He’s like the Fonz* of this message board. Just with better taste in alcohol. Don’t tell him I said that because he’s ego is already so big as to be a critical factor in global warming ![[wink.gif]](/uploads/db3686/original/2X/0/04707e6a7bbb03e0153e349d8a9270d30e1e9525.gif "wink"){kind=small}
*If you’re too young:
![[rofl.gif]](/uploads/db3686/original/2X/a/a7452fcd8e675af869f8da01174474a545b03944.gif "rofl"){kind=small}
The man has given me some terrific advice on how to get started on Loire CFs!
I’ve never met Robert, but I’m sure he wouldn’t mind being the Fonz of the board - he’ll have to change his avatar!
This thread is getting on for a year old soon, so I was wondering if the original “classification” shouldn’t be revised a little, if people’s ideas have changed.
I’ve been checking on one producer in particular recently: Olga Raffault.
Olga Raffault - Les Picasses - 2012
Quite light cherry aromas, with a little tobacco and spice, a fairly muted attack, then finally a ripple of cherry and strawberry. All in all rather bland and with a strong backdrop of green. Perfectly drinkable but no more.
Olga Raffault - La Singulière - 2012
The Singulière was much more appealing: more aromas, more fruit, much less green, it was like the Picasses with the volume turned up - the ripple mid-palate was a crescendo and was completed by a fresh, bright attack and a long finish. But it still had the necessary elegance and class.
Olga Raffault - Les Picasses - 2009
A touch of barnyard, then a nose of dark cherry and blackberry, before a much fuller, rounder and richer mouthful than the 2012, with notes of black cherry and blackberry before a sweet raspberry phase mid-palate and a long but crisp finish. The only proviso is that you have to like a bit of green, because this wine has it lurking in the background.
Olga Raffault - Les Picasses - 2010
Tasted at the same time as the 2009, this was very similar concerning the nose, but with a tighter, more concentrated attack and a sweeter middle section of wild strawberry. The finish seemed higher somehow and better defined.
It was fun drinking the two together, feeling the wines veer off in different directions mid-palate. I liked them both, with a tiny preference for now for the 2010 - which was less green.
This was of course an interesting experience, a lot of fun, especially post-Covid!
Whether or not La Singulière has been created at the expense of Les Picasses I don’t know, but I know which one I will buy more of in the future - because it is only a few euros more anyway.
Some have complained about oak in la Singulière - I didn’t notice any and I normally would.
We classed this producer in the Seconds, which I think is a little high. I enjoyed the wines, especially the 09 and the 10, along with the Singulière, but I can’t really say that they were as good as a top Joguet, for example. What I did find a little bothersome was the green backdrop, which all three Picasses had - I’m not against a minty touch but it was more like celery.
However, one point has not changed - the price. These wines are seriously good value. Over here you can still buy the 2009 and the 2010 direct for around 20 euros, which is incredible.
I’m no connoisseur of Raffault so I’d love to hear more from those that are.
Ha, I thought they were calling you the Fonz! Given my flowing dark locks, I did think it was more apropos to me. Of course, I prefer Lycra to Leather, but at least both are kink, so ok. 
Personably, I prefer the royalty avatar. Fonz was a man of the people.
Ugh, I’m so jealous! And thanks for the notes Julian!
Hmmm. Pretty sure Henry Winkler was/is a short, pasty white, Jewish guy from Brooklyn. Sort of closer to me than you. But he was the Fonz to all of us, so ok!
Watching Happy Days as a kid in NYC, it never struck me as off that he was home-grown Milwaukee with a NYC accent until I moved to the Midwest in 1979. (Ditto Penny Marshall as Laverne.)
Very true my friend, between us, I really envision myself more as Manny from Scarface. The looks department that is, not the Coke-snorting, machine gun-toting, drug peddler, though I did like the Miami nightlife quite a bit way back then.
This Scarface reference caused me to imagine Robert as Alex Sosa:
“I told you a long time ago you little f-ing monkey, not to trust f-ing MICHAEL ROLLAND!!!”
