Chenin Blanc Tasting

I've tried four or five Anglores, of which one was terrific (2006 Chemin de la Brune Rosé). The others lodegd not in the memory.
 
originally posted by Jonathan Loesberg:
originally posted by Ian Fitzsimmons:
Was hoping to run into you there last night, Jonathan. Tim and Matt poured a nice line-up, including Marc Plouzeau's 2007 Ante Phylloxera Chinon, which was pretty great, imho. Also some Maillart NV bubbles.

Don't recall the Leroy pricing ... $32? They are carrying the other bottling, too; both 2008.

As a general rule, I show up on Saturday afternoons. If you are going to make portages into DC and want to meet up, you should let me know.

...

Right you are, but hope springs eternal.
 
originally posted by Jonathan Loesberg:
originally posted by Ian Fitzsimmons:
Thanks for the notes.

I stumbled across a Loire Chenin I'd never heard of last night at the Weygandt grand re-opening tasting: Richard Leroy's Anjou Les Noëls de Montbenault. It was extremely good: a well balanced demi-sec with tremendous, puckering acidity and soupcon of oxidation. Almost weightless but with really great intensity. Worth a spin if you see it.

Weygandt has cleared out the last two vintages of Leroy at fairly absurd prices. I'm hoping he has to do the same for this one. It's a great wine and it doesn't seem to catch on.

You should have seen the prices when David direct imported them. Now that was a deal. I liked the 2004's very much. I'm surprised to hear about the oxidation. Was that a recent vintage? I have an 04 NdM in the queue.
 
Richard Leroy is of the burgundian school. There should be little to no oxidation - at least on purpose. The wines do see some barrique, although I do not know how much. The '04 Noels de Montbenault was very convincing a few years ago when carried to the U.S. by a friend from France. However, and this is a big "However," the various Leroys I've tried have been Loire chenin doing a fair impersonation of a white burgundy 1er. Which is to say that the barrels work and elevage spoke more of Puligny Montrachet than Loire. I do believe the terrior would overcome the winemaking in time. However, I can certainly understand if some are put off.

Subsequent bottles coming in through regular import channels have been less convincing - although those were '05s and '06s - which might explain why. Leroy strikes me as a talented producer finding his way.
 
The 07 and 08 NdBs tasted at the winery last Fall were both oxidative. Leroy seemed comfortable with that as a temporary phase. He said "leave an oxidized wine in the sun, and it will turn brown, but leave an oxidative wine in the same situation, and it will clear up and last several days."
 
originally posted by Mike Klein:
Richard Leroy is of the burgundian school. There should be little to no oxidation - at least on purpose. The wines do see some barrique, although I do not know how much. The '04 Noels de Montbenault was very convincing a few years ago when carried to the U.S. by a friend from France. However, and this is a big "However," the various Leroys I've tried have been Loire chenin doing a fair impersonation of a white burgundy 1er. Which is to say that the barrels work and elevage spoke more of Puligny Montrachet than Loire. I do believe the terrior would overcome the winemaking in time. However, I can certainly understand if some are put off.

Subsequent bottles coming in through regular import channels have been less convincing - although those were '05s and '06s - which might explain why. Leroy strikes me as a talented producer finding his way.

I was in both camps regarding 2004: quite put off by the barrique on the NdM at first -- I don't think the Clos des Rouliers saw any, or, at any rate, not as much -- but then a big fan when it integrated the wood, relatively quickly.
 
originally posted by Ian Fitzsimmons:
Was hoping to run into you there last night, Jonathan. Tim and Matt poured a nice line-up, including Marc Plouzeau's 2007 Ante Phylloxera Chinon, which was pretty great, imho.

It's impressive stuff. I decided to leave my second bottle alone for a while.
 
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