TN: 2011 Jean Masson Apremont Vieilles Vignes

WINE TALK
1

Grilling up some rainbow & steelhead trout in a couple hours, so I just stuck a 2011 Boulay Sancerre Comtesse in the fridge. Before I get to that, a “24 hours after opening” look at the above wine.

Light yellow in the glass; I’m getting a distinctive pear fruit note on the nose here that’s quite nice, along with the requisite dose of stoniness.

LIght- to medium-bodied for a white and bone dry on the palate; I get that same note of pear, with a hint of bitterness on the finish that adds an accent to the wine. This is the 5th different note I’ve posted in the last month or so on various vin de Savoie’s by Masson. These are wines made from the Jacquere grape (indigenous to the Savoie).

They make for an interesting white at the table; while there’s not enough “there” to ever think these wines could replace Chablis at the table for me, I think they can serve as an interesting alternative white (much like Muscadet) when you feel like something different. [cheers.gif]

2

How does it compare with the others?

Does it have a note of “mountain stream” (that’s the best I can describe it) that one sometimes finds in Apremont?

3

Peter, this is definitely one of the stronger wines I’ve tried. My recollection is that I was underwhelmed by the Collection and Cuvee Lisa, liked the Dechiree best of the under $20 selections, and today I would say this holds up very well to the Couer. That said, I ordered two of each of the wines in a mixed case initially, and even though I have preferences, I don’t know that I wouldn’t do the exact same thing again were I to re-order, as it’s a way to get a pretty serviceable case of white wine for $20 a bottle on average.

RE: “mountain stream”, all I can say is that folks have different descriptives they use for TNs, and I’m basically an urbanite, so I’m not getting any Philadelphia tap water in this right now [wink.gif] .

4

Thanks, Bob. I tried the Lisa and liked it, and have a Nicolas, Dechirée, and Coeur waiting downstairs. Not the kind of wine I usually drink in winter tho.