Lesser-explored French regions
Tasted Friday, November 15, 2024 by melvinyeowq with 101 views
Introduction
Always happy to have this theme of French but no Burgundy, Bordeaux, Champagne or Rhone. As usual, very educational with high quality wines, since I guess the people who turn up would know their stuff about these other regions.
NV Bodet-Herold Crémant de Loire ærlinn 85 Points
France, Loire Valley, Crémant de Loire
100% Grolleau, disgorged Apr 2023, zero dosage, 11% alcohol. Pale salmon in colour so the somm correctly deduced that this must have been a black grape. Sharp acidity, quite austere without much body (which has been my experience with many crémants, apparently something to do with the ancestrale method). Insufficient fruit with a clipped finish.
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2009 Michel Redde et fils Pouilly-Fumé Les Champs des Billons 91 Points
France, Loire Valley, Upper Loire, Pouilly-Fumé
Had a strange nail varnish note on the nose at first which thankfully blew off. Slightly natty and oxidative, fruit became more overt and put on weight with air. Agree with previous notes that this had ripe, natty Chablis vibes, eventually guessed Jura Chard. Fresh during dinner but it turned into something like a premoxed white Burgundy at the end.
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2012 Domaine des Roches Neuves Saumur Clos Romans 90 Points
France, Loire Valley, Anjou-Saumur, Saumur
Clearly Chenin from a warm vintage, guessed 2015. Golden in colour which made me worry about premox, but palate still had high acidity with slightly caramelised tropical fruit. While his wines in both colours are usually well-made, I find that they lack excitement.
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2017 Didier Dagueneau Silex 94 Points
France, Loire Valley, Upper Loire, Pouilly-Fumé
Normally not a fan of the son’s wines as they can be a little boring but this was superb. Guessed top Sauvignon Blanc like Cotat from a cooler year like '14. Superb tension and acidity despite its exotic nature; sweet green melon that reminded me of Midori. Very complete.
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2019 La Porte Saint Jean Saumur Rouge Les Pouches 93 Points
France, Loire Valley, Anjou-Saumur, Saumur
Brought for a friend. Polished without losing its sense of place; crunchy red fruit with earthy undertones but no pyrazines. Very refined and approachable tannins, meant to be drunk young I suspect. Big fan of this producer.
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2005 Pierre-Jacques Druet Bourgueil Vaumoreau 92 Points
France, Loire Valley, Touraine, Bourgueil
Brought for a friend. Complete opposite of my last bottle - alluring nose with vibrant dark cassis but distinctly green on the palate. Old-school unripe Bordeaux vibes but with plenty of character and freshness still; the previous bottle had thinning fruit.
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2008 Château de Pibarnon Bandol 92 Points
France, Provence, Bandol
My contribution. Some coffee and feral notes on the nose, ripe blackcurrant fruit with resolved tannins on the palate. Most complexity out of the wines tonight, but a little heavy for my palate.
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2020 Etienne Bodet Saumur Clos Durandière 92 Points
France, Loire Valley, Anjou-Saumur, Saumur
Quite ambitious with the oak use (and therefore price point) but I enjoyed this. A elegant and suave impression of a young, approachable Bordeaux; juicy, pure red fruit and the warm vintage was handled with excellent restraint.
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