02 Closel and 07 Fougeray de Beauclair

Rahsaan

Rahsaan
2002 Domaine du Closel Savennires Clos du Papillon
The brown color and apple cider smells had me worried but the palate was much fresher. At first it was sort of generic brawny sweet tannic white wine but with air the particular chenin notes emerged and by the end it was a nice nutty honeyed and full bodied yet mineral version of Savennires. I had some fun with it. But, it is a bit big in the mouth for my tastes and it seems so evolved that one wonders if it is worth aging more bottles?

2007 Domaine Fougeray de Beauclair Bourgogne Rouge
Very polished and ripe and accessible from the first sip. But not in a good way. Because the dark saturated colors and flavors do not match well with the thin texture and the herbal streak running through the middle of the wine. So it ends up coming off as confused and not at all my style. But if you want soft dark flavors for a low price, this may be your thing.
 
originally posted by Rahsaan:
02 Closel and 07 Fougeray de Beauclair2002 Domaine du Closel Savennires Clos du Papillon
The brown color and apple cider smells had me worried but the palate was much fresher. At first it was sort of generic brawny sweet tannic white wine but with air the particular chenin notes emerged and by the end it was a nice nutty honeyed and full bodied yet mineral version of Savennires. I had some fun with it. But, it is a bit big in the mouth for my tastes and it seems so evolved that one wonders if it is worth aging more bottles?

My two bottles of this made me glad I drank them up, and not having them cellered, even for science. Still, I have one more and I'll drink it when I get around to it.
 
I opened my last bottle up of the Closel a few weeks ago for some friends and it was oxidized. Wish they'd go back to their old style.
 
I had my last '02 Papillon last October and while not shot it certainly was surprisingly advanced. The inexpensive '02 Jalousie bottling showed much better around the same time. At this point all I have left are the '01 Papillons.

So when did they abandon the "old style"?
 
Jalousie is totally undrinkable. Far, far away from a Cuvee Speciale 89 I had the pleasure to taste this year (sadly the only bottle i have drunk from the old style)
 
originally posted by Rahsaan:
02 was the start of the new style.

originally posted by Brad Kane:
I actually thought it began with the '99?

You probably have had more interactions with the de Jesseys than I have so there may be more to the story across different cuvees. But, I distinctly remember that when I visited in 2005 they mentioned that with the 2002 vintage the 'daughter' took over and moved towards picking riper, aging on the lees, battonage, and seeking a rounder style. I also have clear memories of the 01 Clos du Papillon being firmly in the old style.
 
Last couple of bottles of '02 Jalousie I tried were fine, FAR from undrinkable. Have one more left which I had planned to open in the very near term.
 
originally posted by Brad Kane:
originally posted by Rahsaan:
originally posted by Dan Donahue:
So when did they abandon the "old style"?

02 was the start of the new style.

I actually thought it began with the '99?

I'm sure Dressner could chime in here, but he's probably on Winebid chasing Buster bottles...there's got to be a stash ancienne somewhere?!
 
originally posted by Rahsaan:
originally posted by Rahsaan:
You probably have had more interactions with the de Jessys than I have so there may be more to the story across different cuvees. But, I distinctly remember that when I visited in 2005 they mentioned that with the 2002 vintage the 'daughter' took over and moved towards picking riper, aging on the lees, battonage, and seeking a rounder style.

As far as I know Isaure (the daughter) is no longer involved with Closel/Chateau de Vaults and she lives in London (per Facebook as I recall). So, I am unsure who is the primary winemaker there currently. Mssr. Dressner should know.
 
originally posted by Marc Hanes:
As far as I know Isaure (the daughter) is no longer involved with Closel/Chateau de Vaults and she lives in London (per Facebook as I recall)..

I'm no expert on the details but isn't Isaure the granddaughter? I put 'daughter' in quotes because whatever the woman's name I believe she was in her 50s when she started having the influence.
 
It isn't long since I had a '96 Fougeray de Beauclair Fixin Clos Marion. I think it has been delightful during the past few years, vegetal and rustic but charming in rugged way as Fixin should be. I haven't come across any others from the producer. Not generally well regarded?
 
Which Lot Number of 2002 did you have?

The first lot was L-2342, then L-7033, then L-8113 and finally a 300 bottle batch of L-8114.

I have heard about some problems with the L-8114 batch.

Unfortunately, I don't have any 2002s left, let alone the L-8114 lot. You can find the Lot number imprinted in the cork when you uncork the wine.

Otherwise, Evelyne decided to go organic in 2002, improved vineyard work (no pesticides), picked several days later than her mother did (not weeks, days) and reduced the sulfur at the bottling. But it is not "sans-soufre" by any means.

The next time I'm at the estate I will do a vertical. Until then, I'll refund everyone who has the L-8114 batch. No questions asked.
 
originally posted by Otto Nieminen:
It isn't long since I had a '96 Fougeray de Beauclair Fixin Clos Marion. I think it has been delightful during the past few years, vegetal and rustic but charming in rugged way as Fixin should be. I haven't come across any others from the producer. Not generally well regarded?

I don't like the wines at all.
 
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