5/9/2024 - Eudemis Likes this wine:

13% alcohol. Diam5 closure. The colour is very pale.
Fresh nose of cherries with neither much complexity nor intensity, but at least it is distinctly Burgundy Pinot. The mouth is probably better, if pretty high pitched and somewhat simple, with redcurrant in evidence.
My feeling is that this wine delivers just above the basic Bourgogne level, so it falls short of what I would expect of a Pommard, especially one that boasts of old vines; granted this is early days, so this could harmonise into a more satisfying drink, but I would not bet on it. Its strong suit is purity of fruit, and this is not to be sneezed at.

5/7/2024 - Eudemis Likes this wine:

14.5% alcohol. M 75%, CF 20%, CS 5%. Very good long cork with essentially no wine penetration. Decanted an hour ahead. Pretty dark with no sign of ageing even at the rim.
The nose is very appealing in a dark fruited mode (huge comfort factor here), with no intrusive oak. Similarly pleasing in the mouth with no tannins left, but reasonable grip nevertheless. Very smooth without being too sleek.
I defy anyone not to fall for this wine; heck, I did, even though on paper it is not for me on account of the overwhelming Merlot content. Calling it a crowd pleaser would not do it justice though, as it is a model of balance within its style, but you could serve this at a party and expect all around compliments.
The late Denis Durantou knew his business, no doubt about it. Drank this to his memory, with thanks due to the generous donor.

5/6/2024 - Eudemis Likes this wine:

13% alcohol. Very good cork with barely 2mm of wine penetration. Decanted an hour ahead. The colour is dark with minimal signs of ageing.
The nose is an interesting mix with tertiary notes of leather, ink and confectionery allied to a fresh and vigorous frame evoking stems (in a good way) and menthol. The mouth is consistent with the nose, with freshness and structure ahead of opulence, although the tannins are largely resolved.
A vg Pauillac, but probably not one for hedonists, as RP used to say; plenty of grip here.
Yet another highly successful 2002 from Northern Médoc.

5/4/2024 - Eudemis Likes this wine:

13.7% alcohol. The cork is average in length but well above average in quality. Pretty pale gold colour.
The nose is rich but not overblown with fresh apple and white flowers. The mouth has good structure with plenty of zip and a suggestion of an off dry aspect (but think richness and complexity rather than sweetness).
Superb with turbot steak and scallops.
A very distinctive wine, and a resounding success.

5/3/2024 - Eudemis wrote:

13.5% alcohol. Car, Mrvdr, S, G, Cnslt in unspecified proportions (but presumably in decreasing order). Very good long cork. Dark colour with a youthful purple tinge at the initial pouring.
The nose is fresh with wild berries, both red and dark, and some liquorice. Significantly less pleasing in the mouth with a definitely rustic quality; good freshness too, but short on refinement.
This wine is simply not in the same ballpark as the Cocalières from the same producer; disappointing as a result, but the freshness is commendable.

4/30/2024 - Eudemis Likes this wine:

13% alcohol. The cork is average in length but below average in quality; there is no wine penetration however. Pretty dark for a Beaujolais, but still just about translucent.
Red fruited nose with redcurrant in evidence. Even more high pitched in the mouth with considerable acidity, but nothing disfiguring; in fact the balance is textbook Beaujolais.
For some reason, I was expecting something more plump and oaky from this label, but this is a more mainstream rendition of Beaujolais Gamay. Good but not that distinctive.

4/29/2024 - Eudemis Likes this wine:

14% alcohol. Pretty good cork both in terms of length and quality. The colour is translucent.
Superb lively red fruited nose with a lot of energy; red cherry and wild red berries. There may be a slight perception of alcohol, but this is marginal and it will undoubtedly fix itself over time. The mouth is consistent with the nose (minus the alcohol feel) and it adds vg mouthfeel and a good deal of elegance and subtlety; there is also a winning juicy quality to this wine.
A superb Pinot Noir which does not call for comparison with Burgundy, so satisfying it is. Should age gracefully into even higher territories.

