1/20/2024 - Pey2001 Does not like this wine:

Light to the point of insipidness. A faint natural tang fades to almost nothing after an hour in the decanter. I'm searching for fruit, acid, or anything and I'm getting practically nothing. How different from The Fugazi! A big disappointment, especially since it's the more expensive bottle. 😤

12/20/2023 - Pey2001 Likes this wine:

Really yummy wine! Very smooth at this point, good round fruit: red fruits mostly, but a fuller complexity that hints at purple fruits or even sous bois... Nicely balanced, but too acidic. Easy to quaff on its own. Not enormously aromatic, but very good for its price. Especially if, like me, you picked this up en primeur in his first season!

12/16/2023 - Pey2001 Likes this wine:

Spritzy at first. A little tart and tangy but with a decent amount red fruit. Medium weighted, this is heavier than, but doesn't have the fun factor of the brothers' La Clastre. With air, it takes on more sweetness and a layer Christmas spice. Left some out overnight and it lasted well. Tannins still a bit grippy at the end. I think air and maybe some age would do it well. Yummy.

11/25/2023 - Pey2001 Likes this wine:

Very fresh. Bright red fruit. Light, easy drinking and delicious. Not the most complex, but very enjoyable. Unlike some Poulsards, don't decant this. It starts to fade with too much air.

10/16/2023 - Pey2001 Likes this wine:

I drank this over two days and I definitely think it was better on day two. After a night in the fridge it was a lot more giving and soft. Will hang onto my last one for a flgood few more years, otherwise a looong decant would serve well.

7/22/2023 - Pey2001 Likes this wine:

Oh for the days when you could pick up this bottle for £19.50 as I did in 2018! 😩 The second of two bottles I bought then, I was curious how this non-vintage (2016) wine might have aged. The answer is very well! Still with a slight effervescence, the brett and funk was much more muted and absorbed into the wine than before, but still present in a pleasant way. Admittedly, the red fruit was also probably less vibrant, but not enormously. The wine still had it's light, easy drinking feeling, but more smooth and harmonious than in its youth. Delicious. And a bit like drinking a dinosaur: a relic of the time when natural wine was actually affordable and felt like both an adventure and a great deal. Sadly, like this wine, those days are gone.

7/20/2023 - Pey2001 Likes this wine:

This wine is so delicious.

7/19/2023 - Pey2001 Likes this wine:

Very delicious. Slightly oxidised, great acidity. Super yummy.

6/23/2023 - Pey2001 Likes this wine:

7 years old and still funky as hell. Lightly spritzy on the pnp. I decanted this for over an hour, and it was still wild and funky. The more air the better. But with that comes rich fruit and minerality. Thicker and richer than your average Trousseau, it feels a lot like a natural Gamay from Beaujolais. Not a Puffeney, that's for sure, but interesting and delicious nonetheless. But the more air you give it the better.

5/29/2023 - Pey2001 Likes this wine:

Was confused by the beer cap and thought this might have been a pet nat but it is definitely still 😅. Citrus and a bit of pithy natural wine essence on the nose. It is wild and energetic on the tongue. Yellow fruit, VA, and a prickly minerality and sharp acidity. It is definitely a natural wine! Has a kind of cidery edge, which is maybe primed by the beer cap. Both rich and fresh and fascinating, but not for everyone. These producers are never boring. V good 👍🏻

5/28/2023 - Pey2001 Likes this wine:

This is so good right now! Slight oxidised, caramel notes and a great bead of bitterness to balance the smooth, rich fruit. Very good!

5/14/2023 - Pey2001 Likes this wine:

Lovely and crisp. A great wine!

5/14/2023 - Pey2001 Likes this wine:

A bit oaky atm. A bit of air helps, but I wonder if more time might solve this 🤔

5/4/2023 - Pey2001 Likes this wine:

Berlioz makes, in my opinion, one of the best Roussette de Savoie out there. Possibly on the downturn, but still so good at 6 years of age. Grassy nose, with hints of almonds and apricots, and pith, of course. Smooth and slightly oily on the palate, with nonetheless a great bead of acidity and a prickly minerality, yellow fruit and again a slight grassiness that is most refreshing. At 12%abv it's not too hefty. Very good Altesse.

