TN: 1893 Vouvray Clos du Bourg

D

Don Rice

Don Rice
Here it is, a tasting note from 1907 translated lovingly by moi:

"Before draining a last cup of sparkling Vouvray, M. Vavasseur presented us with his Clos du Bourg 1893, a true marvel of subtlety, with a penetrating and exquisite aroma. 'Ah!' said M. Gervais to M. Vavasseur, 'it has a fine peacock's tail!'- the expression reserved for the great wines of Sauternes, applied nonetheless to an exceptional product from Vouvray!"

"Avant de vider une dernire coupe de Vouvray mousseux, M. Vavasseur nous soumet son Clos du Bourg 1893, une veritable merveille de finesse, d'arme pntrant et exquis. 'Ah!' dit M. Prosper Gervais M. Vavasseur, 'comme il fait bien la queue de paon!' C'est l'expression consacre aux grands vins de Sauternes (Chteau-Yquem, Chteau-Siduiraut), applique d'aventure un produit exceptionnel de Vouvray!"

Loading…

books.google.com

(p347 Compte rendu - Congres International de Viticulture, Angers, 6-9 Juillet 1907)

Happy Sunday.
 
Ahhh, le 1996 comme il fait bien la queue de paon!

One big difference though - in 1893 the vines were only a few years old - many were replanted in 1890.

The entire article is worth a read. History of the vineyard from its purchase by Vavasseur pre through 1907.
 
originally posted by Levi Dalton:
Very cool, Don. Thank you.
Click to expand...

this is great, I now have things to say when at SFJoe's. In French, no less!
 
'it has a fine peacock's tail!'- the expression reserved for the great wines of Sauternes, applied nonetheless to an exceptional product from Vouvray!"
Click to expand...
That sounds like something Rychlewski would say.

Thanks much for your tireless and always-fascinating oenoarchaeology, Don.
 
.sasha - Here are an extra pair of bon mots to have at the ready (conveniently in English):

Re St. Nicholas de Bourgueil:
"We learn that the medical faculty of Tours permit their gouty patients to drink no other wine."
(from Medical news Oct 18, 1879)

Re Sparkling wines of Saumur:
"When the public drink inferior cheap wine it is condemned, and more often than not classed as 'that nasty Saumur champagne.' "
(from The London Medical Reporter Jan 21, 1889)
 
originally posted by Don Rice:
originally posted by Cory Cartwright:
It's official, by the way, Huet is with Rare Wine now and not Chadderdon.
Click to expand...

Cory- what will this change mean, if anything, for Joe consumer?
Click to expand...
We should have someone with more ITB expertise chime in, but as the person addressed, I think it may lead to both wider availability of the wines and perhaps higher prices for some of them. There are a bunch of retail and restaurant outlets that won't do business with RC, or so they tell me. So those people might now buy some Huet. OTOH, in NY, the wines will go through Polaner, and I have the impression that this may bump the cost to the consumer. I could be wrong about that, hope I am. But seeing things like, say, Clos Rougeard on restaurant lists in SF for something like the NYC retail prices (or even less) makes me wonder.
 
originally posted by SFJoe:
originally posted by Don Rice:
originally posted by Cory Cartwright:
It's official, by the way, Huet is with Rare Wine now and not Chadderdon.
Click to expand...

Cory- what will this change mean, if anything, for Joe consumer?
Click to expand...
We should have someone with more ITB expertise chime in, but as the person addressed, I think it may lead to both wider availability of the wines and perhaps higher prices for some of them. There are a bunch of retail and restaurant outlets that won't do business with RC, or so they tell me. So those people might now buy some Huet. OTOH, in NY, the wines will go through Polaner, and I have the impression that this may bump the cost to the consumer. I could be wrong about that, hope I am. But seeing things like, say, Clos Rougeard on restaurant lists in SF for something like the NYC retail prices (or even less) makes me wonder.
Click to expand...

Yep. Same thing happened with Lopez de Heredia.
 
I had a good source for Huet in SF. Rare can be a little more difficult because of the way they release
their newsletter. I often miss out on stuff from them because for me the newsletter usually takes an
extra day to arrive. People who got it the previous day get first pick. I'm no fan of RC but I'm not
sure I'm happy about the change. Oh well...
 
originally posted by SFJoe:
originally posted by Don Rice:
originally posted by Cory Cartwright:
It's official, by the way, Huet is with Rare Wine now and not Chadderdon.
Click to expand...

Cory- what will this change mean, if anything, for Joe consumer?
Click to expand...
We should have someone with more ITB expertise chime in, but as the person addressed, I think it may lead to both wider availability of the wines and perhaps higher prices for some of them. There are a bunch of retail and restaurant outlets that won't do business with RC, or so they tell me. So those people might now buy some Huet. OTOH, in NY, the wines will go through Polaner, and I have the impression that this may bump the cost to the consumer. I could be wrong about that, hope I am. But seeing things like, say, Clos Rougeard on restaurant lists in SF for something like the NYC retail prices (or even less) makes me wonder.
Click to expand...

Rougeard comes to SF with one less step than NY.

This should result in Huet being more widely available. It will be available here in NC for the first time in I don't know how long. At least 12 years or so.

It may mean that there may be less availability in NY, since
Chadderdon is notoriously NY-centric.

I welcome the change as a buddy of mine reps the Rare portfolio locally.
 
btw - 2005 Petillant will hit stores in the next few weeks. I've gotten one offer but the store confirms they won't have it for a while and from what David says Chambers will have it for less.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top