4/28/2024 - Eudemis Likes this wine:

13% alcohol. Long cork of acceptable quality. Pale translucent colour.
There was a slight reductive touch when opening the bottle 30mn before the meal, but this was gone when the tasting began. Lovely red cherries on the nose Delicate but by no means insubstantial in the mouth with great purity and good mouthfeel; more red cherry. Plenty of depth here; this wine exemplifies again the difference between intensity and concentration.
Highly enjoyable.

4/25/2024 - Eudemis Likes this wine:

13% alcohol. Diam5 closure, pretty long. Pale golden colour with a luminous quality.
The nose is vivid with white flowers, yellow plum and some lanolin. Similarly balanced in the mouth with just a hint of opulence counterbalanced by vg grip and excellent acidity; there is quite a lot going on here. A model of Chalonnais Chardonnay, especially given the warm vintage.

4/24/2024 - Eudemis Likes this wine:

13% alcohol. CS 55%, M 40%, CF and PV 5%. Longish cork, but the texture is pretty loose. Decanted 90 mn ahead. Deep colour with no sign of ageing.
The nose has great harmony with fruity aromas mixed with tobacco leaf and a faint hint of vanilla. The mouth is half a step behind at this stage, as it is quite tight, but it shows vivid fruit and superb acidity before the unresolved tannins kick in.
Pretty good as it is for those who can tolerate a good bit of structure, but will undoubtedly harmonise in the next 5 to 10 years.
It is an awful pity that this chateau has now been subsumed into Lillyan-Ladouys, as I always felt that Clauzet was the more authentically St Estèphe on the two properties.

4/21/2024 - Eudemis Likes this wine:

13% alcohol. G 45%, Car 30%, S 25%. Diam5 closure. The colour has a youthful purple tinge and it is just about translucent.
Joyful aromatic nose, definitely red fruited with some cranberry. Similarly balanced in the mouth with superb acidity and a variety of red fruit.
I must say that I was surprised by the percentage of Grenache in this wine, given that it comes across as red fruited; must be the altitude (350m, so not exactly alpine) and the winemaking, combined with the youth of the bottle. In my Terrasses du Larzac references (not far off), the closest in style would be Terrasse d'Elise.
My first experience with this domain, and a success without a doubt.

4/20/2024 - Eudemis Likes this wine:

13% alcohol. S 40%, Mrvdr 30%, G 30%. Longish cork of so-so quality.
The colour is pretty dark but not opaque.
Very good nose of red berries with just a hint of liquorice. The mouth is similar with superb freshness and a magnificent lift in the finish; some strawberry there too. Plenty of substance here, so the ageing potential seems excellent.
Very successful, and it is ever so reassuring to see that wines of such freshness can be produced in the deep south; apparently the vineyard is relatively high up (350m), on volcanic soil and north facing. It will be interesting to compare the wine with the regular Aupilhac whose vines are south facing.
My first encounter with the domain, and a resounding success.

4/19/2024 - Eudemis Likes this wine:

13% alcohol. The cork is above average, both in length and in quality. Pale lemony colour.
The nose has good intensity with yellow flowers and a good bit of refinement. The mouth is a step behind at this early stage because of a cutting green apple (Granny Smith) flavour that dominates way too much for my taste. More seriously, a note of sour cider in the finish compromises the purity and cleanliness of the wine.
No lack of substance, so this could still evolve into a more harmonious bottle. At the moment, I am leaning negative as to the repurchase decision.

4/18/2024 - Eudemis Likes this wine:

12.5% alcohol. Diam10 closure. The colour is pale straw with a hint of a greenish tinge.
Very aromatic flowery nose with a lovely purity; white flowers and citrus fruit. In the mouth, the wine has plenty of freshness (bordering on bracing) but no lack of substance. Apparently, élevage includes 20% new oak, but I did not perceive it, at least when drinking the wine in isolation; when drinking the second half of the bottle in parallel with an unbaked wine, the difference in élevage was obvious, but not leading to any dissonance.
Very successful. The 16.6€ price is not outrageous, but there is plenty of competition from the Mâconnais and elsewhere in that bracket.

