Disorder opinions

L

Lou Kessler

Lou Kessler
I was wondering about what people think of Thierry Puzelat Pineau d'Aunis La Tesniere compared to Belliviere Coteaux du Loire Le Rouge pineau d'aunis. I heard the tail end of a heated discussion as I was ready to leave the Dressner industry tasting in San Francisco last wednesday and was curious about the opinions here.
 
Lou,

With the caveat that I've only been drinking the Rouge-Gorge since '04 and the Tesniere since '06, I usually find the Tesniere more reliably delicious.

But despite not particularly caring for the '04 or '05, Belliviere Rouge-Gorge has always seemed to have great potential to me, and I've of course heard tales of the remarkable '02 but have not personally tasted.

And indeed, I thought the '07 (which I also tasted Tuesday) was easily the prettiest vintage of that wine I've tasted. The overwhelming agave of '04 and fat-bottomed character of the '05 appeared to be absent.

On the other hand, the '08 Tesniere tasted alongside was no slouch either.

The chenin noir haters will continue to despise both, but fuck the haters.
 
What about Emile Heredia's Domaine de Montrieux Le Verre des Potes? It's a French Pie, 100-year-old-vine Pineau d'Aunis wine. Any good?
 
I've only drank the 2006 but I liked it a lot, perhaps more than either of the other wines under discussion.

A delicious rich, ripe and vinous wine from 120 year-old ungrafted pineau d'aunis vines. Charming cracked green peppercorn nose and stony minerality. There's so much sap that the bones are hard to find beneath, but there's enough acid to keep this juicy and fresh on the palate. (6/09)
Click to expand...
 
Isn't the Heredia a bit further in the hipster vein? I.E. lower/no sulfur?

I've always preferred the Bellivire versions for the relative cleanliness but then I've never made a comprehensive study and surely others out there know more than I do on this subject.
 
In 2008, the "Louis Derre" 2000 was astounding. Puzelat has never shook me like that.

I still have one more bottle of the 2000. (I have a couple of the 2005s. I seem to recall David Lillie cautioning me about them, but I don't remember specifically what he said. I suppose "hold and drink".)
 
after some moments cogitating, i think you are right Lou. One should not wear private sentiments when one is in a public position.
i do not believe i have had the opportunity to sample the Belleviere. Puzulat's wine is the cat's meow.
but i would abstain from pinning a button proclaiming " Puzelat 2012" to my haberdashery.
 
originally posted by Zachary Ross:
What about Emile Heredia's Domaine de Montrieux Le Verre des Potes? It's a French Pie, 100-year-old-vine Pineau d'Aunis wine. Any good?
Click to expand...

Is there a pink version of this?
It sounds familiar to something I tried recently,
but I forgot to write down the name.
 
originally posted by Marc D:
Is there a pink version of this?
It sounds familiar to something I tried recently,
but I forgot to write down the name.
Click to expand...

They have a Coteaux du vendmois ros and I really liked the 2008.
 
originally posted by slaton:
Lou,

With the caveat that I've only been drinking the Rouge-Gorge since '04 and the Tesniere since '06, I usually find the Tesniere more reliably delicious.

But despite not particularly caring for the '04 or '05, Belliviere Rouge-Gorge has always seemed to have great potential to me, and I've of course heard tales of the remarkable '02 but have not personally tasted.

And indeed, I thought the '07 (which I also tasted Tuesday) was easily the prettiest vintage of that wine I've tasted. The overwhelming agave of '04 and fat-bottomed character of the '05 appeared to be absent.

On the other hand, the '08 Tesniere tasted alongside was no slouch either.

The chenin noir haters will continue to despise both, but fuck the haters.
Click to expand...
Interesting, JBL and I favored the Belliviere by a smidge, not that we would throw the Tesniere out of our glasses.
 
Being an unsophisticated rube from Appalachia, I've only ever tasted the La Tesniere, which I loved for its multi-dimensional pulpy, resinous, peppercorny weediness.

Should some brave soul bring a bottle of the Belliviere up the mountain for us to try, I'm sure our brave little band would be enchanted.
 
The Belleviere wines run a little harder for me. Some of it is old vines, low yields, different terroir, perhaps more extraction. I don't know the balance of those factors. I think they go with different food.

They're both great, usually. I'm away from my notes on the latest ones.
 
Never had the Rouge Gorge. I did have 1 bottle of the '04 and two of the '05 Hommage a Louis Derre. One of those three bottles was stupendous (great oak) and I was bitter that I hadn't had the confidence to stash it twenty years, because it would have gone that. The other two were nice, refined, elegant, nice wood, etc. etc. (or more likely I was not paying as close attention). That's a very solid wine though, and built for the long haul.

The Puzelat Tesniere which I've drunk a ton of is alive, vibrant, perfect at its level, interesting, etc. I had this wine fairly early in my natural wine experimentation and I think it was probably the one that ensured the journey that has me reading and posting here, that and the Pinon Vouvray.

If one is searching for experiences occasioning the adjective 'profound' in a way which is more heavily tied to the object of contemplation (or at least to some intersubjective analogue of it) than to the subjective state of contemplating it probably the Louis Derre with 15-20 years in a good vintage is the Pineau d'Aunis most likely to deliver them. If one wants a complete, fully realized, interesting wine right now it's hard to do much better than Tesniere for a double sawbuck (with Pineau d'Aunis or any other grape IMO).
 
originally posted by slaton:
I've only drank the 2006 but I liked it a lot, perhaps more than either of the other wines under discussion.

A delicious rich, ripe and vinous wine from 120 year-old ungrafted pineau d'aunis vines. Charming cracked green peppercorn nose and stony minerality. There's so much sap that the bones are hard to find beneath, but there's enough acid to keep this juicy and fresh on the palate. (6/09)
Click to expand...
Click to expand...

I'm drinking the 2006 Verre des Potes now, it's the real deal. Your note is spot on.

Maybe I'll bring this to the French Pie party (loc. cit.).
 
I tried Pascal Janvier's Pineau d'Aunis last night, the 2008 Cuvee de Rosier Coteaux du Loir.

It was an easy to drink, dry version. Light bodied without much extraction and only a whisper of tannic structure. Nice peppery aromatics, and fully ripe with minimal agave greenness.

I guess I need to try the Heredia Domaine de Montrieux now.
If anyone can help locate a bottle I would appreciate it.
 
Of three Pineu mentioned, I would give the nod to the Puzelat. Possibly because I had with dinner at Nopa on a rare night out with my wife. It paired well with food and just the right weight for me. While i like the other two, I was not super impressed. The rouge gorge was a little too syrupy and the Le Verre des Potes was too one-dimensional. I would give them both another shot though. I would seek out the Puzelat.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top