The 11% and less thread

[Claude Kolm]

For those of us who aren't fans of big alcohol.

2024 Maison des Ardoises Silice Blanc
Wow, what a wine! This is entirely from the Jacquère grape, which I thought gave neutral, unfocused wines that I didn’t like; but maybe they were just too ripe. This wine is bright, nervy, and energetic with plenty of citric fruit in the nose and mouth. Be sure to serve this around 10ºC/50ºF. Certified organic. Cork closure. 10.5% stated alcohol.

Given what I paid in Paris, I would expect this to be +/-$40 in the US when sales tax and tariff are included and I thought that would be too much. But really, this is so impressive, maybe not.

 

[Florida Jim]

Thanks.
How much do you think the vintage/amount of aging played in your assessment?

 

[Peter Creasey]

I'm seeing the Domaine des Ardoisieres Cuvee Silice Blanc, Savoie, France 2024 for $32 - $40.

. . . . . Pete

 

[MLipton]

Most interesting idea, Claude. I'll have to keep an eye out for bottles that I open that qualify. Since I no longer drink pet-nats, a major source of

 

[mark e]

originally posted by Peter Creasey:

I'm seeing the Domaine des Ardoisieres Cuvee Silice Blanc, Savoie, France 2024 for $32 - $40.

. . . . . Pete

Assume that includes tax and shipping. It is about $24 where I am, which seems reasonable.

 

[Claude Kolm]

originally posted by Peter Creasey:

I'm seeing the Domaine des Ardoisieres Cuvee Silice Blanc, Savoie, France 2024 for $32 - $40.

. . . . . Pete

I'm pretty sure that's the Maison; the label looks like the Domaine wines, and unless you look closely, you won't notice that it says Maison instead of Domaine on this particular wine.

 

[Claude Kolm]

originally posted by mark e:

Assume that includes tax and shipping. It is about $24 where I am, which seems reasonable.

That's pretty good; it was 15.90e here in Paris, which my credit card company converted to $18.70, and I believe that the tax here in France is considerably less than in Norway.

 

[Claude Kolm]

originally posted by Florida Jim:
Thanks.
How much do you think the vintage/amount of aging played in your assessment?

I've liked the wines a lot over the years; obviously the vintage kept the alcohol low, which I think gave extra freshness.

 

[Peter Creasey]

originally posted by Claude Kolm:

I'm pretty sure that's the Maison;

Claude, here's an example that readily came up...

Domaine des Ardoisieres Cuvee Silice Blanc, Savoie, France 2024 $32.00

Caves

. . . . . Pete

 

[Claude Kolm]

Look closely at the label -- it says Maison des Ardoises.

 

[mark e]

originally posted by Claude Kolm:

originally posted by mark e:

Assume that includes tax and shipping. It is about $24 where I am, which seems reasonable.

That's pretty good; it was 15.90e here in Paris, which my credit card company converted to $18.70, and I believe that the tax here in France is considerably less than in Norway.

Not sure on the taxes. Ours is 25% VAT (inclusive) plus a bunch of other smaller amount taxes incl. one on the alcohol content.

 

[Peter Creasey]

originally posted by Claude Kolm: Look closely at the label -- it says Maison des Ardoises.

Claude, you're right...I should have looked at the label instead of trusting the purveyor's large-print ad.

Good catch, thanks.

. . . . . . Pete

 

[Claude Kolm]

originally posted by mark e:

originally posted by Claude Kolm:

originally posted by mark e:

Assume that includes tax and shipping. It is about $24 where I am, which seems reasonable.

That's pretty good; it was 15.90e here in Paris, which my credit card company converted to $18.70, and I believe that the tax here in France is considerably less than in Norway.

Not sure on the taxes. Ours is 25% VAT (inclusive) plus a bunch of other smaller amount taxes incl. one on the alcohol content.

20% TVA for France, nothing for alcohol or anything else, I think, so less different than I had thought.

 

[georg lauer]

originally posted by Peter Creasey:

originally posted by Claude Kolm: Look closely at the label -- it says Maison des Ardoises.

Claude, you're right...I should have looked at the label instead of trusting the purveyor's large-print ad.

Good catch, thanks.

. . . . . . Pete

It does not really matter. There is only one Silice made, always from purchased grapes and therefore Maison des Ardoisières. Not sure where "Ardoises" come from in this context. Despite the variations in names and spelling, everybody is talking about exactly the same wine.

 

[Pavel Tchichikov]

next time i come across a box containing a representative sample of Christian Ducroux, i'll take a look at abv, although i vaguely recall they are in the 11.5 range and would therefore be disqualified from the thread on account of being fortified

 

[Claude Kolm]

originally posted by Pavel Tchichikov:
next time i come across a box containing a representative sample of Christian Ducroux, i'll take a look at abv, although i vaguely recall they are in the 11.5 range and would therefore be disqualified from the thread on account of being fortified

If you're buying in the US, there is the possibility that the label may not be accurate. IIRC, there is a duty on wine less than 11%, and so some importers may list an alcohol at ll% or greater to avoid the duty, just as some put 14% or less to avoid the duty on wines of more than 14% alcohol.

 

[Oswaldo Costa]

originally posted by Pavel Tchichikov:
next time i come across a box containing a representative sample of Christian Ducroux, i'll take a look at abv, although i vaguely recall they are in the 11.5 range and would therefore be disqualified from the thread on account of being fortified

Not to mention that they are VA city all the way, though interestingly quirky.

 

[fatboy]

originally posted by Oswaldo Costa:

originally posted by Pavel Tchichikov:
next time i come across a box containing a representative sample of Christian Ducroux, i'll take a look at abv, although i vaguely recall they are in the 11.5 range and would therefore be disqualified from the thread on account of being fortified

Not to mention that they are VA city all the way, though interestingly quirky.

"they"?

fb.

 

[Jeff Grossman]

originally posted by georg lauer:

originally posted by Peter Creasey:

originally posted by Claude Kolm: Look closely at the label -- it says Maison des Ardoises.

Claude, you're right...I should have looked at the label instead of trusting the purveyor's large-print ad.

Good catch, thanks.

. . . . . . Pete

It does not really matter. There is only one Silice made, always from purchased grapes and therefore Maison des Ardoisières. Not sure where "Ardoises" come from in this context. Despite the variations in names and spelling, everybody is talking about exactly the same wine.

The blanc, yes. The rouge occasionally gets estate fruit.

 

[georg lauer]

originally posted by Jeff Grossman:

originally posted by georg lauer:

originally posted by Peter Creasey:

originally posted by Claude Kolm: Look closely at the label -- it says Maison des Ardoises.

Claude, you're right...I should have looked at the label instead of trusting the purveyor's large-print ad.

Good catch, thanks.

. . . . . . Pete

It does not really matter. There is only one Silice made, always from purchased grapes and therefore Maison des Ardoisières. Not sure where "Ardoises" come from in this context. Despite the variations in names and spelling, everybody is talking about exactly the same wine.

The blanc, yes. The rouge occasionally gets estate fruit.

Where did you see that? Neither Silice is listed on the Domaine website and I have never seen a bottle that said "Domaine". They might use some of their grapes occasionally but there is always only one wine with that name per color.