TN: Dauvissat, Marionnet, Pavelot, Chave

Jayson Cohen

Jayson Cohen
2017 Vincent Dauvissat Chablis La Forest. Barely giving up stone fruit and melon aromatics leading to a mouthwatering, concentrated, tense mineral bath. Has a couple waves in the finish. Just a baby and in some ways a return to a leaner, classic Dauvissat La Forest compared to the 2014-16 stretch. It’s really good.

2012 Henry & Jean-Sébastien Marionnet Domaine de La Charmoise Provignage (Pre-phylloxera vines). My understanding is there is very little vineyard land now planted to Romorantin in France, even in the towns SE of Blois, and the best (I’ve had) come from Francois Cazin, Henry Marionnet, and Philippe Tessier. This is a fine, intense, old vines cuvee showing pure spiced pear aromatics and palate-staining length. The story is that these vines were planted in the 1850s. Would love to see them someday.

2010 Jean-Marc and Hugues Pavelot Savigny-Les-Beaune 1er Cru La Dominode. The 2010 vintage really shows off the greatness of the site here. About half 80-year old vines, the old vines and the strong but not overripe fruit bring a creaminess and well structured generosity that makes this the best, most balanced rendition of this wine I recall. You can drink it now, but ideally it does need another 5-10+ years. Too bad I don’t own this one. This is the second 2010 Dominode that has really impressed lately, the other the Bruno Clair. And those aren’t even my favorite growers in the village....

1994 Chave Hermitage Blanc. Either this bottle was not representative (my suspicion) or I just continue to have a hard time with cellared Rhône whites. Reticent apricot/apricot pit aromas lead to a leanish but unresolved palate that is neither oxidized nor developed. I gave this many days to strut its stuff after first opening but it never really opened or evolved positively. Cellared for a long time here, it’s probably the last of my Rhône white experiments (not counting my last bottle of surely-dead 1994 Beaucastel Blanc).
 
Nice. I have had some dynamite Marionnet Provignages, but unfortunately some were hit by the pox. Does "Jean-Sebastien" indicate it's been passed on to the next generation?
 
originally posted by Keith Levenberg:
Nice. I have had some dynamite Marionnet Provignages, but unfortunately some were hit by the pox. Does "Jean-Sebastien" indicate it's been passed on to the next generation?

I don’t know. I was wondering the same thing.
 
originally posted by Tristan Welles:
Thanks for the notes -- did you find any reduction in the Dauvissat?

Some. Not overwhelming. But my experience is it’s always there with Dauvissat, even with age, which is why you give them plenty of air even at age 15+.
 
You drank quite well that evening!

Yes, Dom. Marionnet has passed from father to son. Jean-Sebastien has been hands-on for some time now.

The estate was founded in 1850, give or take, and despite claims otherwise (e.g., "all the vines were replanted in 1967 and 1970") apparently the romorantin vines do go back to the 19th century. A good summary here.
 
originally posted by Jeff Grossman:
You drank quite well that evening!

Yes, Dom. Marionnet has passed from father to son. Jean-Sebastien has been hands-on for some time now.

The estate was founded in 1850, give or take, and despite claims otherwise (e.g., "all the vines were replanted in 1967 and 1970") apparently the romorantin vines do go back to the 19th century. A good summary here.

Thanks for the link.
 
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