally rated this 95 in 2008. I think this is past its peak now. Still a nice wine but not the great wine it once was.. (273 views) | |
| Tasted by bon vivant on 9/19/2009: Brought this to remember the man a year and a day after his passing. Did not write any TN's but this was a tight bottle -the cat was here as well as some serious pungent and acidic aromatics -i did not find the complexity and structure I have associated with Dagueeau's wines before. I wanted to revisit this later but there were just too many other great wines tonight (800 views) | |
| Tasted by igaf on 8/11/2009: Looks bright, almost watery. Most weird, funky nose, intense and very difficult to describe, with sweet lemon and pharmaceutical notes, gunpowder, maybe blood indeed or (as a friend put it) "plain dichlorvos". Good acidity, and the palate is dominated by the same (elusive and obtrusive at the same time) theme as the nose, showing as well unpeeled lemon and some spice. Long, fresh, mineral, but (with almost aspirin-like aftertaste) way too "chemical" in profile. Not my cup of tea (or was it pee). Still very impressive. (909 views) | |
| Tasted by nbarr on 8/10/2009 & rated 94 points: (873 views) | |
| Tasted by Eric on 8/2/2009 & rated 92 points: Lovely nose, bracing notes of typical Sauv Blanc with cat pee, mineral and a hint of smoke. Great palate, lemon cream, salt, mouthwatering, really delicious and refreshing. (1263 views) | |
| Tasted by Peech on 7/20/2009 & rated 93 points: classic - nose of minerals, flint, muscat grapes and green apples. Later a hint of oak with a bit of creaminess. Definitely an acidic finish. (864 views) | |
| Tasted by GlennK on 6/14/2009 & rated 96 points: Off the list at The Square in London. Really expressive nose of flowers, thyme, lemon grass and a streak of mineral. Full bodied for a white with stone fruits, grapefruit and a long zingy finish. Just an absolute pleaser to drink from beginning to end. (1418 views) | |
| Tasted by Vinomane on 6/13/2009 & rated 91 points: At River Club with first courses. Very light yellow. Simple, straightforward varietal aromatics without nuance at this stage. Raw and elemental on the palate, tightly wound, yet an infant with wise eyes. Should be put away for several years. Rating reflects only present development. (1427 views) | |
| Tasted by slave2thevine on 6/7/2009 & rated 96 points: Dinner at Fiddler's Green (Southwest Harbor, Maine): This wine has changed quite a bit since the last time I had it. If it's possible it has become more delicate and subtle with hints of cat's pee, minerals, lemons, slate, and sea air. In the mouth there were more tropical fruit notes like guava, lemons, mango, and a persisting mineral component that lingers as light as a feather floating across the beach on the salty ocean's air for close to a minute. (1384 views) | |
| Tasted by amateurducdp on 5/30/2009 & rated 92 points: Great Loire SB nose, everyone at the table wanted to know what I thought of it and I told them it was often associated with cat piss. The palate was so much lower in acid than I could have imagined. The nose was definitely French, the palate was so ripe and soft it could have been Napa Valley. (1408 views) | |
| Tasted by manonthemoon on 5/29/2009 & rated 93 points: Took this to a wine tasting so limited notes, nothing formal. Served at room temp popped and poured. Straw colored. Nose was extremely complex making this a wine I could just smell all night long. On the nose there was citruis mostly white grapefruit, a little funk, major pepper action leanning toward jalapeno, and white pepper on the tail. On the palate there was lemon, grapefruit, with rosemary, slate minerality, and a little white pepper. A rather long finish for a white and nicely balanced. There is a nice bit of creaminess to the mouthfeel to the wine from the oak I guess, but the acidity is still there as well to counteract it. A real masterpiece of a wine and noone did Sauv Blanc like that man, and he will be missed. Many people were amazed to find out it was an SB after the smell and taste. Drink or hold short term. 50+5+15+17+6 (1514 views) | |
