What a delight. One of those gifts of cellaring wine. This presented so bright for its age - striking green gold with pristine clarity and lifted energy. The wine deliver both maturity and vibrancy - so special and magical…both taut and rounded. Honey, honeydew, white/yellow flowers, fennel, perhaps a tinge of citrus (mandarin). Drinking like a top class aged German Riesling but with a great depth and roundness from the Chenin. Honestly spectacular. So much complexity - dances on the tongue like a ballet russes production (a somewhat personal evocation)
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In the five years since my last bottle, this has matured beautifully. It isn't better, just different. The nose begins with citrus fruits and white flowers before more exotic notes of peach and very ripe pear. In the mouth, the initial taste of apple has been replaced by an attack of citrus fruits, leading into broad strokes of honey, before the peach uncoils and wraps itself around the tongue, but as usual with a Champalou, the fresh, crisp finish avoids any stodginess. It's a wonderful example of Vouvray.
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Exquisite nose of apples, ripe pears, then honey and flowers. In the mouth, there's an immediately fresh, crisp taste of apples, before the second wave of honey kicks in, culminating in a long, dry and refreshing finish. Subtle, complex, without any hint of stodginess. This has evolved since last year, the honey is coming to the fore, it will be better still in another two years.
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Brought to a BBQ party. Minerality is shining through (especially on finish) but there are still good fruit flavors and good acidity. The nose is minerally and has a seaweed note to it. That seaweed note does not carry through on the palate. It is off dry but all is well integrated and does not seem sweet. This paired well with grilled bratwurst and mustard.
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Drier-tasting than most Champalous, probably due to the acidity, which gives it an agreeably fresh taste, more apple based than the usual honey. I loved it.
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There's decent fruit here, seems just off-dry, with not a lot of residual sugar, a bit of tartness, and some interesting complexity and touch of minerality through the finish. But an underlying hint of something just off, like a red apple kept too long and starting to hit its down side, takes away from the overall experience. Enjoyable, and very drinkable, but a couple notches down from the peaks of some other wines I've had from this vintage like Huet and Chidaine.
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Very nice Vouvray with a touch of sweetness. Pretty nose, good balance. Find no fault with it other than the Noel Bougrier was more complex and richer for only $11.
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So enjoyable and yet serious. On the nose there is nice fruit of peach-apricot, green pea, and minerality. It has enough acidity to be racy, broad chenin on palate, clean, soft, ever so lightly sweet (or "sec tendre") with gives heft and roundness. Great on its own, especially as aperitif being very lightly sweet, but can see it with food too. I am liking it younger but curious to see it evolve. Good value, thumbs up.
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Very nice vouvray. Apricot pits and quince on the nose. On the palate lots of lemons, limes, hints of quince, nice acidity and very nice minerally finish. Very enjoyable, but perhaps slightly lighter and less complex than Francois Pinon basic cuvee. Even though wine smells and taste of nice sweet fruit it is actually quite dry. Nice: 89-90-
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Oh yeah, this is Chenin goodness. All of that lychee and pineapple goodness ultra-concentrated with bright acidity. So much flavor here. The nose is pretty standard, but it is good. Long finish, seamless, complete wine.
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seashore, white flowers and salts on the nose, nice mouthful of lemon wedge, honey, and pineapple, good minerality, a fresh kick of nervy acidity, I appreciate the balance, very nice on its own, delicious tartness, just a complete palate for me
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Very pretty, crisp, clear with a touch of honeysuckle and a nicely integrated lemony acidity. Broad with a nice long lemony finish and a hint of nuttiness. Delicate, complex, light, beautiful wine. B/B+
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2/26/2022 - nwebstar Likes this wine: 95 Points
What a delight. One of those gifts of cellaring wine. This presented so bright for its age - striking green gold with pristine clarity and lifted energy. The wine deliver both maturity and vibrancy - so special and magical…both taut and rounded. Honey, honeydew, white/yellow flowers, fennel, perhaps a tinge of citrus (mandarin). Drinking like a top class aged German Riesling but with a great depth and roundness from the Chenin. Honestly spectacular. So much complexity - dances on the tongue like a ballet russes production (a somewhat personal evocation)
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2/24/2018 - Julian Marshall Likes this wine: 92 Points
In the five years since my last bottle, this has matured beautifully. It isn't better, just different. The nose begins with citrus fruits and white flowers before more exotic notes of peach and very ripe pear. In the mouth, the initial taste of apple has been replaced by an attack of citrus fruits, leading into broad strokes of honey, before the peach uncoils and wraps itself around the tongue, but as usual with a Champalou, the fresh, crisp finish avoids any stodginess. It's a wonderful example of Vouvray.
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5/22/2014 - bvin wrote: 90 Points
Crisp, refreshing, appley. Virtually unnoticeable residual sugar. Good stuff.
