TN: Jeebus at Dale's (July 28, 2013)

I'll put it down to Jeff G doesn't like SB. Hey different strokes, David Beuker can't stand SB either. My wife prefers SB over Chardonnay,even white burgs. The Clos de Neore is almost next to impossible to acquire on the west coast and I'm ITB.
 
originally posted by Sharon Bowman:
Maybe you have the fatboy Sauvignon Blanc allele.

I've heard about that aversion more than once from the horse's mouth, but I always chalked it up to fb's version of blarney. Could be SB is like cilantro for some folks.
 
originally posted by Lou Kessler:
I'll put it down to Jeff G doesn't like SB.
Um, excuse me, but am I allowed to participate in this discussion of what I will and won't drink? Good.

I like SB just fine. Apparently, it's Vatan that doesn't do it for me. I like the SB from most of his neighbors....
 
originally posted by Matt Latuchie:
Vatan does bottle small amounts of Sancerre rouge. I've only had it once, and it was a freak show.

What makes it a 'freak show'?

Can't remember if I've tried the rouge, but nothing about the blanc is freaky.
 
originally posted by Sharon Bowman:
Maybe you have the fatboy Sauvignon Blanc allele.

Sauvignon generally makes me barf, but I like Vatan (not enough to buy it at today's prices but I did for years). Vatan isn't sauvignon, it's Chavignol and Chavignol in a particular way.
 
originally posted by Matt Latuchie:
originally posted by Marc D:
Cellaring magnums from Alsace is a labor of love, the bottles look cool but what a pain to store.

Jeff, was the Vatan a white wine? I don't even know if Vatan makes a Sancerre rouge, but your note (robitussin) almost sounds like it is a red wine.

Marc -

Vatan does bottle small amounts of Sancerre rouge. I've only had it once, and it was a freak show. been on the lookout for it for a while now.

No longer make a red
 
originally posted by Rahsaan:
originally posted by Matt Latuchie:
Vatan does bottle small amounts of Sancerre rouge. I've only had it once, and it was a freak show.

What makes it a 'freak show'?

Can't remember if I've tried the rouge, but nothing about the blanc is freaky.

The aromas and flavors were all over the place and in constant flux. Lots of tobacco, herbal notes, some meats, peppermint, florals, stones. Everything seemed alive and hard to grasp...almost like they were being viewed through wavy circus mirrors. The bottle was opened with about 10 others and everyone either loved it or hated it (i thought it was thrilling).

I agree that his SB is not a freak show.
 
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I've never really understood the near worship I've seen some exhibit for this wine. I've certainly had some compelling bottles, but this is always stern stuff. Personally, I find it to be Sauvignon Blanc for people that wish wine came from rocks rather than grapes, not that there's anything really wrong with that.
 
Which vintages have you had, Brad? And at what age?

The first one (I swear) I tried was the 2003, in ca. 2008.

Then some time later, I had the '06.

I thought I did not like these wines. They were alcohol-y and such.

Then I had good, compelling ones with age and elegance. The 2002 last fall was zow wine. Precise, madly compelling.

Stern? Wat?
 
Either '95 or '96 through '10. I'd say one of the friendlier, more fruit forward ones, relatively, I've had was the '07 I bought at Auge that we shared when I was in Paris in 4/10.

It's steely, mineral driven profile is its hallmark, imo, though I'd say they're a little weightier now since the daughter took over, but that could just be the vintages she's been dealt.
 
I will add that I found nothing compelling about this bottle of Vatan. I've had others I've liked much more in the past, though I certainly wouldn't claim to have a lot of experience.
 
originally posted by Brad Kane:
Either '95 or '96 through '10. I'd say one of the friendlier, more fruit forward ones, relatively, I've had was the '07 I bought at Auge that we shared when I was in Paris in 4/10.

It's steely, mineral driven profile is its hallmark, imo, though I'd say they're a little weightier now since the daughter took over, but that could just be the vintages she's been dealt.

You leave me a bit confused.

But I think only mind-changing experiences work, so I won't argue with you (though I am curious about the age at which they are drunk).

Totally forgot that '07! Did I like it?
 
originally posted by Sharon Bowman:
originally posted by Brad Kane:
Either '95 or '96 through '10. I'd say one of the friendlier, more fruit forward ones, relatively, I've had was the '07 I bought at Auge that we shared when I was in Paris in 4/10.

It's steely, mineral driven profile is its hallmark, imo, though I'd say they're a little weightier now since the daughter took over, but that could just be the vintages she's been dealt.

You leave me a bit confused.

But I think only mind-changing experiences work, so I won't argue with you (though I am curious about the age at which they are drunk).

Totally forgot that '07! Did I like it?

Typically at release or within four years of vintage, but I've had a couple with ten to twelve years of age on it. Personally, save for a couple of exceptions, most notably that '89 Cotat Joe whips out from time to time and some Labaille Busters, I'm not a big proponent of aged Sauvignon Blanc. You like oxidative characater. I don't.

You did like the '07 Vatan. We had it with the Barral Faugeres, which I think you also liked. I forget the vintage of that one, though it was the '07.
 
originally posted by Matt Latuchie:
The aromas and flavors were all over the place and in constant flux. Lots of tobacco, herbal notes, some meats, peppermint, florals, stones. Everything seemed alive and hard to grasp...almost like they were being viewed through wavy circus mirrors. The bottle was opened with about 10 others and everyone either loved it or hated it (i thought it was thrilling).

I agree that his SB is not a freak show.

Interesting. Alive and hard to grasp!
 
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