TN: 2006 Roilette & Lapierre

I

Ian Fitzsimmons

Ian Fitzsimmons
A local store had these on close-out, and I picked up one of each to try. Will I learn anything by opening them now, or are they shut down?

[edited 8/22 to add tasting notes (below).]
 
The Lapierre was beautiful last summer, but my most recent bottle in May of this year was a stewy, barnyardy mess. Whether this is an indication of where the wine is going or merely an off bottle is the subject of some concern on my part, but I've not opened another since.

Haven't drank the Coudert in over a year, so I can't help there.
 
Thanks, Marc. By my reading (rather than experience), bottle variation is fairly common with Lapierre. The discussion seems to be about his use (or not) of sulfer. I think we'll open it this weekend and have a peek.
 
Please post if you do open a bottle.

On the no/low sulfur issue (at least regarding transport/storage conditions), my bottles were purchased directly from the KLWM retail store.

So I've got that going for me, which is nice.

(Marc?)
 
Hi, Marc here.

I tried a 2006 Lapierre Morgon in May and thought it was a pretty good bottle, a little less perky than one in December, but not a mess. Bottle variation compared to Slaton's, I guess.
 
We opened both bottles with dinner this evening; drank half of each tonight and will sample the balance tomorrow. Opened and tasted about 3:00; decanted about 4:30; imbibed before/with dinner about 6:15 - 7:30.

Both were closed at first, tense and balanced, but reticent. The Lapierre was fruitier, the Roilette rockier, but neither giving much beyond mild adolescent candiness. By dinner, the Lapierre seemed to be opening, with a more flattering, complete flavor and feel, while the Roilette remained cryptic and tense. I preferred the Roilette, though, especially with the food (steak and vegetables). It tasted complex and silky compared to the Lapierre, which was very good, but a bit obvious.
 
Yes, admirable restraint. Sounds like they were pretty true to type. And nice that you got some enjoyment from them!
 
We worked our way methodically through the second half of both bottles tonight, which were vacuvined and refrigerated the night before. No surprises, neither was near tired, each moved along its trajectory of development from last night. The Lapierre was a serious dry aromatic red, with fine red fruit, increasingly round and generous as the evening progressed. The Roilette started out hard, even bitter, loosening up just enough to show a hint of fruit amidst the tannin and acid. We drank the Morgon before and after dinner, and the Fleurie with.

The Lapierre definitely showed better, but if I were buying a bunch, I think I'd go with the Roilette; there was an odd little twisty, almost caramely thing about it I liked, in addition to its really great intensity.

I'm no good at drinking windows, but would hold any 06 Lapierre I owned another couple of years and treat the Roilette like a Moulin-a-Vent - that is, cellar it for at least four or five more.
 
I opened a bottle of the 2006 Coudert about a month ago. Based on your note, my bottle may have been a little more open than yours. However, I'd agree that (to my taste) it needs at least a few more years in the cellar.
 
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