4/22/2023 - Pey2001 Likes this wine:

Bricking pale strawberry in the glass. Not super expressive on PNP. Slightly astringent nose, faint whiff of muddled strawberries, spritzy stone, lemon or grapefruit pith, developing distinct cola aspect over time which is kind of fun. On the palate it's a little spritzy, which blows off. Very dry at first, it gets better with air. Never super rich or fruity, it's on the leaner side of Poulsards, and fairly savoury. Smooth, low tannin, good acidity and minerality, but lacking that hit of overripe strawberries and orange pith of some Poulsards. Possibly it was better and is fading? If you're drinking now, let it breath. Serve it instead of a high-end rose.

4/22/2023 - Pey2001 Likes this wine:

Rich and on the heavier side of medium. Full fruit with a nice minerality. I paid £12 for this in 2020 and it is incredible value at that price. Even now, as I'm sure it's gone up, it's a great QPR. Good!

4/22/2023 - Pey2001 Likes this wine:

Quite tight and a bit natural sour on the nose and palate. I actually prefer their VdF Mix cuvée. But this is quite good with a little air.

4/14/2023 - Pey2001 Likes this wine:

Pale translucent gold in the glass. Baked apples and custard on the nose, but fresh. More green apple than baked on the palate, light green fruit with a prickly minerality. Very yummy!

4/13/2023 - Pey2001 Likes this wine:

Bright transluscent pink in the glass, slightly cloudy. Sour fermented nose with a hint of muddled strawberries and rhubarb. Bright and zingy on the palate. Light with a faint spritz. Fermented tang, some red fruit, and a sour, drying finish. Amazingly alive and fresh. Well balanced, but this is very much a funky, natural wine, and not for everyone!

If you've ever had Les Frères Soulier wines, there is a clear similarity—particularly the light, poulsard-like reds—but these Matassa wines have much more vim and vigour. Not sure it's better, per sé, but different. This wine has a lot of tang!

3/20/2023 - Pey2001 Likes this wine:

I think Sun_Ship nails the TN perfectly. Originally felt that it didn't have enough bite (acid or minerality) for my taste, but actually as it opens up it takes on a bit more pith and bitterness which balances it out. Still, it is a fairly soft wine. Slightly oxidised notes are subtle and welcome. Yummy for sure. Quite complex, good for it's price point, but if it had a bit more energy, it would have been really good.

3/17/2023 - Pey2001 Likes this wine:

Minerality, pith, grass, lemon and a hint of peach. Such perfect balance. Love this wine.

3/17/2023 - Pey2001 Likes this wine:

Pale translucent strawberry with a slightly muddy haze. Lots of sediment that is good to strain out. Overripe strawberries, and a background hint of funk on the nose. Very round now in the mouth. More strawberries, and a slight mineral tingle on the toungue. No trace of the tannins mentioned in other reviews. Soft and delicious and refreshing. Very poulsard-like. Enjoying the low alcohol. I love Grenache like this. Perfect moment for it, but I wouldn't keep it longer. Very good, especially considering what I paid for it (€24 in 2019)

3/2/2023 - Pey2001 Likes this wine:

This is still delicious, and very integrated and smooth. However I sense that the fruity exuberance is starting to fade. Don't keep these any longer. Drink now!

2/26/2023 - Pey2001 Likes this wine:

This is super yummy at the moment. Lush berries in a medium body. Smooth tannins and not too acidic. Very easy drinking, a great pleasure.

2/23/2023 - Pey2001 Likes this wine:

This wine is such good value! Crisp and fresh, wish a bit of pith and minerality. Very good for the price.

2/17/2023 - Pey2001 Likes this wine:

Lovely and light. A slight natural tinge, but otherwise bright red fruit and smooth as smooth. Not as complex as some, but very tasty.

