I wish I got what @WOJTEG and @SPENCEP see in this wine, but I just don’t. There’s some drying tannins, a distinct lack of fruit, complexity, or length of finish. I won’t give it a score, but I’ve got 2 more bottles left and I’d be happy to give them away to get the cellar space back.
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Sorry my distinguish and noble members of the CT, but I don't completely understand your very low impression about this wine. This is my first Chenas. With only 635 acres located on the single slopes of Mont Rémont, it is the smallest of the Cru. Chénas owe its name to the oak tree - “Chêne” in French- forest that use to cover this hillside before being replaced by vines in the 15th century Known for their floral, earthy characters and ageability. Chénas, along with Moulin-à-Vent, is one of the most highly-regarded Beaujolais cru wines, and the best examples can be cellared for up to ten years! And we come here to the point... ...and the point is why this very good wine is rated so low. From my subjective point of view I will mention a few points 🙂 Too much licorice, anise in taste. Not enough red fruits Very dry finish, but... But besides that this is very well made wine. If you like these kind of aromas - jump for them. The smell is just wonderful. Ethereal, delicate, elegant aromas of flowers, minerals, red fruits, smoke.
12.5% ABV!
2019 got 94 points according to the WA Vintage Guide. Outstanding. Early maturing and accessible. Wine? Vinous - 93 WE - 91
Vibrant red plums, minerals, a touch of citrus, dried cranberries, sweet flowers, a hint of watermelon, some tannin, and an extremely long aftertaste with a wisp of chocolate, ending on a smoky note. At its best, delightful in fact, a minute or two after opening, but began to close down significantly after only half an hour in the glass. I wonder what this means? A few guesses: First, I personally would not consider decanting this wine, and it might be a good idea to use Coravin. Beyond this, if you have this wine in your cellar, my guess is that the safe choice would be to drink these relatively soon. If not, and if this bottle was typical, I wouldn't be surprised if this wine went into hibernation for a couple of years, so you might give it some time and then see what happens--it may disappoint, but it also may become even better.
[Tasted over an hour and a half from the Jancis Robinson glass. The score reflects the wine at its best, shortly after opening.]
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Really nasty for the first 20 minutes, then improves to almost mediocre. Muddled flavors, an alcohol burn that seems greater than it’s actual 13.5%, low complexity and finish. Glad I only paid $14 for it from Garagiste. Disappointed that I have 5 more left.
I am not getting the Brett notes that others tasters got Aromas of violets and blue fruits, quite ripe in nature A bit of muddy flavours on the palate Medium dusty tannins Excellent length
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This has grown on me a bit from my initial repulsion, with the palate presenting smooth blue fruit, crunchy minerals, and funky fungal details on a long finish. Still, it smells distinctly like horse shit.
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Incredibly hot day, so served very cold. While the funk is noticeable on the nose, the juice displays tightly wound fruit, tannin and acid in relatively equal measure. Fun wine served very cold with charcuterie and I forgive all its previous faults for the way in which it carries tonight’s meats and cheese.
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Less offensively feral than my previous bottle, but ample funk still leads blue fruit and smoke on the nose. Rough tannins, medium acidity. Palate is flat and uninteresting.
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Holy cow, hats off to fellow ct’ers, Brett city, tannin and funk, no real fruit flavor, no gamey twang, disappointment, Vinous off base, drank with pasta, with shrimp, tomato sauce with kale and string beans, won’t be drinking again, another example why you can’t rely on critics; need to taste yourself.
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Grabbed a half case of these on the cheap, and not at all what I expected. Bretty notes on open completely overwhelm the nose, and roll through to an unusually tannic mouth feel for bojo. Needs a few years at least, but not sure it's worth the cellar space.
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Slightly reductive and Bretty out of the gate. Not feeling it on day one. That continues for a few days. Day four, more composed, earthy and fairly fruity. Feels like a bigger, more masculine Beaujolais. Give it a year or two and drink over the couple of years after that, perhaps. That or vigorously decant and aerate before going at it.
5/12/2024 - Big Juicy Red Does not like this wine:
I wish I got what @WOJTEG and @SPENCEP see in this wine, but I just don’t. There’s some drying tannins, a distinct lack of fruit, complexity, or length of finish. I won’t give it a score, but I’ve got 2 more bottles left and I’d be happy to give them away to get the cellar space back.
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3/18/2024 - WojteG Likes this wine: 92 Points
Sorry my distinguish and noble members of the CT, but I don't completely understand your very low impression about this wine.
This is my first Chenas.
