Monthly Tasting Group: Southern Burgundy and Loire
Ciao Bella, Mpls
Tasted Sunday, June 29, 2025 by rocknroller with 123 views
Introduction
We had a group of 13 for a hot afternoon and evening on the patio at Ciao Bella (CV,BB,RF,DD,DR/DR and TS,KB,ML,JG,JP,DS,JV). The theme was Southern Burgundy and Loire wines. We had two virtual tables for event. As usual small pours from the other table and limited notes. Fun evening despite the heat.
NV Hugues Godmé Champagne Grand Cru Brut Rosé
France, Champagne, Champagne Grand Cru
Light-medium salmon color. Followed a glass over 30 minutes. Rather earthy, cherry-rhubarb, quite oxidative, sour dough, yeast, blood orange, very dry. I've enjoyed past bottles much more, and I don't recall these being oxidative like this in the past. It makes me wonder if this was tired. It largely went in the dump bucket. Score reserved, but if had to call it, 89 maybe.
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2006 Taittinger Champagne Comtes de Champagne Blanc de Blancs Brut 95 Points
France, Champagne
Light gold color. Drank a glass over 30 minutes. Lovely and refined as usual. A huge step up from the stablemates tonight.
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2015 Nicolas Joly Clos de la Coulée de Serrant 90 Points
France, Loire Valley, Anjou-Saumur, Savennières-Coulée de Serrant
Medium gold color. Followed a glass over an hour. This was quite savory, red apple, peach, wooly and very Chenin, with slate, peach pit, and a lot of spice at the end with a good bit of oxidativeness as well.
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2019 Alphonse Mellot Côtes de la Charité Blanc Les Pénitents 90 Points
France, Loire Valley, Upper Loire, Côtes de la Charité
Light gold color. Small glass. Apple, lychee, a bit tropical, light medium bodied, round with a little oak showing. 90+pts.
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2020 Domaine Sangouard-Guyot Pouilly-Fuissé Terroirs 91 Points
France, Burgundy, Mâconnais, Pouilly-Fuissé
Light green gold color. Small glass. Light and lively, lemon, grapefruit, a little dough, cedary, crisp with nice acidity, dry extract and citrus on the finish. Nice.
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2016 A. et P. de Villaine Mercurey Les Montots 91 Points
France, Burgundy, Côte Chalonnaise, Mercurey
Light-medium plus color. Small glass over an hour. Same bottle as Bellissimo, 90 minute slow-O. Raspberry, briary nose; the palate is fruity, dried strawberry, raspberry, briar, tart cherry, purity and finesse with medium tannins. Very good.
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2015 Domaine Besson Givry 1er Cru Les Grands Prétans 90 Points
France, Burgundy, Côte Chalonnaise, Givry 1er Cru
Medium dark red color. Small glass over 30 minutes. Earthy, soil, cherry, fleshy fruits and some tannins, on a bit bigger frame. 90 to 90+pts.
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2007 Olga Raffault Chinon Les Picasses 93 Points
France, Loire Valley, Touraine, Chinon
Dark red color with a 2mm clear edge. Splash double decanted and recorked til serving. Drank a glass over an hour plus. Pretty cherry, fine tobacco, graphite, dried loamy earth on a perfumed nose. The palate is harmonious, with earth, red cherry, currants, tobacco and graphite as well, medium bodied with sleek tannins and suvae character. This was in the zone.
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2017 Clos Rougeard (Foucault) Saumur-Champigny 92 Points
France, Loire Valley, Anjou-Saumur, Saumur-Champigny
MEdium dark red color. Drank a glass over an hour plus. Very pretty, menthol, aromatic, savory spices, Christmas spice, spice cake, red berry fruit. Should be better in a few years too. 92(+)pts.
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2014 Château Climens 92 Points
France, Bordeaux, Sauternais, Barsac
Medium gold color. Small glass. Orange, brown sugar, honey, rich, ripe peach, tropical fruit. 92+ to 93(+)pts.
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