Dropping Francs on Cabernet Francs.

Back at it with the Loire Project, as I sip through the last box of cabernet francs accumulated for the project, along with a few still aging gracefully, there were 4 bottles that remained whose cost was a bit more than the average bottle from the project. Not only did I have these four set aside for a special occasion, I also noticed they were from 4 different appellations within the Loire and decided it would       be fun to bring them along for our most recent blind tasting night and share them with the group.

the Line Up

Chateau Yvonne Le Beaumeray 2019

Clau de Nell Anjou 2020

Amirault Le Clos Des Quaterons Saint Nicolas 2019

P. Corbineau Les Clos Vin de France 2021

We poured them one by one, single blind and quickly assessed them as a group.

The next day I sat down and analyzed them again blindly and here are... 

My Thoughts

Chateau Yvonne Le Beaumeray 2019 (95pts) 

Aromas of fresh raspberry, tart wild strawberry, cedar, rosemary, apple skins, violets, olive, moist earth, graphite and tar. 

Palate has bright acidity seamlessly interwoven with a silky body and layers of evolves flavors that unfold with grace on the wines journey. Complex and thought provoking but also harmonious and easy to understand. The interaction of youthful acidity and lively fruit set the stage on this wine and the backdrop of herbal accents and rich focused earth bring everything together for me. Stunning wine! 

Clau de Nell Anjou 2020 (94pts)

Aromas of woodsy cranberry, plum skin, cherry & bramble, accented by tarragon, juniper and a soft flinty warmness that emerges and evolves with nuances of black tea on the deep inhale.

Palate is velvet with dark extracted fruit permeating the flavors as the fruit builds the complexity follows, gently massaging the tongue with density and structure. Layers of red fruits drape the palate as counterpoints of herbal woodsy mystery lead the palate into a lengthy finish.

Amirault Le Clos Des Quaterons Saint Nicolas 2019 (89pts)

Aromas of red fruits, cherry skins, autumn leaves, dried floral potpourri and composted earth. 

Palate follows with classic cabernet franc appeal. A sound wine that hits all the marks I love about about Loire wine. Just being open next to the two wines above seem to shadow this in the tasting. 

Patrick Corbineau Les Clos Vin de France 2021 (70pts)

Aromas of balsamic, burnt popcorn, horseblanket and twizzler candy.

Palate follows with ketchup, over extracted fruit, oxidized funk, light spritz on the tongue. Why would you do this to cabernet franc? Why would you recommend this wine to me for this project... why did I spend so much money on this? Lesson learned, suspicions confirmed.

What a fun line up to share and experience, with the exception of the Corbineau!

Stay tuned for more sipping, musing and bottle foraging.

Sunshine from Bandol

Its been a hot summer, not complaining just making the observation. With heat comes the need for thirst quenching wines. Albarino, Sauvignon Blancs, Roses and cool weather whites from Germany and Austria have been my preference outside of the ongoing Loire Project.

It was on one of these hot sunny days that I convened with a couple fellow foragers to share and compare a slew of wines from around the globe and I decided to reach into my rose cellar and pull a few of my higher end offerings from Bandol, France to kick off the afternoon.

the Wines

Domaine de Terrebrune Rose Bandol 2024

Chateau Ste Anne Rose Bandol 2023 

My Thoughts...

Domaine de Terrebrune Bandol 2024 (92pts)

Pours a blushing coral with soft rusty oxide reflections.

Aromas of cantaloupe, watermelon, golden raspberry, macerated strawberries, sweet tangelo orange and soft floral & herbal accents emerge on the deep inhale with notes of sage, lavender, elderflower, sweet annie and crushed seashells.

The palate is vibrant and persistent with great structure and harmony of fruit, acidity and ethereal summer ocean breezes.

White peach, cantaloupe, wild strawberry, lemon peel, sage and lavender dance along the palate with a kiss of ripe pomegranate shining through on the finish. 

Elegant movement of ripe fruit, soft herbaceousness and refreshing acidity.

Chateau Ste Anne Bandol 2023 (90pts)

Pours a dusty rose color with reflections of pink antiquity and orange sienna.

Aromas are crushed dried potpourri accentuated by candied citrus, melon rind, wild strawberry, cripps pink apples and faint herbal nuances of lemon balm and lavender.

Palate follows the nose nicely with elegance, vibrancy and finesse from start to finish. 

Delicate layers transition from slightly bitter floral to unripe stonefruit, citrus peel, and melon rind all wrapped into a warm summer breeze wafting through the classic provencal herbs of savory, lemon thyme, sage and lavender.

Tuned up acidity drives the flavors into a lengthy finish that adds a bit of that bitter floral note.

Mouthwatering, focused rose from start to finish.

Cheers to the waning days of summer in Maine!

Domaine Weinbach.

Domaine Weinbach 

Altenbourg Pinot Gris 2019

Vendanges Tardives

12.5% abv

130 grams Residual Sugar/ 1000ml

338 grams At Harvest/ 1000ml

A late harvest pinot gris from the Altenbourg cru of Weinbachs prestigious winery built on the site of a former monastery built by the Capuchins around 1612, and since 1898 it has belonged to the Faller family and been home to Domaine Weinbach through generations of farmers and winemakers.

90 acres of biodynamically cultured vineyards spanning 2 crus and 5 grand crus.

All wines are fermented with indigenous yeast and aged in old foudres.

My Thoughts:

Pours a medium to orange golden color with just a touch of fading on the edges.

Aromas are complex and layered.

Dried mango, lavender flowers, mandarin oils, honeysuckle, wildflower honey, golden raisin, bitter dandelion greens and musty peaches.

The palate is complex and layered as well following the aromas nicely. 

Supple mouthfeel coats the palate like silk as the evolution of tropical fruits, savory herbal nuances and youthful citrus forward acidity all dance around the honey soaked peaches and candied pineapple backbone. 

Nuances of saffron, lavender, lemon balm and hyssop waft through the honeyed stonefruit and sweet  tropical smorgasbord that is only limited by my anglosaxon heritage.

This wine at 6 years old and is still in its youth and I feel has much room to evolve and transform, but from where it stands now, Im happy I was able to share it and experience it with some fellow bottle foragers!

 (94pts)