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 In the mouth, the initial taste of apple has been replaced by an attack of citrus fruits, leading into broad strokes of honey, before the peach uncoils and wraps itself around the tongue, but as usual with a Champalou,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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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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