TN- 09 Vatan, 08 Guyon, 10 Rapet, 08 Angerville

Lovely lunch at Chez Nous today in downtown Austin. Driving, so just 1 ounce pours of each- and quick impressions.

2009 Domaine Edmond et Anne Vatan Sancerre Clos La Neore

a wine I have never seen before and a most pleasant one at that, pale champagne color, genteel nose, smoothed stones, chalk, on the palate light peach notes at first, with time expands a bit and some lemon peel character comes on, this is light on the palate but with very good persistence, solid length and plenty of mineral undertones throughout I think this could do with a little cellaring but the gentleman who brought it (and knows the Domaine’s wines) indicated a preference for it in youth when it is more precise, I see his point.

***, now but I think 3-5 years in the cellar could at least be fun.

2010 Domaine Rapet Pernand-Vergelesses Les Combettes (blanc)

pale yellow color, lots of bread notes on the nose at first, exceptional palate- very structured wine with lots of white mineral edges to it- but then in the middle a playful and punchy center of citrus and white berry tones, it is the best of both worlds and well balanced, excellent length, a great wine worth seeking (and at $32.50 quite a QPR by modern standards) and hopefully the first indications of 2010 being yet another favorable year for white burgundy, another Domaine I have not tried before- but will again!

***, drinking well now but I really think 5-10 years in the cellar could see some interesting results, hard for me to say as I have little experience with Pernand Vergelesses

2008 Domaine Anthony Guyon Chambolle-Musigny Les Cras

rich red color, tight nose, dark berries and oak, on the palate somewhat chewy, dark cherry and berry fruit in a brooding state, a good bit of tannin, with time some dark spice notes peeking out here and there, good length, in a closed state but still I think this may be a bit heavy for my tastes, it is perfectly good wine but not quite my style.

(***)+?, 2018+ I would hold this a while in the hopes it sheds some of that heft

2008 Domaine Marquis d’Angerville Volnay AOC

medium red color with light rim, bright cherries on the very tight nose and just the barest hints of rose petal and forest floor, on the palate pure racy cherry notes- primary and naked with a hint of iodine, closes up on the lengthy finish but one can sense a wonderful fragrance at the tail end, berry notes with time (red- not black), and increasingly showing great promise, I have always loved d’Angerville, but this bottle feels special to me as did 1993, 1995 and 2002 on release- not in the same ways necessarily but I do think those with some 2008 Angervilles in the cellar will be mighty happy in 10-15 years time. If you want to do a vintage comparison- this feels like a combo of 1989 and 2001 to me with a touch of 1994 to keep things interesting- yes I really did put that much thought into a couple of small sips. This wine really moved me today.

(***), 2018+ surely approachable much sooner but with the aromatic potential here I would prefer to wait a while