Community Tasting Note
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z_willus_d wrote: 94 points
March 9, 2011 - So eager was I to try this that I fully disregarded the concept of bottle shock, not that I'm a particularly strong believer in such effects, particularly when applied too young Beaujolais. The back-label read: "M09TR S 19/7/10", which indicates this wine saw a little Sulfur as opposed to the Normal nil. I poured a glass out of a slightly below room temperature bottle (~63F); little to no aeration at initial tasting. The wine has a bright semi-translucent ruby red color. Right off the bat, this has me thinking of barbie dolls in the closet bin or maybe the way a gussied up 16-year old's hair would smell on PROM night -- it's that kind of delicate, pretty, flowery, perfumed, scratch-n-sniff strawberry esprit of freshness this lovely bouquet spreads forth. Moreover, light blueberry fragrances and then sugar cookie dough followed by savory, charred animal fat. Absolutely amazing nose! Shows a little carbonic on the palate with all those bouquet descriptors. This is very very concentrated but manages to remain "en pointe" and oh so pretty, floating like a cloud made of evaporated cherry and strawberry gas in the cerulean blue sky of the most sanguine and Zen planet your Spring season, Saturday morning imagination could ever hope to construct. Elegant, silky mouthfeel and weight. Fruit is sweet yet incredible pure and "non-confected." Perfect acid balance. Has just a little "heat" on the back throat, but the expression is more of spice than of alcohol burn. Medium-plus to long length finish. Tannins? If any, are completely imperceptible to me. I'll admit, this lacks the tannin structure, minerality, and traditional terms of complexity that I've found in other top producers of the vintage. This is ultimately a very delicious style of Beaujolais, incredibly balanced, and drinking remarkably well right now. This wine has me questioning the relative importance of good tannin structure to aging as opposed to sheer balance. I have 11 more bottles of this wine to follow through the years to try and come to an answer. In this case, my score reflects (among all the usual "objective" elements) my pleasure in this bottle as it drinks Today; this as opposed to the more regular calculation that more accounts expectations of ability for mid and far term aging/evolution - I just can't say with my limited experience in the SubRegion and with this producer. Extraordinary concentration of beautiful fruit merged with grace, agility and poise defines this wine.
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1 Comment
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gharbour commented:
3/10/11, 7:34 AM - Wow what a great review to get to read - it was as enjoyable as my tasting of the Lapierre itself! Thanks