2018 Stroebel Coteaux Champenois Le Vin Tranquille Les Cumines

Community Tasting Notes (1) Avg Score: 83 points

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  5/25/2021 - forceberry wrote: 83 Points

  "Le Vin Tranquille" - i.e. a still wine made from direct-press Pinot Meunier sourced from lieu-dit Les Cumines that is located in 1er Cru-classified village in Montagne de Reims. Spontaneously fermented, aged for 13 months in an oak cask, bottled unfiltered on November 3rd, 2016. 12% alcohol. Bottle #127/287.
  
  Pale lemon yellow color with a subtly peachy hue. Somewhat green-toned and slightly leafy nose with perhaps a little bit of geosmin, lending a somewhat raw beetroot note to the nose, followed by understated nuances of key lime, some creaminess and a hint of stuffy reduction. The wine feels crisp, lean and slightly green on the palate with a light-to-medium body and flavors of leafy greenness, some geosmin notes reminding me of tilled soil, a little bit of tangy salinity, light steely mineral tones, a crunchy hint of fresh red apple and a sweeter touch of juicy, ripe white fruit. Pronounced, bracing acidity. The finish is tart, lemony and rather short with intense but quite brief flavors of tangy green apple and sharp lemony tones, some salty notes, a little bit of chalky minerality and a green hint of geosmin, reminding me of raw root vegetables and tilled soil.
  
  An enjoyably crisp and racy, but otherwise somewhat unbalanced and green Coteaux Champenois. It's hard to assess whether the wine is supposed to be like this or if this was just a faulty bottle. For the most part the wine is quite enjoyably crisp and refreshing, but the green geosmin notes (or notes reminiscent of geosmin) are quite distracting. Doesn't leave a lasting impression, even though the wine shows good potential. Perhaps this could get better with age? At least the wine feels like it is painfully young at the moment.

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