Community Tasting Note

forceberry wrote:

Thursday, November 25, 2021 - A blend of biodynamically farmed Muscat (50%), Chardonnay (30%) and Macabeu (20%). Fermented spontaneously, aged in tanks on the lees for 8 months, bottled unfined and unfiltered. 12,5% alcohol. Tasted blind.

Moderately intense yellow-green color. Somewhat pungent and slightly gaseous nose with crisp and slightly green-toned aromas of white peach, some waxy funk, a little bit of crunchy green apple and a herbaceous hint of grassy greenness. The wine is dry, fresh and lively on the palate with a light-to-medium body and crisp yet somewhat understated flavors of tart green apple, some grassy tones, a little bit of leesy character, light lemony notes of citrus fruits, a hint of stony minerality and a developed touch of honeyed richness. The high acidity lends great sense of structure and freshness to the wine. The finish is crisp, lively and mouth-cleansing with a medium-long aftertaste of tart green apple, some lemony notes, a little bit of stony minerality and herbal hints of grassy greenness.

A nice, fresh and crisp little white, which surprisingly turned out to be 13-yo Gauby Les Calcinaires. Surprisingly, for two reasons: first, the wine most certainly didn't feel like it was 13 years old - most guesses for the vintage ranged between 2013 and 2016; secondly, Les Calcinaires is 50% Muscat, yet the wine didn't show any obvious Muscat character. I mean, ANY. Even the person who poured the wine commented on how the wine was surprisingly linear and un-aromatic. Nevertheless, the wine's wonderfully crisp and fresh for a Roussillon white and still remarkably youthful, showing barely any signs of age. Perhaps a bit linear and one-dimensional at the moment, but hopefully will start showing some tertiary complexity as it ages - although I have no idea how long it will take...

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