1/30/2023 - Pey2001 Likes this wine:

I'm interested in the development of this wine. I bought a case of this in 2017 and have been sampling one every two years or so. 7 years in the cellar and it now seems quite integrated. No more wild natural wine scents and flavours, and the tannins seem tamed, although the acidity is still high. It feels to me like this wine is at its apogee, so then the question is: what's it like and is it good? It is dense but not exuberant, that is, the fruit is not luscious (jammy, berries, etc) but it still feels full and rich. It's very dry and savoury but not herbal or perfumed. It's a hard one to wrap my head around. I would describe it as stern, but not in the punishing tannins kind of way. It is unquestionably an excellently made wine, but my conclusion is that I just don't think Teroldego is for me. I can't imagine anyone doing a better version than Foradori, and so i have to assume that even under the best circumstances, it's not my cup of tea. I absolutely ADORE Foradori's whites, and I think from now on i will stick to them.

1/26/2023 - Pey2001 wrote:

My wine was definitely not Sauvignon Blanc! It was a red wine. White label but same name so they must have a red and white version of the cuvée? Either way, nothing to write home about. Sour and a bit funky. Kind of fun, but pretty simple really. Would be fine with food I guess. Adequate.

12/17/2022 - Pey2001 Likes this wine:

No notes taken at the time, but really delicious. I'll have to open another to make a proper TN.

12/9/2022 - Pey2001 Likes this wine:

Very good QPR here. Cool smelling, as JR notes: nice cherry and red fruit mixed with crushed stone and a hint of sous bois. Bright on the palate, rich cherry fruit, with a lean edge on the back end that isn't drying anymore, but rather clean and fresh. This is drinking really well at the moment, and for the price I bought it at (≈£13 in bond) incredibly good value!

12/6/2022 - Pey2001 Likes this wine:

I was worried that I'd waited too long and this was past it, but far from it, it seems in the perfect place! Medium rich nose of tropical fruit, lemon pith, oyster shell and a slight lactic hint. On the palate it is delightfully crisp, and minerally, with appley undertones and something a little umami hidding in the background. I wonder if this wasn't more raw and natural in its youth, but at the moment it seems incredibly smooth, harmonious and frankly delicious. Very good. So sad this is my only one😭!

12/1/2022 - Pey2001 Likes this wine:

Starting to take on some oxidative notes. A muted peachy nose, with slight hints of oxidation. Thick but light on the palate, not super zingy but still quite fresh. Interesting to keep a condrieu this long. Still yummy, but maybe more of a particular taste by now (luckily it's my taste).

10/9/2022 - Pey2001 Likes this wine:

Very delicious! I wish I'd taken notes at the time 🤦🏻. Round and complete. Lush fruit and very well balanced. A little natural funkiness, but very integrated. I'm sorry I only had one bottle of this vintage!

10/7/2022 - Pey2001 Likes this wine:

Skin contact white. Quite a lot of sediment in the bottle. A copperish pale orange in the glass. On the nose, some stewed apples and honeysuckle, as well as a little flinty ferment. Palate is initially bright, with a sudtle oxidised middle and a gently tannic finish. Quite dry, it's not too stern to drink on its own, bit would be best with food. Don't think it deserves to be kept much longer. Good.

9/26/2022 - Pey2001 Likes this wine:

This wine seems to need a lot of air. Which makes me also think that it can (and perhaps should) cellar longer than these drinking dates suggest. I'm going to keep some longer and see what happens, but if drinking now, a decant one or two hours before drinking is very well served.

9/25/2022 - Pey2001 Likes this wine:

Drank this over two days, and I think it was better in day two. PnP it was a bit soft, but picked up more bite and acidity in the fridge. Lovely rich nose of lemon and custard. Great minerality and lemony sharpness (on day two). Long and lingering, but fresh. Would highly recommend giving this some air or decanting. Good to very good.

9/24/2022 - Pey2001 Likes this wine:

Very delicious wine. Round, balanced, and ready to go. Not sure it's worth the price though. But I was happy to have it!