4/17/2024 - Eudemis wrote:

13% alcohol. Extremely short cork of decent quality. Translucent colour, but not as pale as in some on this producer's other wines.
There is an eggy component (fresh egg) to the aroma which tends to dominate the red fruit; this does not go away during the meal. The mouth is mercifully free of this reductive taint (well, nearly...), and it shows good vivacity, in a style more reminiscent of Beaujolais than Burgundy.
Frankly disappointing given the reputation of the winemaker.

4/7/2024 - Eudemis Likes this wine:

13.5% alcohol. Long cork of vg quality. The colour is medium, certainly quite dark for Gamay.
The nose is more dark than red fruited, but nothing cooked, and there is a vivacious note too; no perception of oak either. The mouth has excellent acidity and it is more red fruited than what the nose would lead you to expect.
While this is a good wine, it is lacking depth. In vg condition though, so there is scope for improvement, maybe...
Not really a success on this occasion, but perhaps I have been spoiled by the superlative bottles that I had in the last two days.

4/6/2024 - Eudemis Likes this wine:

13% alcohol (it feels like a bit more). CS 77%, M 12%, CF 10%, PV 1%. Long cork of vg quality with minimal wine penetration except along a few outside streaks. Decanted 75 mn ahead. The colour is dark with marginal thinning but no bricking at the rim.
The nose is immediately enticing and complex with fresh dark fruit, ink and a smoky element that is more Lapsang than tobacco. The mouth adds opulence kept in check by superb acidity; the tannins are resolved but the wine does not lack grip. No direct perception of oak; menthol in the finish adds a fresh note. There is no doubt that this is a special wine with a great sense of completeness.
Highly successful, unlike the bottle of Lafite of the same vintage that we had a week ago.

4/5/2024 - Eudemis Likes this wine:

13% alcohol. Just a short note as this was consumed at a restaurant. Pale translucent colour.
The nose is immediately enchanting with a heady mix of red berries; complex and sophisticated. Equally good on the palate with superb balance and silky mouthfeel.
Really remarkable; the fact that one can produce such a refined wine from a relatively unheralded AOC frankly calls into question the established Burgundy hierarchy.

4/4/2024 - Eudemis Likes this wine:

13.5% alcohol. Very good cork. The colour is pale straw.
The nose is both rich and floral with a great sense of purity; some fresh apple betrays the Mâconnais origin. The mouth is remarkably complete in that it covers the whole spectrum from tartness to a hint of sweetness (not in the sugary sense). No perception of oak at any stage. A lot of tension here but no austerity at all; good depth too.
A very individual wine and a superb partner for fresh prawns (and I am choosy for this pairing).
My first encounter with this producer and a success without a doubt.

4/2/2024 - Eudemis Likes this wine:

13.2% alcohol. More than decent cork. Sustained colour but still translucent (unless you overfill the glass).
The nose is red fruited with some complexity beginning to emerge. Superb mouth with a pure-but-not-that-simple feel and remarkable length; the acidity is substantial but in no way overbearing.
Year after year, Bouland produces superb age worthy wines out of Morgon (mostly) and Chiroubles; long may it last.

4/1/2024 - Eudemis Likes this wine:

12.5% alcohol. The cork is slightly above average. Lovely ruby translucent colour.
Very pure red fruited nose, mostly redcurrant but with just a hint of raspberry; lovely and not that far from Nebbiolo. The mouth is juicy and joyful in a way that evokes Beaujolais (this is not a negative).
A satisfactory Burgundy in the light lively mode, remarkably fresh at age 14.

3/31/2024 - Eudemis Likes this wine:

12.5% alcohol. Embossed bottle. Transparent cover over the collar sleeve. The cork is of vg quality but not that long; no wine penetration anyway. Decanted an hour ahead. The colour is dark with marginal thinning at the edge of the rim.
The nose mixes ripe wild dark berries with some ink in a very classy way. The mouth has plenty of grip more as a result of highish acidity than significant tannins; harmonious in its own way, which is far from opulent.
Probably not fully ready yet. Is it of 1er cru quality? Probably not.
In today's meal, the wine ended up playing second fiddle to a rack of French lamb which was simply glorious.
Still highly enjoyable, but not at a commensurate level with the current price (about 500€ according to IdW, give me a break).

