1996 Bourgueil "Les Perrières" C&P Breton

[Karen Goetz]

Opened after cellaring since original vintage purchase. Kermit Lynch, importer.
Stunning, complex, quietly vital wine that sings of its place. Took some time for bouquet to open (30 minutes-1.5 hrs); very cold crushed red plums and black soil, humus, on the nose; slanted acidity and dark forest floral too; a mineral edge to the cold fruit that creates a welcome, cool blanket in these Oakland CA days and nights of Armageddon air.
Tastes of fresh, cold autumn red tree fruits and minerality; very clean in my mouth; a tiny clip of acidity that summons the wine together; lovely cold red plum skin fruits and black bark, crumbled.
Delightful, fresh, original stuff that claims its place on the earth, our desolated Mère.

 

[Eden Mylunsch]

1996 was/is a great vintage for the region, I've got some various bottles (including the Breton Perrieres) in deep storage somewhere. It's all well and good to have a lot of wine to choose from, but it doesn't mean diddly, bo, unless you can lay your hands on it, and right now that's not an option (no, I'm not in prison and not a tent evangelist)(not yet at least).

But you just reminded me that I do have a bottle of 1996 Olga Raffault Les Picasses here in the bunker that maybe is ready by now. But are those Raffault wines ever really "ready"? They're like Biondi-Santi or the early Dunn Howell Mountain wines -- I've never had one that tasted as magnifico as the critics and fanboys tell me they should. At least optimism for Raffault comes with a lower price of admission, but one should live one's life not solely for "potential", no? And speaking of price of admission, I'm not admitting anything other than that I believe the slightly pricy Now-Again vinyl reissues of David Axelrod's Capitol Trilogy sound way better than the original Capitol Records pressings. And Carol Kaye's Fender bass playing is pretty out of this world, her best performances ever (even better than her Nancy Sinatra and Glen Campbell hits) this side of the "On Any Sunday" soundtrack, said score written and arranged by Dominic Frontiere, whose music might be viewed as achieving a level close to Axelrod's in the way that Sattlerhof's Sauvignon Blanc is close to Tement's or Meiomi will put you in mind of Belle Glos to the point that you might not be able to tell the difference but for the wax drizzled all over the bottle, Raveneau-like but not really. But Frontiere might have become an Axelrod but it turned out he didn't need to; he married well and wound up with great seats at Rams football games, so what does that tell you?

-Eden ("On Any Sunday" followed Frontiere's star-making work on the "Star Trek TV score," begging the question: If you rev your straight-pipe Harley in outer space and there's nobody there to hear it, does it make a sound? I'm thinking 'no' because there's no air to move in outer space and that implies no sound. Or maybe they'd come up with something like Aston Martin did where they put engine sounds through the music system to make you feel more vroom-vroom!!)

 

[Brad Kane]

Nice to see a note on this. Breton was a darling among disorderlies in the early days of wine bulletin boards, especially with the terrific '95, '96 and '97 vintages, but then basically disappeared from our collective view when they unceremoniously dumped Dressner and didn't bother to tell him, but had Kermit notify him. I wouldn't be surprised if disorderlies like Kay Bixler, Jeff Connell and Don Rice may still have some bottles around.

 

[Karen Goetz]

originally posted by Eden Mylunsch:
1996 was/is a great vintage for the region, I've got some various bottles (including the Breton Perrieres) in deep storage somewhere. It's all well and good to have a lot of wine to choose from, but it doesn't mean diddly, bo, unless you can lay your hands on it, and right now that's not an option (no, I'm not in prison and not a tent evangelist)(not yet at least).

But you just reminded me that I do have a bottle of 1996 Olga Raffault Les Picasses here in the bunker that maybe is ready by now. But are those Raffault wines ever really "ready"? They're like Biondi-Santi or the early Dunn Howell Mountain wines -- I've never had one that tasted as magnifico as the critics and fanboys tell me they should. At least optimism for Raffault comes with a lower price of admission, but one should live one's life not solely for "potential", no? And speaking of price of admission, I'm not admitting anything other than that I believe the slightly pricy Now-Again vinyl reissues of David Axelrod's Capitol Trilogy sound way better than the original Capitol Records pressings. And Carol Kaye's Fender bass playing is pretty out of this world, her best performances ever (even better than her Nancy Sinatra and Glen Campbell hits) this side of the "On Any Sunday" soundtrack, said score written and arranged by Dominic Frontiere, whose music might be viewed as achieving a level close to Axelrod's in the way that Sattlerhof's Sauvignon Blanc is close to Tement's or Meiomi will put you in mind of Belle Glos to the point that you might not be able to tell the difference but for the wax drizzled all over the bottle, Raveneau-like but not really. But Frontiere might have become an Axelrod but it turned out he didn't need to; he married well and wound up with great seats at Rams football games, so what does that tell you?

-Eden ("On Any Sunday" followed Frontiere's star-making work on the "Star Trek TV score," begging the question: If you rev your straight-pipe Harley in outer space and there's nobody there to hear it, does it make a sound? I'm thinking 'no' because there's no air to move in outer space and that implies no sound. Or maybe they'd come up with something like Aston Martin did where they put engine sounds through the music system to make you feel more vroom-vroom!!)

You are a delightful madperson who makes me laugh out loud with appreciation for your motley gifts which resonate with my own. Poetry here, music there. I will check out Carol Faye (holy shit what I've learned so far!) and inquire about dating this formidable musician. Oh la la. Thank you. Meantime, dig out your damn cellar. No more trains for me.

 

[Oswaldo Costa]

originally posted by Eden Mylunsch:
1996 was/is a great vintage for the region, I've got some various bottles (including the Breton Perrieres) in deep storage somewhere. It's all well and good to have a lot of wine to choose from, but it doesn't mean diddly, bo, unless you can lay your hands on it, and right now that's not an option (no, I'm not in prison and not a tent evangelist)(not yet at least).

But you just reminded me that I do have a bottle of 1996 Olga Raffault Les Picasses here in the bunker that maybe is ready by now. But are those Raffault wines ever really "ready"? They're like Biondi-Santi or the early Dunn Howell Mountain wines -- I've never had one that tasted as magnifico as the critics and fanboys tell me they should. At least optimism for Raffault comes with a lower price of admission, but one should live one's life not solely for "potential", no? And speaking of price of admission, I'm not admitting anything other than that I believe the slightly pricy Now-Again vinyl reissues of David Axelrod's Capitol Trilogy sound way better than the original Capitol Records pressings. And Carol Kaye's Fender bass playing is pretty out of this world, her best performances ever (even better than her Nancy Sinatra and Glen Campbell hits) this side of the "On Any Sunday" soundtrack, said score written and arranged by Dominic Frontiere, whose music might be viewed as achieving a level close to Axelrod's in the way that Sattlerhof's Sauvignon Blanc is close to Tement's or Meiomi will put you in mind of Belle Glos to the point that you might not be able to tell the difference but for the wax drizzled all over the bottle, Raveneau-like but not really. But Frontiere might have become an Axelrod but it turned out he didn't need to; he married well and wound up with great seats at Rams football games, so what does that tell you?

-Eden ("On Any Sunday" followed Frontiere's star-making work on the "Star Trek TV score," begging the question: If you rev your straight-pipe Harley in outer space and there's nobody there to hear it, does it make a sound? I'm thinking 'no' because there's no air to move in outer space and that implies no sound. Or maybe they'd come up with something like Aston Martin did where they put engine sounds through the music system to make you feel more vroom-vroom!!)

We've missed you!

 

[Jayson Cohen]

Fabulous note as usual Karen! The ