2006 Henri Bourgeois Sancerre Rouge Les Baronnes

Community Tasting Notes (1) Avg Score: 87 points

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  10/16/2009 - campingfleurie wrote: 87 Points

  Despite being served v cool the nose was just blasting out. A blast from the past: this is a rustic, arguably messy, arguably complex creature. So: a big, open, mulled-fruit nose, with the likes of plastercine, earth, cigarette smoke, liquorice and other sweet shop products. Flabby cherry. A little leathery tannin. In no way trying to be elegant, Burgundian Pinot: this is country-cousin several generations removed. It could be argued that there's a lot of fun to be had with this wine - you'd get a group talking and laughing - but I'm afraid this is (it tastes of) country wine, and it has to fall down on value for money grounds. The buyer paying up for red Sancerre will expect elegance as per its sister and could be seriously taken aback. I believe I remember hearing the producer once saying that they had no plans to expand their Pinot plantings, because their terroir (in this case meaning soils and climate) was so much better suited to Sauvignon. That is a nicer way of putting my criticism. Back to the plus side I've got to say that there's a serious amount of flavour packed into this wine, and it is a moderate red Loire vintage at an awkward age. In the short to medium term this wine is only going to get louder and more messy. There is a tiny chance that when most of the primaries have precipated out - say another 9 years - it could have a quiet manifestation that could be provocatively complex; but I can't really believe it has the structures to still be alive. 86-87, 87?

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