PSA: Chermettes in D.C.

I

Ian Fitzsimmons

Ian Fitzsimmons
Martine and Pierre-Marie Chermette (of Domaine du Vissoux) will be attending a tasting at the Weygandt outlet in Washington D.C. Friday the 13 and Saturday the 14th. Probably more info at the Weygandt site.

Thought there might be some interest among the D.C. disorderlies; no affiliation, financial interest, etc.
 
I went by Weygandt Saturday afternoon and they were there. The wines were quite good. Richer than is typical of Beaujolais, by a lot. But, good acid so no fruit-bomby character. Very impressive wines.
 
originally posted by Howard Cooper:
I went by Weygandt Saturday afternoon and they were there. The wines were quite good. Richer than is typical of Beaujolais, by a lot. But, good acid so no fruit-bomby character. Very impressive wines.
Click to expand...

I would probably think that is due to the vintage rather than the producer. But, then again, I only drink their Traditionelle regularly.

But, yes, the cru Beaujolais were very rich (the Moulin a Vent seemed very slick and polished to me, though very good...apparently this Cru is aged in smaller barrels than their other cuvees).

The Coeur de Vendanges, which I think is new (the first year Weygandt has brought this bottling into the US) seemed very big and lush to me. Not bad, by any means, but not exactly my cup of tea (apparently from 100 year old vines).
 
I stopped by Saturday, too, and was surprised to meet the Chermettes there - the announcement said they'd only be present Friday evening. They are a charming couple, and Peter Weygandt, who was also there, helped me communicate with them despite my sad French. I dare say, though I've only been to the outlet a few times, the crew there has been flawlessly courteous and helpful each time.

I found the Traditionelle (vines on average 60 years old) a bit stern and the Coeur de Vendages (as Yule says, 100-year-old vines) slightly richer, deeper, and more relaxed; lush was not a word that came to mind (illustrating the variance in drinker sensibilities). Similarly, the Moulin-a-Vent Tres Roches, to me, was deep and intense for a young cru Beaujolais, but miles away from polished, with slick well over the horizon.

The basic Chermettes bottling was one the best Beaujolais I've tasted at this level, all prickly and in-your-palate, while the Vissoux Brouilly, for some reason, once again failed to make an impression with me. Alas, the Fleurie Garants was not poured.

Also spotted Jonathan their, preparing for his annual ordeal in France; sorry to have missed Howard and Yule.
 
originally posted by .sasha:
were these all 2010s ?
Click to expand...

All 2009s. I quite liked the Coeur des Vendanges. I don't think either the Poncié or the Garants was there, though they were there this fall. M. Chermettes thought that Americans preferred Garants to Poncié. I said he must have been talking to Americans somewhere else, though in 09 I found the Poncié oddly more extracted than the Garants. He said it was the result of the year and not how the two normally compare.
 
originally posted by Jonathan Loesberg:
originally posted by .sasha:
were these all 2010s ?
Click to expand...

All 2009s. I quite liked the Coeur des Vendanges. I don't think either the Poncié or the Garants was there, though they were there this fall. M. Chermettes thought that Americans preferred Garants to Poncié. I said he must have been talking to Americans somewhere else, though in 09 I found the Poncié oddly more extracted than the Garants. He said it was the result of the year and not how the two normally compare.
Click to expand...

Goodness, what a strange time to taste the 09s, for just about a different reason for each wine.

I have preferred Poncié in every vintage so far, except for 2009. It wasn't the extract that bothered me, it was the fact that a bit of softness I had initially detected in the finish got progressively amplified over 48 hours or so, quite contrary to the way all their other wines I was able to hold on to, for the same period of time, had behaved. The wine was left oddly structure-less; a rather striking comparison to the unyielding freshness of even some of the lower end bottlings. I rather liked the Garants in 2009, as the expected polish was minimal, and it did not seem to spice up or dry up with extended aeration.
 
I was there on Friday and they didn't have the Brouilly open for tasting. I also didn't get a chance to meet the Chermettes, which was too bad.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top