1984 Gitton Père et Fils Pouilly-Fumé Clos Joanne D'Orion

Community Tasting Notes (1) Avg Score: 93 points

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  3/4/2019 - forceberry wrote: 93 Points

  Medium-deep lemon yellow color with developed bronze overtones. Rich, vaguely fruity and attractively complex nose with aromas of wizened red apples, cloudberries, some honeydew melon, a little bit of Gewurztraminer-ish lychee, light oxidative nutty tones, a hint of aged creaminess and a mushroomy touch of earth. The nose here feels remarkably alive for the age. The wine is medium-bodied, oily and somewhat bitter on the palate with a mouthfeel that is concentrated by the age. There are rich and quite tertiary flavors of ripe citrus fruits and honeyed richness, some apple peel bitterness, a little bit of developed creaminess, light mushroomy tones, somewhat aldehydic and subtly oxidative hints of salted nuts and green apple slices and a touch of leather. The high acidity lends good freshness and intensity to the wine. The finish is long, complex and quite tertiary with layered flavors of wizened and somewhat bruised apples, some mushroomy tones, a little bit of tangy salinity, light nextarine-driven stone fruit notes, a hint of damp undergrowth and a touch of leather.
  
  A beautifully complex, harmonious and thoroughly delicious old Sauvignon Blanc that is remarkably alive for a Sauvignon Blanc at 35 years of age and especially for a wine from the dreaded 1984 vintage. There's quite little "Sauvignosity" here, bar the relatively light body and high acidity, but the wine isn't just completely tertiary: there's still a vibrant streak of fruit running through the wine, lending it a wonderful counterpoint to the more savory, nutty and smoky flavors that have appeared with age. It's thrilling to see how a dry Sauvignon Blanc this old can be singing. Most likely won't develop anywhere from here but down, but I don't see this wine falling apart anytime soon. Just so very beautiful. Highly recommended.

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