3/30/2024 - Eudemis Likes this wine:

13% alcohol. Good cork with some tartrate deposits. The colour is medium but translucent.
The nose is refined with mixed red berries and just a hint of liquorice. The mouth adds plenty of peps due in no small part to excellent acidity.
Strangely, the wine was completely overwhelmed by a dish of pot roasted pigeon with root vegetables; disappointing but educational, I suppose. Much better on its own afterwards.
In good condition and free of the flaws that some have reported in burgundies of this vintage.

3/28/2024 - Eudemis Likes this wine:

13% alcohol. Diam5 closure, as dense as ever. The colour is light gold.
Yellow flowers on the nose as well as a touch of sweat (in a pleasant way). The mouth is very vivid with barely a sign of buttery notes and notes of honey counterbalanced by substantial acidity. Very satisfactory and not in any way overblown, vintage notwithstanding.
In perfect condition, and looks like it might improve over the next few years (five?).

3/26/2024 - Eudemis Likes this wine:

12% alcohol. Very short cork of pretty good quality. The colour is fairly dark for Gamay, but it is still translucent.
Very pretty nose of redcurrant with a great sense of purity. Very poised in the mouth with great balance and no excess of acidity.
A remarkable success given that the vintage is not held in high regard; in excellent condition too. An instance of Gamay keeping very well indeed at age 11 but without showing any development.
Also to be noted is the questionable value for money at well offer 20€ currently for a basically simple wine.

3/25/2024 - Eudemis Likes this wine:

14% alcohol. Diam5 closure. Decanted an hour ahead. The colour is very pale ruby and translucent.
The nose is somewhat reticent, but what it shows is enticing (redcurrant mostly and just a hint of rose petals). The mouth adds very substantial acidity, borderline excessive, but it has superb mouthfeel too, go figure!
This is probably the youngest Nebbiolo that I ever had, so I think that there is room for improvement with bottle age; as it stands, it is a notch below the best LN that I had.

3/23/2024 - Eudemis wrote:

13% alcohol. Fairly long cork of reasonable quality. The colour is pale and translucent.
The nose shows pretty red berries but there is also a smoky component, more turf than wood. The smoky element is also very present in the mouth, which has high acidity in the finish; vg mouthfeel nevertheless.
A bit of a puzzler, this one.

3/23/2024 - Eudemis Likes this wine:

13% alcohol. Good cork. The colour is rich gold.
The nose is vivacious and floral with some beeswax and a touch of lanolin added. The mouth is more nimble that what the colour would lead you to expect, with superb refreshing acidity in the finish.
In perfect condition at age ten, which cannot be taken for granted.

3/18/2024 - Eudemis Likes this wine:

14.5% alcohol. G 80%, Mrvdr 20%. Very short cork of reasonable quality; no wine penetration anyway. The colour is pretty dark with significant thinning at the edge of the rim.
The nose shows black olive and ripe fresh black fruit, with just a raisiny hint in the finish, but nothing overwhelming. Similarly balanced in the mouth with vg acidity. There is nothing bulky here, which is remarkable for a G based wine; this shows special skills in both viticulture and wine making. Correspondingly leaner than most people's idea of a Gigondas, but none the worse for it.
In vg condition now and for at least five years.

3/17/2024 - Eudemis Likes this wine:

14% alcohol. Very short cork of middling quality. Opened 90 mn ahead but did not decant. The colour is pale and cloudy.
The nose is immediately enchanting evoking an infusion of rose petals mixed with "grenadine"; this is really unique. Similarly superlative in the mouth with extraordinary length and magnificent mouthfeel. Less strawberry than on other occasions, and I will not complain about that.There is a "sweet without sugar" feel here. No tannin worth talking about but good grip nevertheless.
I feel that it is best not to have this wine too often in order to preserve the whaouh effect. The partnership with Iberico pork chops was excellent.

3/16/2024 - Eudemis Does not like this wine:

13% alcohol. This is Marsanne and Roussanne with a year long maceration in amphora. Ardeaseal closure. Amber colour and very cloudy.
The nose is the best part with green plum and some honey; back down to earth with the mouth which is reminiscent of cider.
Not worth the trouble for my palate, but I must admit that I never had an orange wine that convinced me.