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6/4/2013 - Julian Marshall Likes this wine: 92 Points
Exquisite nose of apples, ripe pears, then honey and flowers. In the mouth, there's an immediately fresh, crisp taste of apples, before the second wave of honey kicks in, culminating in a long, dry and refreshing finish. Subtle, complex, without any hint of stodginess. This has evolved since last year, the honey is coming to the fore, it will be better still in another two years.
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6/2/2013 - gfish wrote: 89 Points
Brought to a BBQ party.
Minerality is shining through (especially on finish) but there are still good fruit flavors and good acidity. The nose is minerally and has a seaweed note to it. That seaweed note does not carry through on the palate. It is off dry but all is well integrated and does not seem sweet.
This paired well with grilled bratwurst and mustard.
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3/18/2012 - Julian Marshall wrote:
Drier-tasting than most Champalous, probably due to the acidity, which gives it an agreeably fresh taste, more apple based than the usual honey. I loved it.
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9/28/2011 - alanr Likes this wine: 86 Points
There's decent fruit here, seems just off-dry, with not a lot of residual sugar, a bit of tartness, and some interesting complexity and touch of minerality through the finish. But an underlying hint of something just off, like a red apple kept too long and starting to hit its down side, takes away from the overall experience. Enjoyable, and very drinkable, but a couple notches down from the peaks of some other wines I've had from this vintage like Huet and Chidaine.
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5/25/2011 - RSK wrote: 87 Points
It was perhaps overly sweet right after opening, but the acidity really kicked in after it had been open for an hour or so. Nicely balanced.
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4/5/2011 - Amallander wrote: 85 Points
Honey suckle
Light toast oakiness
Tarte
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3/5/2011 - aagrawal wrote: 88 Points
Nice acidic balance, but not overly flavorful. Medium bodied, simultaneously a bit creamy and clean/crisp, very nice finish. Enjoyable.
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12/22/2010 - Sauvyfan Likes this wine: 88 Points
Very nice Vouvray with a touch of sweetness. Pretty nose, good balance. Find no fault with it other than the Noel Bougrier was more complex and richer for only $11.
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11/21/2010 - gnosis wrote:
So enjoyable and yet serious. On the nose there is nice fruit of peach-apricot, green pea, and minerality. It has enough acidity to be racy, broad chenin on palate, clean, soft, ever so lightly sweet (or "sec tendre") with gives heft and roundness. Great on its own, especially as aperitif being very lightly sweet, but can see it with food too. I am liking it younger but curious to see it evolve. Good value, thumbs up.
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10/18/2010 - hutch wrote: 90 Points
Best Beverage Trade Tasting (Warehouse): 10/18/10: Bright fruit. So clean. Apricots. Delicious. 90
5/11/10: Great stuff. Apricots. Really pure and focused. Delicious. Long, elegant finish. Terrific. 90+
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9/14/2010 - dke wrote: 89 Points
Very nice vouvray. Apricot pits and quince on the nose. On the palate lots of lemons, limes, hints of quince, nice acidity and very nice minerally finish. Very enjoyable, but perhaps slightly lighter and less complex than Francois Pinon basic cuvee. Even though wine smells and taste of nice sweet fruit it is actually quite dry. Nice: 89-90-
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9/11/2010 - MuseMaven wrote: 90 Points
Excellent food wine. Terrific acidity, some nice fruit (not too much, though) and an excellent mouth feel. Gotta love Kermit Lynch!
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7/9/2010 - Cabfrancophile wrote: 90 Points
Oh yeah, this is Chenin goodness. All of that lychee and pineapple goodness ultra-concentrated with bright acidity. So much flavor here. The nose is pretty standard, but it is good. Long finish, seamless, complete wine.
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6/1/2010 - EMichels wrote: 90 Points
Round/Soft nose; Nice bite; Grape juice
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5/13/2010 - whits wrote: 89 Points
seashore, white flowers and salts on the nose, nice mouthful of lemon wedge, honey, and pineapple, good minerality, a fresh kick of nervy acidity, I appreciate the balance, very nice on its own, delicious tartness, just a complete palate for me
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5/8/2010 - drwine2001 wrote:
Pretty non-descript Vouvray lacking intensity and acidity.
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4/27/2010 - MRichman wrote:
Very pretty, crisp, clear with a touch of honeysuckle and a nicely integrated lemony acidity. Broad with a nice long lemony finish and a hint of nuttiness. Delicate, complex, light, beautiful wine.
B/B+
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3/23/2010 - WetRock wrote:
Gulfstream with Shawn Boeschen - Boeschen Vineyards (Gulstream, Newport Beach, CA): Tart and very dry. No hint of sweetness but with a strong palate weight. Bright with strong acidity. Chenin I can appreciate.
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