With only 635 acres located on the single slopes of Mont Rémont, it is the smallest of the Cru. Chénas owe its name to the oak tree - “Chêne” in French- forest that use to cover this hillside before being replaced by vines in the 15th century
Known for their floral, earthy characters and ageability. Chénas, along with Moulin-à-Vent, is one of the most highly-regarded Beaujolais cru wines, and the best examples can be cellared for up to ten years!
And we come here to the point...
...and the point is why this very good wine is rated so low.
From my subjective point of view I will mention a few points 🙂
Too much licorice, anise in taste.
Not enough red fruits
Very dry finish, but...
But besides that this is very well made wine. If you like these kind of aromas - jump for them.
The smell is just wonderful.
Ethereal, delicate, elegant aromas of flowers, minerals, red fruits, smoke.
12.5% ABV!
2019 got 94 points according to the WA Vintage Guide.
Outstanding. Early maturing and accessible.
Wine?
Vinous - 93
WE - 91
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3/13/2024 - SpenceP wrote: 93 Points
Vibrant red plums, minerals, a touch of citrus, dried cranberries, sweet flowers, a hint of watermelon, some tannin, and an extremely long aftertaste with a wisp of chocolate, ending on a smoky note. At its best, delightful in fact, a minute or two after opening, but began to close down significantly after only half an hour in the glass. I wonder what this means? A few guesses: First, I personally would not consider decanting this wine, and it might be a good idea to use Coravin. Beyond this, if you have this wine in your cellar, my guess is that the safe choice would be to drink these relatively soon. If not, and if this bottle was typical, I wouldn't be surprised if this wine went into hibernation for a couple of years, so you might give it some time and then see what happens--it may disappoint, but it also may become even better.
[Tasted over an hour and a half from the Jancis Robinson glass. The score reflects the wine at its best, shortly after opening.]
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5/4/2023 - Big Juicy Red Does not like this wine: 86 Points
Still ugh. Muddy flavors, some bitterness, no complexity or finish to speak of. Bring it to a party for others to drink.
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1/9/2023 - gordoyflaca Likes this wine: 92 Points
good and beaujy mineral but I would give more time
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11/16/2022 - Sheila62 wrote:
Young bojo, no brett, needs time to unfold, but enjoyable
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10/6/2022 - Big Juicy Red Does not like this wine:
Really nasty for the first 20 minutes, then improves to almost mediocre. Muddled flavors, an alcohol burn that seems greater than it’s actual 13.5%, low complexity and finish. Glad I only paid $14 for it from Garagiste. Disappointed that I have 5 more left.
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9/15/2022 - Alykhan V Likes this wine: 89 Points
I am not getting the Brett notes that others tasters got
Aromas of violets and blue fruits, quite ripe in nature
A bit of muddy flavours on the palate
Medium dusty tannins
Excellent length
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9/12/2022 - grizzlywine wrote: 88 Points
This has grown on me a bit from my initial repulsion, with the palate presenting smooth blue fruit, crunchy minerals, and funky fungal details on a long finish. Still, it smells distinctly like horse shit.
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7/29/2022 - PDX-S wrote:
Incredibly hot day, so served very cold. While the funk is noticeable on the nose, the juice displays tightly wound fruit, tannin and acid in relatively equal measure. Fun wine served very cold with charcuterie and I forgive all its previous faults for the way in which it carries tonight’s meats and cheese.
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7/17/2022 - grizzlywine Does not like this wine: 86 Points
Less offensively feral than my previous bottle, but ample funk still leads blue fruit and smoke on the nose. Rough tannins, medium acidity. Palate is flat and uninteresting.
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5/22/2022 - mwneil Does not like this wine: 82 Points
Holy cow, hats off to fellow ct’ers, Brett city, tannin and funk, no real fruit flavor, no gamey twang, disappointment, Vinous off base, drank with pasta, with shrimp, tomato sauce with kale and string beans, won’t be drinking again, another example why you can’t rely on critics; need to taste yourself.
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5/17/2022 - grizzlywine Does not like this wine: 87 Points
Grabbed a half case of these on the cheap, and not at all what I expected. Bretty notes on open completely overwhelm the nose, and roll through to an unusually tannic mouth feel for bojo. Needs a few years at least, but not sure it's worth the cellar space.
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4/4/2022 - PDX-S wrote:
Slightly reductive and Bretty out of the gate. Not feeling it on day one. That continues for a few days.
Day four, more composed, earthy and fairly fruity. Feels like a bigger, more masculine Beaujolais. Give it a year or two and drink over the couple of years after that, perhaps.
That or vigorously decant and aerate before going at it.
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