3/15/2024 - Eudemis Likes this wine:

13.5% alcohol. Superb cork of reasonable length. Rich golden colour.
The nose is very satisfying, mixing floral aromas with ripe yellow plum and very discreet notes of élevage; very classy. Barely half a notch behind in the mouth, with fresh apple and excellent balance including perfectly judged acidity; neither lean nor bloated.
A magnificent match for live prawns (well we did not eat them alive...).

3/14/2024 - Eudemis Likes this wine:

13.5% alcohol. CS 60%, M 30%, CF 10%. Shortish cork of vg quality. Decanted an hour ahead. Dark colour with minimal fading at the rim.
Harmonious nose marrying dark berries and olive with tertiary notes of leather and ash; good complexity, then or what? The mouth is just as good with vg mouthfeel and excellent balance. Some residual tannins ensure good grip. There is class here without a doubt.
I may be in a minority, but I am more impressed by the red than the white at this estate.
Coming into its drinking period, which should last fifteen years easily.

3/11/2024 - Eudemis Likes this wine:

It is Méjean actually. 13.5% alcohol (I wonder if it is not a tad more). M 80%, CS 20%. Stylish bottle with semi sloping shoulders, pretty heavy too. Decanted an hour ahead. The colour is fairly dark with no sign of ageing.
Very pleasing nose, definitely dark fruited with fresh plum and a hint of leather. The mouth is immensely seductive with a juicy quality not that frequent in Bordeaux; I suppose that it is Merlot handled well. No hard edges, but not in any way spineless, and there is a lot going on in the finish, which is supported by superb acidity. The winemaking is modern in the best sense of the term, and the oak is unobtrusive (just as well as it could otherwise have pushed the wine over the edge for me).
Bordeaux Merlot at its best, ready to drink now.

3/10/2024 - Eudemis wrote:

13% alcohol. Decent cork of average length. Decanted an hour ahead. The colour is medium to light with some translucence.
The nose is fragrant with peony aromas and some ink, making for a measure of complexity. The mouth is much less appealing with a distinct lack of stuffing and some harshness in the finish. This could still round up in time, but I would not bet on it.
Given that 2009 was a warm vintage and that I find the wine too lean, this producer is probably not for me. This is not to say that he is without merit, just too much on the austere side for my own tastes.

PS: looking back at my previous notes, I see that I liked the 2015 much better last year.

3/8/2024 - Eudemis Likes this wine:

13.5% alcohol. Extremely long cork of top quality. The colour is rich gold, deep enough to cause concern.
No oxidation whatever on the nose which is rich with ripe yellow plum and yellow flowers; no perception of oak, and nothing buttery either. An exemplary Meursault. The mouth is vg too but possibly a notch below because of a slight hardness which sets up from the mid palate on. Still very stylish, but maybe not as complete as it would have been five years ago.
Hugely enjoyable with fresh lobster. Thanks are due to the generous donor.

3/7/2024 - Eudemis Likes this wine:

13% alcohol. Short cork with minimal inscription, but the quality is vg.
Pale translucent colour.
Very red fruited nose (mostly redcurrant); not complex but winningly pure. The mouth is similarly pure with a juicy quality and significant acidity in the finish.
A textbook Beaujolais of the light and fragrant variety.

3/5/2024 - Eudemis Likes this wine:

13.5% alcohol. CS 60%, M 30%, PV 10% in the vineyard according to Farr. From a half bottle, decanted an hour ahead; short cork of pretty good quality. The colour is medium to dark with minimal thinning at the edge of the rim.
The nose is a winning mix of dark berries and well integrated oak, with at times a small leafy component to enliven the proceedings (umm, might there be some CF in the mix after all?); it would be hard not to be wooed by this combination. In the mouth, the wine comes across as savoury, fresh and lively with very good mouthfeel. Only in the aftertaste do residual tannins cause a definite bitter note, which will hopefully resolve in time.
More open than what I was expecting at this early stage, but will benefit from another ten years in the bottle.

