Tasting Muscadet and some Touraine, 2010
- Thread starter SFJoe
- Start date
VLM and Guilhaume come to mind, although I thought there were others who'd so opined.
I don't necessarily care as I've certainly enjoyed the few examples I've tasted (Clisson and Excelsior) young, though some vintages more than others. Not everything needs to be judged on the basis of whether it can last 20 years in a cellar.
I was just commenting on the ad copy suggesting these as cellar candidates. I didn't know that Muscadet had been made in this style long enough to say one way or the other.
To be fair, I'm not sure I've ever had a Pepiere Muscadet that was over the hill, from any vintage or vineyard.
I don't necessarily care as I've certainly enjoyed the few examples I've tasted (Clisson and Excelsior) young, though some vintages more than others. Not everything needs to be judged on the basis of whether it can last 20 years in a cellar.
I was just commenting on the ad copy suggesting these as cellar candidates. I didn't know that Muscadet had been made in this style long enough to say one way or the other.
To be fair, I'm not sure I've ever had a Pepiere Muscadet that was over the hill, from any vintage or vineyard.
Ian Fitzsimmons
Ian Fitzsimmons
In the answering your own questions department, 09 Briords is already for sale in the U.S. Big bottles, too.
Jay Miller
Jay Miller
wow, when did that happen? Is the second bottling of Pepiere in as well?
Careful readers of my previous missives may recall descriptions of such wines as '76 L d'Or from magnum, six years on the lees, and spectacular a year ago.
There is quite a bit of data on the ageability of long lees contact Muscadet, and no contradictory data of which I'm aware. The data set is not enormous, but it is lopsided. Now, no doubt, it's only good vintages and cuvees that get made that way and it's not a universal prescription for happiness.
Ian Fitzsimmons
Ian Fitzsimmons
Jay - on closer examination, its a 'pre-arrival' sale. Which makes more sense.
Jay Miller
Jay Miller
Thanks. I was afraid that my Olliviey Sense was failing me.
Ian Fitzsimmons
Ian Fitzsimmons
I should have looked more closely the first time.
Not sure I'd go with the full hype of the Crush newsletter, but it's very interesting wine. I didn't realize it was coming over. I'll try to find my note when I get home.
Note that it's also available at other shops should Crush blow it all out with this email, CSW for one.
Note that it's also available at other shops should Crush blow it all out with this email, CSW for one.
Ian Fitzsimmons
Ian Fitzsimmons
Slaton quoted your note in his post, unless you have another one.
That L d'Or is magnificent.
1996 and 2002 Briords have both been amazing recently.
L d'Or from those and other vintages as well.
I don't think that Muscadet necessarily benefits from a lot of aging. I think several of them do really interesting things. For most, I don't see what you get after a couple of years to let them harmonize.
That being said, it depends on whether you like what really "mature" Muscadet becomes. I like minerailty and incisiveness rather than the tertiary stuff from melon. It's very similar to my take on aging riesling.
Great notes Joe.
As for aging the long lees contact Muscadet a 2001 Clos des Noelles Semper Excelsior in late 2007 was about as profound a Muscadet as I've had. I also had many bottles of the 2002 CDNSE and they are all were riveting and showing no signs of slowing down. They seem to retain great freshness, these extra leesy Muscadets. As for the non extra-leesy ones I am not convinced.
I do believe, in contrast to VLM, that the Bossard l'Expression bottlings do benefit from 1 or 2 years to get their shit together.
As for aging the long lees contact Muscadet a 2001 Clos des Noelles Semper Excelsior in late 2007 was about as profound a Muscadet as I've had. I also had many bottles of the 2002 CDNSE and they are all were riveting and showing no signs of slowing down. They seem to retain great freshness, these extra leesy Muscadets. As for the non extra-leesy ones I am not convinced.
I do believe, in contrast to VLM, that the Bossard l'Expression bottlings do benefit from 1 or 2 years to get their shit together.
Ian Fitzsimmons
Ian Fitzsimmons
In the 'trivial observation' department, the store offering the 09 Briords in magnum as a pre-arrival is Zachy's. Zachy's is also offering 09 Roilette Tardive pre-arrival in magnum. It's interesting to see Zachy's out in front on large formats for both these Dressner imports.
JSchwartze
JSchwartze
With Zachy's it is usually the latter, if that matters to anyone.
I had one of the '02 L-P Excelsiors a short while back. I wondered whether it was bit of a shame not to wait another ten years or so, but it was lovely. Pulse-quickening in its purity, like that first awkward kiss between two kids sitting on the beach- "Where Do These Braces Go?" metallic zing, hint of shared Honey-Yuzu Flavor Lick'em Stick (touch of 5-Second Rule sand included), and OMG! nervous sweat (or was it just the sea spray?).
Memorable.
Cory Cartwright
Cory Cartwright
Put me in the "aged muscadet is disgusting" camp.
Cory Cartwright
Cory Cartwright
Note that I don't consider laying down muscadet for a year or two awful. I just can't get into the stuff older than that, and lord knows I've tried.
scottreiner
scott reiner
i tend to agree, but then i open another bottle of the 89 l-p l d'or, and well...