2016 Domaine des Ardoisières Vin des Allobroges Schiste

Community Tasting Notes (5) Avg Score: 91 points

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  1/1/2022 - Pey2001 Likes this wine:

  As it happens, recently, I've been drinking a lot of what I would call soft whites: aka Northern Rhone or Savoie whites made with Roussanne or Marsanne, or blends thereof. Though it doesn't have any Marsanne or Roussanne, this Savoie blend is definitely in the soft white category, and I would contend is a really convincing alternative for those kinds of wines, but the subtle mix of Jaquère, Roussette, Pinot Gris and Mondeuse Blanc in this wine keeps things interesting and alive, while the purer (and often more expensive) varietal wines can lack energy. I am thinking of it in relation specifically to a 2015 Marc Sorrel Hermitage Blanc as well as a 2014 Gilles Berlioz Les Filles (100% Marssanne and Roussanne respectively) that I drank in the past few weeks, and I have to say I really enjoyed this blend much more. It's not an inexpensive wine, but neither are the others, but increasingly, my money is on the blends rather than the pure varietals.
  
  This wine is only subtley aromatic at this stage, possibly it had more peach and apricot on the nose before, but there is enough now to entice without being cloying. On the palate, the entry is quite soft, round and smooth feeling, without an acidic attack, and the fruit flavours of peach and apricot and pear are not over the top, but what follows is a perfectly balanced hit of minerality and acidity that seems to lift it just enough. It is so finely banced—neither in your face, nor too withdrawn, and intensely drinkable. Not lipsmackingly refreshing, but never tiring or dull. Very good.

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  12/10/2021 - NickA Likes this wine: 92 Points

  Christmas Wimps 2021 - Home Alone 2 table (La Trompette): Very easy-going, especially at first, with a caressing, water-like mouthfeel and a rather fey and floral nose. Chamomile and yoghurt on the seductively creamy palate, then a kick of acid to drive energetically through the finish. The overall effect was like the kid brother of a white CNDP. Good, but probably not a repurchase (£48 on the table).

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  9/8/2021 - William Kelley Likes this wine: 92 Points

  The 2016 Schiste is really drinking beautifully today, offering up aromas of honeycomb, crisp orchard fruit and Chartreuse-like spices and botanicals. Medium to full-bodied, satiny and seamless, with lively acids and the tonic quality the French would designate "digèste", its ample mid-palate segues into a finish of unerring precision.

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  5/24/2020 - chbeaumont wrote: 89 Points

  Primrose colour; unwinds with air, expressive mix of aromatics & extraction; dry, yet oily richness coats the palate, plenty of weight, refreshing; impactful finish, concentrated. As mentioned below, merits decanting (which I failed to do). May improve.

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  6/9/2018 - Ydaucourt wrote: 91 Points

  Another great wine from Ardoisiere. One of the most interesting winemaker in Savoie. It’s a blend of local grapes. There is a nice energy in this wine. Great acidity and good length. Should be decanted for a couple of hours and not served too cold.

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