Saturday TNs: Two whites from Savoie

WINE TALK
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Stepping out of my comfort zone on a Saturday afternoon (I must be channeling my inner Rich Trimpi), I pulled corks on two recent acquisitions. First up,

2011 Jean Masson Apremont Cuvee Nicolas

LIght yellow in the glass, with a reticent nose with white fruit (apples most pronounced) and flowers. You also get a hint of iodine that comes and goes.

Vibrant and dry on the palate, very crisp with framing acidity - different flavor profile, but in terms of weight and “impact”, reminds me of a muscadet. I believe this is made with something called Jacquere - to the best of my recollection, I’ve never tried a wine with that grape before, but this isn’t bad.

Back in a sec.

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I drank the 2011 Coeur d’Apremont from Masson last night, Bob.
HOLY SHIT is it good…No excess fat at all, yet positively silky mouthfeel that goes all STONY STONY on the long finish…yummo.

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Next up is the 2011 Jean Masson Apremont Collection.

Similar in color to the first wine; nose features a quinine note that I find quite appealing. Really more about minerality and less about the fruit on the nose right now.

Bone dry - almost like taking sand paper to your tongue [wink.gif] . I’m drinking this solo right now, but this probably need some food. I’m grilling up a rainbow trout in about an hour, so we’ll see if this responds, but right now it’s very severe and ungiving.

Both wines are corked with artificial enclosures, and both sell for less than $20 a bottle; in my opinion, France & Italy have been two of the slower countries to get away from cork, so it’s nice to see certain winemakers willing to do so (at least at the everyday drinker level).

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Cheers and enjoy Bob. The first wineries I visited in France were in the Savoie, going on 25 years ago.

RT

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Thanks Bob. Have to try that one if I can get it. I lived in Grenoble some years ago and enjoyed Apremont, but I haven’t found a good one lately. All the recent ones I’ve had were Pierre Boniface, which is good but not great.

BTW it is made with the Jaquère grape. IIRC it’s only used in that region.