Picked up a half bottle of 2004 Les Picasses for $15 at a local shop and while I haven’t had enough Loire CFs to rank where this should be, it really gives you a bang for your buck. Absolutely loved it.
Damn that’s a great find!
Julian—sounds like you were pretty taken with the Singuliere. Any info on the site where the vines are located? It’s not so easy to find here, unfortunately.
I’ve never met him, either. I’m sure he’s a real gentleman. I referenced the Fonz as an (amusing) compliment! I wouldn’t want to say anything bad about him. I’ve learnt so much about French red wine (outside of Burgundy) from him. I’m a proud owner of a case of 2003 SM due to his comments. Wow! What a wine. Thanks Robert!
Of course it was about you. I thought you’d like it!
From what I can tell from their website, it’s like a super cuvée made from vines in the oldest parts of the domain. Yields are supposed to be lower and the wine spends 2 to 3 years in small barrels, whereas Les Picasses spends 1 to 2 years in much larger casks, hence the fact that some have noticed oak aromas and tastes. In the US, according to the basic version of WS, there is only one shop selling it, Wally’s Wine and Spirits in LA, for $40. Over here (sorry!) it’s 19€ compared to 15€ for Les Picasses in 2014.
It’s certainly worth a try. I’ve only had the 2012 so far but I will sample a 2014 soon.
I indeed liked it a lot - for a 2012, it’s impressively ripe tasting.
Trying an Alliet Chinon VV 2018 for the first time (14 EUR) - bought a couple of his cuvées in 2018 vintage to try.
This one is obviously young. It’s also the first 2018 Loire I try. It is quite ripe and relatively full bodied. Tannis are present but relatively smooth. I would not pick this out blind as a loire wine, as the typical cabernet flavours are very much on the background.
Still trying out a few producers. This is a nice wine (and certainly for the price), but I prefer the Roches Neuves I have tried so far - those are not from 2018 though there is likely a bit of vintage impact on my assesment.
Sorry to hear that this didn’t make a more positive impression. The wine is a favorite of mine in it’s price range (though I have yet to try the 18). Be sure to post as you continue sampling different producers. I’m always curious to see which ones grab people’s attention.
Thanks for pointing this out. There seems to be some cross-mingling errors in CellarTracker between Antoine Sanzay and Domaine des Sanzay. Two examples:
- Les Dares is only listed under Antoine Sanzay when it’s actually produced by Domaine des Sanzay
- Almost all (maybe all) of the photos for the Antoine Sanzay Saumur-Champigny bottlings are photos of the Domaine des Sanzay Saumur-Champigny estate releases
Domaine des Sanzay has apparently been around a long time - 5 generations according to their website.
https://www.domaine-sanzay.com/fra
In any case, I’ve only tried the 2018 Domaine des Sanzay Saumur-Champigny estate, which I found to be excellent. However, my experience with Loire is very minimal and therefore I have no context to compare it to anything else. (I also bought several bottles of 2017 Les Dares, but my readings suggest those should be cellared for some time so I haven’t tried one yet.)
Thanks for this. I’ve seen that kind of error in CT before—presumably due to users who get confused. I don’t think the admins have the time to track them all down and fix them.
That aside, it’s nice to hear from someone who has actually tasted the wine. You should definitely report back on the Les Dares whenever you get around to opening one.
I’ll mention that I’m also a fan of Antoine Sanzay’s wines. Don’t hesitate to try one of his should you cross paths with some.
Courtesy of this thread, I had my first Breton- '03 Bourgueil “Les Perrieres”. Initially bit muted and light upon opening but with about two hours of air, it turned into a completely different beast with dark fruit, mint, and just the right amount of tannin and acidity. Not as green as I like (have to admit , I really enjoy the greenness of cab francs), but it was very enjoyable. This thread has truly been a rabbit hole for me haha. Love it.
Had Antoine Sanzay’s Les Poyeux 2016. Was good.
I like Jean-Pierre Robinots and La Grapperie’s Pineau d’Aunis wines. Light but “spicy” reds. Can almost remind a bit of Campari at times. It is natural wine so can be a bit funky and with some bottle variation.
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