3/4/2024 - Eudemis Does not like this wine:

14.5% alcohol. Pure Grenache according to the domaine's website. Dark colour all the way to the rim.
The nose is rich, but all the fruit is cooked, and there are even definite notes of Port (this is without decanting of course). The mouth is powerful, largely carried by the alcohol (which might well exceed the stated percentage); the cooked aspect of the fruit is more acceptable than on the nose, but the wine lacks elegance and balance. There is a definite sweet note in the finish.
I have gone off this style of wine completely, and I would rank this bottle several notches below l'Or de Line 2018 which is the last CndP that I had.
Not a repeat purchase. Whatever critic influenced me to purchase this wine at release was hopelessly misguided, and I was silly to follow his advice.

PS: looking back at my previous note from three years ago, I see that I was more positive at the time. Either the evolution of the wine has been unfavourable, or the two bottles showed variation, or my tastes have changed (unlikely to that extent, as I have never liked Port notes in my unfortified wines).

3/3/2024 - Eudemis Likes this wine:

12% alcohol. This is based on the 2017 vintage (56%) with an extra 34% coming from the réserve perpétuelle started in 2012 and the final 10% coming from oak aged reserve wines. C 42%, PN 36%, PM 22%. Dosage 8g/l. Partial MLF (34%). The colour is light gold with very fine fizz.
The nose is ample and dominated by ripe yellow plum; very enticing and free of any oxidative note. Similar in the mouth with superb intensity throughout. The dosage is very well judged, and generally unobtrusive except fleetingly after the mid palate and eventually when the wine warms up.
High class and probably the best NV Champagne that I ever had.

3/2/2024 - Eudemis Does not like this wine:

12.5% alcohol. The cork is average in length and slightly above average in quality. The colour is pale gold with a luminous quality.
The first nose shows yellow plum and good complexity, but upon swirling the dreaded petrochemical aromas overwhelm everything, and in this case it is unmistakably turpentine, oh God why was I not warned about this ? The mouth is more acceptable with very good acidity; no fruit worth talking about but good concentration of floral and mineral flavours.
I can see that there is a lot to this wine but it is clearly not for me; I prefer my paint thinners on a brush.

2/29/2024 - Eudemis Likes this wine:

14% alcohol. Screwcap. Dark colour. Just a short note as this was consumed at a restaurant.
This wine is bold and in your face, but in a nice way and it is certainly not oaky. A slightly confected note after the mid palate might betray its new world origin, but it was not tasted blind, so I might very well be fooling myself here. Modern certainly but enjoyable for sure, with a vg balance. The subtle and nuanced character of Burgundy Pinot is missing here, replaced by a joyful and slightly burly character.
To be enjoyed on its own terms.

2/27/2024 - Eudemis Likes this wine:

13% alcohol. The cork is average in length but of good quality; no wine penetration but significant tartrate deposits, not something I see that often with red wines. The colour is light and translucent.
Winningly red fruited on the nose with great purity and a pretty floral note. Similarly balanced in the mouth with a straightforward fruity quality; a simple pleasure maybe, but why should everything be complex?
This wine is slightly less serious than the Fleurie(s) of the domain, but it is very good nevertheless.

2/25/2024 - Eudemis Likes this wine:

15% alcohol. S 50%, Mrvdr 30%, G 20% is what I get from a secondary source, and this is certainly compatible with what I detect in this tasting. Short cork of excellent quality with no wine penetration. The colour is dark but not opaque, and it shows some thinning at the rim.
The nose is bright with red fruit aromas (including strawberry) and some violet; nothing cooked here, and plenty of elegance. Exquisite in the mouth with more violet and a fair dose of liquorice; this is high class and superbly balanced. Remarkably light on its feet given the alcohol level.Vg mouthfeel.
This remarkable wine shows to me that Grenache will have to take a back seat (as it does here) in order for the Chateauneuf and connected appellations to survive climate change.
My first bottle of red from this producer, and I must admit that I had some negative a priori views based on the word ¨or¨ (gold) in the name; these have now been washed away.
A repeat purchase.

