Shameful that I never posted my TN on the 17 Grenouilles on this thread. That was my WOTY last year
2017 Louis Michel Chablis Les Grenouilles
Picked one up to try–I’ve had next to no Grenouilles in my career. Tried it. Jumped on the site and bought 5 more. I saw William’s note on this and respect his palate very much, but the bottle I tried wasn’t the bottle he tried . My bottle was stunning. On first opening, the purity of the lime at the front and the mineral at the back is beguiling. A couple days later, it has rounded off some but hasn’t lost a jot of its persistence at the back of the mouth, though it added some pear notes and green apple. This wine is almost searing to me in its individuality and character. John Gilman gave a 94 and I have no reason to argue with that score except to add a plus sign. Really strong contender for WOTY for me.
Over a couple of nights, the 2015 Louis Michel ‘Forets’ [Chablis] shows the character of a warm vintage. 13% abv, medium bodied, but more fleshy and medium acid, than crisp and taut as the AOC typecasts might be. Meadows had noted some reduction in this bottling, and personally I found it much better on day 2, after it had gotten some air, than upon initially pulling a cork. As the weather heats up - it’s already 80F+ here - this ilk of wine assume more of the post work / pre dinner drinking regimen. It’s a nice wine, but generally, for the same monies I’d be happier with a Sonoma Coast chardonnay. To wit: I thought a recent 2014 Phelps ‘Freestone’ Chardonnay - which critics compared to a premier cru Chablis - to be more Chablis like than this.
In my ledger, a B grade. I tend to have a New World commercial palate in this varietal.
2015 Louis Michel ‘Butteaux’ Vieille Vignes [Chablis] This 13% abv premier cru Chablis is light bodied, yet low acid and round, attributes which I don’t tend to experience together in the same bottle. I think that must have been a function of the solar vintage. Color is pale straw, and taste/texture it reminded me of a low/no oak Sonoma coast chardonnay. I liked it (B+ on my scorecard) and the Mrs. loved it, so the bottle lasted only to the end of dinner, which was a time consuming chicken satay with an (unpictured) peanut sauce and rice. [Nomenclature corrected now]
I own quite a bit of Louis Michel Chablis, and have had great luck with this producer. That said, there have been a lot of credible reports of premox here.
Last night I opened a bottle of 2014 Louis Michel Les Clos. My first impression was that it might be off; there was no nuttiness or cider on the nose, but the briny, almost medicinal iodine character on the palate as well as the acidity were so intense it was shocking. As the wine sat and I adjusted, it turned out to be an exceptional bottle. Its power didn’t come from the delicious yellow citrus fruit, but from the force of saline minerality, iodine, and sharp acidity. A beauty with food.
A 2017 Butteaux (not V.V.) last week was absolutely delicious.
We’ve had 8 or 9 2017 MdTs over the years and it has always been stellar. We’ve also had 8 2017 Butteaux V.V.s which always delivered. That was the Louis Michel wine which prompted me to load up on them over the next 2 or 3 years.
Their 2014’s are the bomb. the Vaudesir takes a while to get going, but power to burn. As you may remember, I worked for Vineyard Brands and while I always bought Dauvissat each year, I loaded up on Louis Michel because it was a terrific value. Plus, really nice people!
Looks like a heavy trend here but their Butteaux has rarely overcome the MdT, Séchets or Forêts for me. Or, maybe I’m a nostalgic and stick to my first loves.
I assume where talking 1er here because otherwise it’s Grenouilles and Les Clos all day long!
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. My bottle was stunning. On first opening, the purity of the lime at the front and the mineral at the back is beguiling. A couple days later, it has rounded off some but hasn’t lost a jot of its persistence at the back of the mouth, though it added some pear notes and green apple. This wine is almost searing to me in its individuality and character. John Gilman gave a 94 and I have no reason to argue with that score except to add a plus sign. Really strong contender for WOTY for me.
