2009 Clos Saint-Fiacre Orléans

Garagiste

• By Jon Rimmerman
  8/16/2010, (See more on Garagiste...)

  (CLOS ST. FIACRE Orleans) 2009 Dear Friends, This wine is a knockout – plain and simple. I will tone down the rhetoric and let the wine speak for itself as what’s in the bottle needs little fluff to prop it up. This is the first 2009 red from the Loire I’ve tasted that deserves the anticipation the vintage has commanded (from an eager audience hungry for low-alcohol, esoteric wine of terroir). While the white wines were variable throughout the region in 2009, when the confluence of climate, climat and winemaker got it right, a golden nugget was there for the taking and it was painted a beautiful shade of crimson. In 2009, Clos St. Fiacre took full advantage and their red wines have set a new benchmark. From the emerging Orleans district (the closest Loire district to Paris and also one of the hippest), Clos St. Fiacre produces this cashmere and textural wine from the new coolio grape indigenous to the Orleans – Pinot Meunier. In Orleans, Pinot Meunier is king and in the hands of a BIO/non-interventionist winemaker (in a vintage like 2009), the result is a potpourri of spice-laden, deep and tannic red fruit that acts like part Cabernet Franc, part Grolleau and part Pinot Noir (there is a touch of Pinot Noir in this wine). The mouthfeel is close to perfect for the region with a trail of delicate grape dust left coating the palate long after the last sip. Terrific acidity and bursting minerality complete this all too rare example that combines an exemplary, serious nature with a price tag that everyone on the email list can appreciate (and afford). I want to stress, this is not a new-school oxidative, colorless red that is all the age right now in the Loire – this is a deeply colored, classic style that challenges the taster with complexity, not with a pseudo natural wine sense of nothingness. This wine is approachable now but it will be at it’s best with another 12-24 months in the bottle. It should drink well for up to a decade (or possibly longer as there is very little historical data on the wine – I tried the 2004 and 2005 recently and both are going strong with no noticeable loss of color or loss of impact – the aromatics, however, were divine on both wines, something to look forward to on the 2009). VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED for fantastic, terroir-focussed quality at a price that I still cannot believe. An exciting 2009 red. This parcel is directly from the winery cellar with perfect provenance: 2009 Clos St. Fiacre Orleans (Loire/rouge) - (this is not the blanc which is less expensive and easier to come by) FIRST COME FIRST SERVED at this price up to 36/person until we run out. To order: niki@garagistewine.com This parcel is set to depart the cave – it will arrive in October (please check OARS for local pick up after October 20th). It will ship during the Fall shipping season. Out of state orders will be held for free under ideal storage conditions (56 degrees/70%humidity) until shipping is possible. Locals may pick up at their leisure. For current local pick up and arrival/ship information, please see your OARS link below (at the bottom of this offer) - don’t know how to access your OARS? Simply click the link and see your account. You can also paste the link into your browser. If you are having trouble with your link or your account, please contact: support@garagistewine.com NO SALES TO RETAILERS OR WHOLESALERS Thank you, Jon Rimmerman Garagiste Seattle, WA Loire8738 Click here to view the status of your orders in O.A.R.S.