Compensating for the Mischief Caused by the Storm, or Drowning One's Sorrows: Bouchard/Roses de Jeanne Boloree, 2005

K

kirk wallace

kirk wallace
Mr. Dalton caused some commotion a couple days ago asking about the views of Disorderlies on Bouchard. This, and being "stranded" at home a few days more than expected, prompted me to open my first bottle of his (Bouchard's not Levi's) "La Boloree" (100% Pinot Blanc). (Although, God help you if you get a bottle without the sexy, fancy black tissue paper wrapper, b/c the adhessive label on that is the only place I can find the Boloree indication.) 12.5% alc. (Full, disclosure, I loved the Inflorescence NV when I first encountered it last year.)

Call this hipsterism if you must, but this a kick-ass bottle of wine. A light touch of lemon zest and (more) lemon curd on the nose when opened (poured in a riesling/zin glass) and a haunting whiff of ground ginger/cloves, which becomes slightly more pronounced after 10-15 minutes. In the mouth, it is shockingly fun. Very bright, fresh, clear flavors, but with a most remarkable smooth mouth feel. There is an wonderful sensation of creaminess (the old vines, I guess) with very fine, tiny, and gentle yet persistent bubbles. There is more lemon curd on the tongue, but very little actual sweetness. Ripe quince, tart pears and a taste that i can't quite place -- it is has almost a white meaty intensity, like really nice pheasant breast.

I liked the most recent release of the Gobillard NV VV that I opened last night, and loved the Prevost "Les Beguines (2002 i think) a few evenings ago, but this is a whole step up (IMHO). Sexy, delicious and yet also full of finesse. (And for the Bouchard doubters, this is much more focused, finely knit than the Inflorescence.) Seems to me that a few years in the bottle will only improve it further.

I'm a Believer ....
 
Gorgeous writeup, Kirk. With notes like that, you can like Mot White Star. Though I do agree with you that 05 La Bolore is a pretty thing.

I would be surprised, though, if the Prvost were the 2002, unless it had been hand-imported way back. I think the first brought into the US was the 2005?
 
originally posted by Sharon Bowman:
Gorgeous writeup, Kirk. With notes like that, you can like Mot White Star. Though I do agree with you that 05 La Bolore is a pretty thing.

I would be surprised, though, if the Prvost were the 2002, unless it had been hand-imported way back. I think the first brought into the US was the 2005?
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I may have been misinformed (or I may be misremembering) re the vintage of the grapes in the Prvost. All i know for sure is that the RM # on the label ends in -02, and somebody told me, while we were tasting it, that the code on the label reveals the vintage -- but he did not say how to read that code. There is (of course) no actual vintage designation on the bottle. (I certainly did not hand carry that bottle in. And given that I got it from his-long windedness in Seattle, i don't think anybody else did either.)

With notes like that, you can like Mot White Star.
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Well, that brought a smile and a small welt. I can't say that I've had WS this century, or maybe even in the last 20 years, but if the Bolore has a dosage as heavy as I recall in WS, it sure hides it beyond my powers of recognition.

I didn't finish the bottle last night, so I am looking forward to seeing how it has evolved over night.
 
Ah, now I see. You were just looking at the wrong part of the code.

4079983142_2d2c3b184c_m.jpg
RM - 26854-02 is his rcoltant-manipulant number.

Contains sulfites LO06 indicates the lot number (vintage) 06.

Since his wines had not been much available before 06, I'd bet it'd be that.

Look forward to the evolved tasting notes on the Bouchard.

Sorry for the welt.
 
originally posted by Sharon Bowman:
Ah, now I see. You were just looking at the wrong part of the code.

4079983142_2d2c3b184c_m.jpg
RM - 26854-02 is his rcoltant-manipulant number.

Contains sulfites LO06 indicates the lot number (vintage) 06.

Since his wines had not been much available before 06, I'd bet it'd be that.

Look forward to the evolved tasting notes on the Bouchard.

Sorry for the welt.
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Fantastic! LC06 it is! Thank you. (And i am wearing the welt as a badge of honor.)
 
originally posted by Sharon Bowman:


Look forward to the evolved tasting notes on the Bouchard.
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Lunch the next day: very little fizz left (the earlier thread doesn't help me with what might be less than perlant) - a quick bit of froth in the pour into the glass and then just a few lazy bubbles, but still enough for a bit of nice buzzing on the tongue. Flavors are unimpaired; a touch rounder. this still tastes like the way I'd like all blanc de blanc to taste -- all flavor, delicate fruit and sound minerality and elegance, with no chardonnay bitterness. This won't put me off the Inflorescence or Prvost and other blancs de noirs, but I am glad to know that it is out there.
 
I have not liked that much either the 2005 or the 2006 release. Older vintages (that is 2-3 years ago) were more to my liking: better and cheaper wines (Prevost retails for 50 here in Spain)
 
originally posted by Ignacio Villalgordo:
I have not liked that much either the 2005 or the 2006 release. Older vintages (that is 2-3 years ago) were more to my liking: better and cheaper wines (Prevost retails for 50 here in Spain)
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and do you also dislike La Bolore?
 
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