Another mixed lot.
Béatrice et Pascal LAMBERT
2017 Chinon Les Puys
Lambert has at least four different Chinons. This one is from clay-limestone (argilo-calcaire) soils. The wine has dark fruits with some soy overtones in a medium-light body with good acidic support, nervosity, and freshness. No hint of excess alcohol. Not a lot of complexity here, but an enjoyable wine. Certified biodynamic and organic. Cork closure. 14% stated alcohol. 89/B+
Domaine des POTHIERS
2020 Côte Roannaise Domaine
From the Gamay St-Romain grape grown on granitic soils, this wine is medium-full with intense, grapy cassis fruit. It’s rustic, but has some charm. Drink with powerful, rustic food such as stews and grilled meats. Certified biodynamic and organic. Cork closure. 13% stated alcohol. 86/B
Domaine de la ROCHE BLEUE/Sébastien CORNILLE
2020 vin de France La Guinguette
How you react to this wine may depend in part on your feelings about the strongly herbaceous, white pepper quality that Pineau d’Aunis adds to this blend with Gamay and Cabernet Franc. Even so, I, a fan of Pineau d’Aunis, find its expression here less than ideal with an imbalance of excess herbaceous quality. The wine is medium-weight with some hardness to its texture and dark stone fruits. I’d drink over the next 5-6 years. Certified organic. Cork closure. 13.5% stated alcohol. 86/B-
Wilfrid ROUSSE
Certified organic.
2021 Chinon Les Galuches
This is Rousse’s Chinon intended for early drinking, coming from alluvial sandy and gravelly soils. Initially, the wine needs some breathing to clean the nose up, but then it is medium-light with dark fruits, a silky texture, and just a bit of spice. Cork closure. 12.5% stated alcohol. Lot L 21.03. 89/B+
2021 Chinon Grain de Folie
If you go to Rousse’s website, there is no mention of this wine; it seems it may be a label (possibly a separate cuvée, but possibly not — the lot number indicates that it is Les Galuches under a different labelling) made to be sold in certain French supermarkets. And yet, the quality here is outstanding, especially for the price. The wine is medium-light with plenty of red and black raspberry fruit, a smooth texture, and plenty of freshness. The wine is intended to be drunk young. Cork closure. 12.5% stated alcohol. Lot L 21.03. 89/B+
2019 Chinon Le Puys
This is the second in Rousse’s lineup of reds, being on slopes on clay-limestone soils. It is a darker wine with more substance and concentration to go with the dark fruits in a medium-full body with a silky texture. This is a lovely wine for drinking now. Cork closure. 13% stated alcohol. Lot L1904. 91/A
IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO RECEIVE NOTIFICATION OF NEW POSTS, PLEASE E-MAIL ME AT: claude.kolm@gmail.com.