originally posted by Levi Dalton:
GG,
I hear you on the no sulphur leading to earlier approachability, which certainly makes sense to me, but then I don't really know how to account for youngish Overnoy that seemed to have its best years far ahead of it.
It is something beyond sulphur/no sulphur. Probably several things.
One of which might be the terroir of the sites involved. Some of which might be some of the aspects that were referred to earlier.
Specifically, I had heard that Ganevat used Bordeaux barrels for the Vin Jaune, if I recall correctly. And there is something to be said about size of the wood involved leading to increased approachability. Again, think Nebbiolo.
I can't think nebbiolo, i don't drink them enough, nor i have any understanding of the grape.
You make a good point though, there is much more to it than just sulfur/no sulfur.
Everyone is just doing differently with different material to start with, different cellar temperatures, elevations, humidity and so on.
Some producer have very oxidative wines release as early as february of the 6th year of elevage, some will have still fresh, vibrant wines after ten years under the flor.
Some will add some wines during elevage, some won't.
Some will use foudres, some barriques, some bordeaux, some american (yep), some accacia.
Some will put there barriques in the attic, under the roof, some will have their jaune in cooler, more humid cellars.
Some will always taste boring, young and old, because they were dead even before bottling and dead wines don't age, they just go downhill.
But most importantly, some will be great young, and if kept properly, will be even greater as they get older. Overnoy being the best example of those.