6/18/2022 - Pey2001 Likes this wine:

Started to oxidised, which was okay, but nicer when it was fresher. Wouldn't keep it past 3 years.

6/18/2022 - Pey2001 Likes this wine:

Lovely, light and fresh.

6/16/2022 - Pey2001 Likes this wine:

Totally agree with Glou.sf. Pale strawberry in the glass. Nose of minerals, slight funk, and red berries. Light and fresh on the palate, with red berries, a bit of mineral tingliness, a subtle umami of naturalist funk, but it is light and bright and ever-so-drinkable. Perfect on the cold side for a summer's evening. Not a ton of structure so doesn't need food. Lots of pleasure and uncomplicated sophistication. Very good for its price as well.

5/18/2022 - Pey2001 Likes this wine:

Delicious and light, but maybe lacking some intensity. Feels thin on the palate. I would drink this as a summer red, but probably best with food. After a bit of air, there is more raspberries and dry cherries coming through. I would let this breath for about an hour before drinking, but expect it to be on the light side.

5/13/2022 - Pey2001 Likes this wine:

Lurid purple in the glass belies a good amount of carignan in the blend. It's a bit reticent on the nose, a slight whiff of cherries, some funk, and grushed gravel. On the palate it is pleasantly sweet at first, some barnyard (only a a little at this point) and rich blue fruit, followed by a nice savoury driness and a long minerally feeling. The tannins are fine, but present. This feels fresh and rich and very complex. A delicious and surprisingly sophisticated wine from Mas Coutelou, who are known more for their glug glug style.

5/6/2022 - Pey2001 Likes this wine:

Very delicious. A bit reticent on the nose, hints of pith and a buttery whiff. Nice prickliness on the tongue, bit of grassiness, followed by lemon and lime notes, and a rich but integrated oak hint. Very fresh and delicious wine, with a nice lick of bitterness and acid well balanced. Fresh and long for an entry level wine. Great QPR.

5/1/2022 - Pey2001 Likes this wine:

Some bruised apple and pear on the nose, comes through stronger on the palate. Could use a touch more acidity for my taste, but a bit of air does it good. Clean and very light, it's pretty good, but could do with a bit more crispness. Good but not great.

4/30/2022 - Pey2001 Likes this wine:

Purplish hue in the glass. Bit funky on the nose, blue fruit with a slight pepperiness. Jammy and fresh on the palate with some gamey brett, but only a touch. Needs a bit of air and maybe should be chilled slightly. Had a rich grapey, pluminess, like sophisticated koolaid. Easy and tasty. Not a revelation, but yummy in a fruity way. However, I think I like Bouju's Môl more. A pleasant picnic wine, quaffable, but merely good.

3/9/2022 - Pey2001 Likes this wine:

Very delicious poulsard. Funky on the nose when opened, but not overwhelming. It takes about an hour to blow off, but always remains an interesting factor mixed with whiffs of muddled strawberries and orange rind. The palate starts with a bit of that fermented tang, mixed with subtle red fruit and a lithe acidity. It takes on some weight as it gets air, become plusher but always remaining on the light side. I've sometimes struggled with the Tissot's amphore savagnin, but this poulsard is excellent.

2/27/2022 - Pey2001 Likes this wine:

A light fizziness on the PNP. It's a bit stern at the moment. Could use a long decant (3+ hours or even a whole day) or some more time in the cellar.

2/25/2022 - Pey2001 Likes this wine:

Very yummy Savagnin. Green apple and pith, good acidity and balance. Not super complex but excellent.

2/21/2022 - Pey2001 wrote:

I think this would have been better younger. Apple-y and a slight pithiness, but feeling a bit faded and certainly lacking a little acidity. Okay, not great.

1/29/2022 - Pey2001 Likes this wine:

Starting to get a little oxidised flavour which I quite like. Still fairly rich and mineral (rather than acid) driven. I don't know how far this will develop and if it's worth it. Maybe drink up now?