The Dr Mrs and I are making some dinner together so we have a white and a red to go with the meai. Harvested a really nice head of cauliflower from the garden that we’ll steam and sautee, some wild salmon to go with these two wines, too. I continue to become more and more intrigued with Chidaine’s whites and I have a long standing enjoyment of Wes Hagen’s pinots from the estate. Thanks for reading.
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2007 Clos Pepe Estate Pinot Noir - USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Rita Hills - Sta. Rita Hills (12/17/2011)
I last drank one of these in summer of 2010, well over a year so time to mature some more, too. The woodsy note I commented on back then is still true to some degree now. While I called it cologne-like last time, it’s perhaps that but the caramel note is as prominent now. It adds a richness to the experience. In tasting the fruit, and there is plenty of that here, the way it comes across is much like many from Wes and his hand have appeared to me, with plum, blueberry and raspberry rich styling. This vintage, at least to me, lends to a bigger style, yet with the Wes impression, also crunchy and zesty if you let it settle in and taste it fully. Saturating and nealy full bodied but it keeps enough of the zesty fruit, even a soil note in the finish with the acid, to keep it fresh. With all the stuffing and complexity, as well as the wood notes I perceive, this wine should go a long time and soften further, settle up more completely. I had Clos Pepe cellared going back to 2003 earlier this year, a full vertical of both Estate and VS through 2009, and these wines from Wes I continue to enjoy.
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2009 François Chidaine Montlouis-sur-Loire Clos du Breuil - France, Loire Valley, Touraine, Montlouis-sur-Loire (12/17/2011)
Opened this bottle 3 days ago, simply kept the cork in it and left it in the fridge. Even open 3 days, drinking like it was just opened. Yellow apple, pear and good presence of limey acidity. That acidity drives into the finish, joined by orange peel and light mineral, where some honey-like edges round it off. The finish has real good length, as well. I recently bought six more bottles of this wine as I didn’t want to find myself aggravated later when the wine sold out. Looking back, this remans a great purchase, given the 20ish price and the quality of what’s here. Showing great again.
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I am finding Chidaine’s wines to be getting better all the time, and I am buying more and more of it. rarely disappoints, especially at this price range.
Frank,
Thanks for the note on the Chidaine, which haven’t gotten around to tasting yet. It sounds like my kind of Montlouis. How about notes on your Clos/CSJ bash? ![wink [wink.gif]](/uploads/db3686/original/2X/0/04707e6a7bbb03e0153e349d8a9270d30e1e9525.gif)
We forgot how much we enjoyed the Breuil at our dinner a few weeks back. It was unfairly overlooked in favor of the reds, but Sahba and I enjoyed it immensely, and it paired effortlessly with the food, with refreshing brightness pure fruit. Pace yourself!
Frank,
You mention acidity several times in your Chidaine note, and I’m glad to see that. I have been wondering how the '09s would compare to the '08s in this regard. Your note also makes me wonder whether you think the '09s are perhaps a bit more open than the '08s were this time last year. Can you make a comparison based on your experiences with both?
Thanks,
Brad
Brad, I drank several of the 08s, mainly the Bouchet several times, but also Habert and Choisilles. As for the 09s, the Bouchet once and the Breuil now several times. I honestly didn’t groove too much with the Bouchet, as it seemed more unctuous and sweeter to me, despite there being some acidity. The Breuil to me is just better, has more cut. I have not had the other 09s and I don’t think Greg @ Envoyer is going to bring any more of them in for sale. Thus, be waiting for the 2010s next. I do think the 08s are better and I wish I could easily land some Breuil to see how it fared. Based on the 08 vs. 09 Bouchet, if there is similar qualities of cut vs. sweetness from the two vintages, I would prefer the 2008s.
Chidaine does it again.
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2009 François Chidaine Montlouis-sur-Loire Clos du Breuil - France, Loire Valley, Touraine, Montlouis-sur-Loire (2/15/2012)
Another bottle bites the dust. Opened on Valentine’s evening with the Dr Mrs. This is a great again. Nectarine, tart apple, light shading of pear and lots of cut through the lime flavored acidity. I’ve rarely passed on any Chidaine offered by Envoyer and I intend to keep adding all the cuvees to my cellar. This Breuil is excellent, and between this and some go to Chablis from Louis Michel. I’m perfectly happy putting these 20-30 buck wines in my cellar and really not missing all the 3 digit white burg targets. Chidaine is a genius. Happy to have got the offer and bought in on the 2010 this week, as well!
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