| Tasted by herberto on 5/9/2009 & rated 94 points: Suble, but wonderful. Drank this alongside a Marcassin Three Sisters 2004 Chard, which is an extremely extroverted wine. The Dagueneau is quiet in comparison. It has a wonderful balance of citrusy fruit, tart acidity and striking minerality. Initially, my guests were drawn to the Marcassin (which I had to admit was also a wonderful wine, although very different). But by the end of both bottles, at least half the guests said that they appreciated the subtlety of the Dagueneau more. I don't usually associate Dagueneau with subtlety, but maybe so in comparison to Marcassin. (1562 views) | |
| Tasted by NathanJM on 4/25/2009 & rated 95 points: Melon, appricot, light pineapple, kiwi and floral, mineral note. Nice citrus "kick," yet balanced. Beautiful bouquet. Possibly my favorite sauv blanc. (1600 views) | |
| Tasted by markelln@bellsouth.net on 2/28/2009 & rated 92 points: Very good with Colt's soup, tortilla, and crab cake. Not as exciting as last time. (2067 views) | |
| Tasted by chetjan on 2/21/2009 & rated 96 points: (1479 views) | |
| Tasted by Avimd on 2/15/2009 & rated 94 points: (1477 views) | |
| Tasted by Anonymous on 1/10/2009 & rated 98 points: I've never experienced a bouquet like this before (1931 views) | |
| Tasted by Razorback on 11/16/2008 & rated 95 points: Wow. Ridiculously complex floral, citrus and mineral aromatics that surround a core that is both refreshing and smooth at the same time. In other words, a fantastic counterbalancing acidity to a wine that essentially wears the soft cloak of new oak like a glove. Delicious, with ripe grapefruit, slate, lemongrass, peach and jalapeno leading the way on a frame that is simultaneously heavy-set and light on its feet ... think of a 300 pound ballet-dancer and you'll get the idea. A stellar sav blanc that makes one rethink the potential of the grape. (2076 views) | |
| Tasted by lek55 on 11/15/2008 & rated 94 points: (1562 views) | |
| Tasted by danstrings on 11/13/2008 & rated 91 points: Joya Gary Rona Cyn and gang -- Huge and classically Dagueneau with an explosion of chamomile, citrus, dusty mineral and cat's pee. A definite funky wine, Europhiles only need apply, but a steely floral beauty of a Sancerre. (1991 views) | |
| Tasted by Anonymous on 11/7/2008 & rated 90 points: 2005 Didier Dagueneau Pouilly-Fumé Pur Sang (Frankrijk, Loire Valley, Upper Loire, Pouilly-Fumé Kleur:) Lichtgeel Aroma / bouquet: Friszuur en licht-fruitig aroma waarin citrus en meloen de boventoon voeren, verder bloemen. Smaak / Afdronk: Enerzijds is deze wijn typisch Sauvignon-blanc: fris, licht fruit, mineralige tonen. Anderzijds heeft de wijn een subtiele rijpheid, die echter op geen enkele manier expliciet het gebruik van nieuw hout verraad. Enorme lengte, geconcentreerd dik sap. Algemeen / potentieel: Prachtige Pouilly-Fumé die in alles kwaliteit en concentratie uitstraalt. Als er in het Loire-gebied meer producenten waren geweest met een dergelijke kwaliteitsopvatting, dan hadden de SB's van Nieuw-Zeeland nimmer een 'tweede standaard' kunnen vormen. Ik ben niet van Loire en al zeker niet van Pouilly-Fumé maar hier mag je me voor wakker maken. 50 + Kleur: 5 + Aroma / bouquet: 10 + Smaak / Afdronk: 16 + Algemeen / potentieel: 9 = 90 (2089 views) | |
| Tasted by Richard Jennings on 10/9/2008 & rated 93 points: Tribute to Didier Dagueneau Tasting at VVW (Vin, Vino Wine, Palo Alto, CA): Very light yellow color; big herbal, grass, mint and mineral nose; big, mouthfilling, tangy but light-footed tart grapefruit, minerals and tart white peach palate; medium-plus finish (2182 views) | |
| Tasted by AndrewSGHall on 9/27/2008: Cocktail in a complimentary term as it balanced out fruit, acidic, mineral and acidic notes in short harmonics. Went smashingly with garlic-lemon shrimp over red pepper polenta. (2162 views) | |
| Only displaying the 25 most recent notes - click to see all notes for this wine... |
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| Didier 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.
Definition of "white wine" at Epicurious.com Varietal character (Appellation America) Vins de France (Office National Interprofessionnel des Vins ) | Pages Vins, Directory of French Winegrowers | French Wine (Wikipedia) Vins du Val de Loire (Interprofession des Vins du Val de Loire) |
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