2/24/2024 - Eudemis Likes this wine:

13% alcohol. Hard wax top, the kind that shatters upon piercing. Superb very long cork, one of the best that I have ever seen. Decanted 30mn ahead because I remembered this wine being quite tight when I last encountered it two and a half years ago. The colour is pale straw with even a suggestion of a green hue; well this is good to see as it means no oxidation.
Very pure nose with white flowers, some understated yellow fruit and a (pleasant) hint of sweat. Similar in the mouth with excellent grip and perfect acidity; on the negative side, there is a severe deficit of fat and comfort in this wine. So what are we left with: a Côte de Beaune which veers towards Chablisian austerity without matching the effortless elegance of that area ? A bit of a mongrel in my view, so you will have to accept it on its own terms, and it has plenty to recommend it.
The main reason why I am somewhat negative on this bottle is because it did not do justice to the accompanying lobster.
PS I see from my previous note that the food match did not work the last time either, so the blame is on me (perseverare diabolicum).

2/23/2024 - Eudemis Likes this wine:

13.5% alcohol. The soft wax top comes away of its own accord (pretty dangerous if you happened to be holding the bottle by the top); excellent long cork. The colour is pale gold with a luminous quality.
Lovely nose of yellow flowers with a definite Chenin signature (no quince though). More assertive in the mouth with yellow fruit and excellent balance, with quince at the back end. Plenty of style in an understated (but not undernourished) mode.
This is the first vintage produced from this plot, which is normally designated for sweet wines. Certainly successful. Now, the Guégniard sisters price this bottle above their two Savennières, and this is debatable in my view; from memory, I get a bit more depth from these than from the present wine (maybe at the expense of some vibrancy).
Very enjoyable and stylish no matter what. In pristine condition too.

2/22/2024 - Eudemis wrote:

14.5% alcohol. The short cork seems to be of good quality but it is soaked half way through. Did not decant, which was a mistake.
Deep colour all the way to the rim.
The nose has an overwhelming dose of American oak which screams Rioja to me; not a great start. There is however more to this wine as time in the glass shows. Very pretty red fruit with (dare I say it) a quasi Burgundian character. Hyper smooth in the mouth with perhaps too much alcohol in evidence, but the experience is highly enjoyable. No tannins in sight, so not for people who enjoy structure, but the wine avoids outright spinelessness; a faint sweetish note in the finish is unfortunate but not disfiguring. Some cooked fruit emerges eventually. I am still not sure if I can taste CS in this wine.
Absolutely to be decanted if the wine is to be given its best chance to shine, and I would keep the serving temperature on the cool side too.

2/19/2024 - Eudemis wrote:

14% alcohol. This is the "deuxième mise". Decent cork with minimal inscription. Decanted an hour ahead. The colour is dark with very limited thinning at the rim.
The nose is vivid with an interesting mix of red fruit and black olive. The mouth is similar with a certain roughness in the finish, and a flavour which is quite familiar in a non-wine context but which I can't put my finger on.
I suspect that there is a problem with this bottle as it does not seem to be on the level that I was expecting.

PS: after revisiting this bottle seven days later, I am now of the view that it is affected by a very low level of TCA, and I have changed the rubric accordingly.

2/18/2024 - Eudemis Likes this wine:

12.5% alcohol. CS 60%, M 25%, CF 10%, PV 5% according to IdW. Excellent cork with no wine penetration. Decanted 90 mn ahead.Medium colour with limited thinning and barely the onset of bricking at the rim.
The nose is largely tertiary (leather, tobacco) but with some flowery notes and a hint of ripe bell pepper; all very harmonious and mouth watering. Lean and elegant in the mouth with plenty of energy and very good grip; some confectionery at times. Not a plump wine and none the worse for it.
Compared to my last bottle five years ago, the wine is now smoother while retaining its spine.
There is plenty of life left in this beast.

2/17/2024 - Eudemis Likes this wine:

13% alcohol. The cork is quite long and so smooth that you might think that it is reconstituted. Medium colour.
The nose is an interesting mix of red and dark fruit (some even cooked); very harmonious but perhaps less vivacious than what one might expect from a Fleurie. Very comfortable in the mouth with some added liquorice and vg mouthfeel; superb acidity in the finish and convincing balance overall.
The combination of ageing and the vintage results in an atypical Fleurie, but a highly enjoyable one.