Collective Sips.
As my recent days and nights have been consumed and spent sipping unexplored producers and appellations, visiting the dusty shelves of bottle shops, all the while scouring distribution lists and importer preorder offers, email lists, online auctions and internet forums.
The real pleasure is never foraging that sought after bottle, although it does come with a fleeting rush of accomplishment, the real pleasure of developing a library of libations is to share the contents with passionate people who can appreciate and enhance the experience through conversation, knowledge and open minded discussion.
Throughout this summer I have had the pleasure of sitting in on and arranging some spectacular evenings of blind tasting, bottle sharing and just casual sipping.
I decided to take a moment to reflect on some of these events and document my notes on some remarkable wines that without the generosity of others... I probably would never have gotten the chance to experience never mind reflect on.
One of the biggest tastings of the summer was organized by a good friend in Massachusetts. His generosity and mentorship, which blossomed many years ago, really was a pivotal spark that opened my eyes to the art of fine wine. Through this friend I was included in some of my first evenings of focused tasting. Not only the countless bottles of fermented magic we have shared together but his openness to give me space to feel comfortable to express my experiences and perceptions without shame or hesitance. Knowledge is a tool and finding friends and industry members that are willing to help you hone your voice and advise and educate without shaming is so important especially when dealing with fine wine.
Back to the tasting... 12 Loire Valley Cab Francs poured blind in 4 flights of 3 wines.
Sipped, discussed and experienced for the breathe of flavors, vintages and wine making techniques.
Here are my thoughts on the wines:
CABERNET FRANC BLIND
Thierry Germain Clos de Lechelier 2017 (86pts)
(turmeric & cumin spice, earthy raspberry, violets, hint of brett-ripe acididty, fleshy apple, cranberry bright lifted palate, blood orange bitterness, tomato leaf green accents)
Thierry Germain Les Memoires 2019 (87pts)
(soft red fruits, apple skin, raspberry leaf tea-silky red fruit, balanced earth, light pencil lead, floral roses and earthy clay)
Grosbois Clos du Noyer 2010 (90pts)
(mineral driven nose, stemmy greeness, faint red fruit, tar and pyrazine- harmonious and complex with interwoven composted fruit and elegant earth)
Joguet Clos de la Dioterie 2020 (90pts)
(strawberry, straw, moss, composted leaves, tarragon- silky mellow red fruits, cherry, blueberry mingle with soft herbaceous earth nuance)
Thierry Germain Franc de Pied 2016 (88pts)
(dark cherries, funky raspberry,mint, cinnamon- soft layered raspberry and forest nuances with a lingering black raspberry ice cream with chocolate sprinkles)
Guiberteau Les Arboises Breze 2014 (85pts)
(fresh laid asphalt, gun powder, black walnut, cherry skins- fruit evolves as the wine opens but still has this wet leaves and old fireworks that lingers)
Baudry Le Clos Guillot 2019 (84pts)
(peppered red fruits, wet leaves, burnt popcorn, brett- classic but simplistic, brett is integrated but opens the palate to some off nuances)
Chateau Yvonne Saumur Champigny 2018 (92pts)
(minty raspberry, juicy pomegranate, layered red summer berry- focused and evolving palate with lifted acidty and a long deep structured finish, great wine)
Joguet Clos de la Dioterie 2016 (88pts)
(necco wafers, eucalyptus, cherry candy violets and a cantaloupe-silky palate with unique yet well integrated flavors)
Hureau Lisagathe 2014 (86pts)
(flinty, pencil lead mingles with dark red fruits- classic flavors and structure)
Clos Rougeard 2015 (90pts)
(evolving fruit, layered red raspberry, cranberry and fleshy apple round through mysterious earth, softy oak and herbal dill, oregano and tarragon- silky, thought provoking wine)
Guiberteau Les Motelles 2015 (88pts)
(dark fruit forward, plumy almost prune-y with violet floralness and composted earth richness- great stucture, dark extraction of skins adds touch of bitterness with the floral)
OTHER LOIRE VALLEY WINES TASTED
Foreau Vouvray Brut Reserve 2015 (90pts)
Stater-West Saumur Blanc Breze 2018 (88pts)
Belargus Anjou Blanc Treilles 2020 (88pts)
Along with a heavy representation of Loire Valley wines, many AMAZING wines were poured and shared through the breadth of this tasting, one of which that I will always be grateful to have been invited too!
Bartletts Blueberry Wine (French Oak) 1987 Vintage
Along with a few get togethers at the homestead, we have seemingly started a small blind tasting group that we are hoping to meet at least monthly to challenge ourselves and our palates.
Our first blind was in August and along with a Chablis I brought along from
Domaine Tesnut Vieilles Vignes 2019 (not pictured) we also sipped the following:
All delicious offerings and fun to try in a completely blind setting.
I learned a lot this evening, including that I should probably take better notes during these occasions.
