Yea, I think the only 2013 I bought was Plouzeau’s Franc de Pied, and that was just to keep my allocation.
Even the Couly-Dutheils were green in 2013!
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Hedonistic.
Firm tannins hanging out in the background and letting spiced fruit come to the fore. Deep and rich yet fresh at the same time, with a cool streak running through mid palate. Flowing smoothly, with a pleasant flinty/salty/lemony bite.
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2021 Domaine des Roches Neuves Saumur-Champigny Terres Chaudes - France, Loire Valley, Anjou-Saumur, Saumur-Champigny (2/6/2025)
Fairly dark garnet, all kinds of lovely earthy, leafy, green notes on the nose, classic cooler vintage loire cab franc, palate follows, with classically framed darker fruit, reserved and restrained, some lovely pyrazine bite, lightly chalky tannins, this is drinkable now with food, but will be better in a decade or more. Very nice mid-week bottle.
Day two: nose is more on the dusty side, still with that mix of leaf pile and green veg, palate is a touch softer now, not quite the pyrazine presence, actually fairly easy to drink. (90 points)
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A couple of Jacky Blots this week:
2009 Domaine de la Butte - Bourgueil - Mi-Pente
Lovely nose of cranberries and red cherry. On opening, I was a little concerned by the slightly syrupy feel to the taste, so I decanted it, which did it the world of good. A bright, fresh attack of cranberries, then a very beguiling taste of wild strawberries, before a crisper, elegant finish mainly featuring red cherries but also violets and rosehips.
Once again, I’m bemused by the CT drinking window which indicates a “best enjoyed” limit in 2023: this is certainly drinking well now, but it has a long way to go and may even improve further.
Just a lovely wine, with none of the brett Blots sometimes suffer from.
2014 Domaine de la Butte - Bourgueil - Perrières
Bright aromas of dark cherry and blackcurrant, then a crisp mouthful of the same, plus a little cranberry and grenadine, and a very silky, subtle finish. Lovely stuff, fruity but refreshing, made in a classical style.
Tasting them together confirmed what I have often suspected - there is no difference in quality between the two cuvées, although I have often read that Mi-Pente is supposed to be the better of the two.
As to which of the two bottles was better - I couldn’t decide. I prefer the crisper style of the 14, but the 09 was more beguiling, so even Stephens and 93 pts each.
I wrote “Jacky” Blot at the start, but it is now his son, Jean-Philippe who runs the estates, Jacky having passed away in 2023. He was a remarkable man, creating from nothing a really impressive array of wines, both white and red, contributing in the process to the improved profile of Loire wines in general. I had the pleasure of meeting him several times - he was always very charming and chatty, with a great sense of humour. I was always impressed and surprised by the fact that he recognised me, or at least professed to have done so (probably the accent and the appalling clothes).
I discovered the whites first, only moving onto the reds with the 05 vintage. I don’t think the reds get the credit they deserve and pricewise, they’re a little under the radar when you consider the quality. In terms of style, I would say that the early years were a little oaky and pushy, although time in the cellar sorted them out, but more recent vintages are much more classical. Definitely worth a try.
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Theo Blet Saumur Rouge Le Corbin 2023
A new name to me, and judging by this bottle worth every attention.
Clearly a young wine, but already pleasure to drink. Medium body, good acidity, a gentle touch of oak. On a floral, fruity side, not unlike say Etienne Bodet, only lighter, finely balanced, yet substantial.
The Chenin La Peyanne is up next.
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Thanks, great to know - I’d never heard of the producer.
I tried a Closiers Coudraies 2020 last night, because a reasonably priced lot is on sale at auction and I wanted to know if it was worth a punt. Well, both you and @Brian_G_r_a_f_s_t_r_o_m were right IMO: quite attractive pepper-tinged crunchy red fruit, but a bit overdone, like a Porte Saint Jean on steroids. One glass was enough - hopefully it will be better tonight! But I think the market has decided what it thinks - my bottle cost about 20€ at auction, so a bit less than the 30 to 40€ I’ve seen at retail.
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If you’re looking for a tasty bargain weeknight pizza bottle, can’t go wrong with
2019 Domaine da la Chevalerie Bourgueil ‘Diptyque’
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Chevalerie is excellent and they are priced very well. I got some '15 Galichet and Breteche I need to check in on.
Though anyone using the word ‘chevalier’ in their name should be flogged.
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Yeah, only new producers do that
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I went through a case or so of the 16 and 17. Haven’t had one since but should look for more.
Why, cause it pisses off Fu and stumps young Somms?
Well, that, and it’s ridiculous to search for a wine with that word in the name lol.
Well, it might be if they actually used chevalier as opposed to chevalerie…
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I couldn’t agree more - Chevalerie is one of my bankers, super reliable and good value. I like all their wines - I’m not sure which is my favourite. Le Grand Mont is the top of the range but I’m not sure it’s better than Les Busardières or the cuvée Chevalerie itself, OTOH both those two are a cut above Breteche (which I like very much too).
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Well crap, my brain just went straight to chevalier! Thanks for pointing this out.
A tricky language.
For years, until yesterday, I thought that Chene Bleu stands for Blue Dog.
Well to be fair, it greatly improved over two evenings. Attractive strawberry and peony aromas, loads of crunchy fruit, quite a classy feel to it, very much for those that like La Porte Saint Jean, Roches Neuves, etc…but…for all that, not a wine I would buy again. The problem is that although it calmed down quite a lot, the fruit is still a bit aggressive and tiresome, the bracing acidity not helping, and the finish is a little hot.
I don’t have enough experience with this wine, but I am careful about making judgments based on a vintage like 2020.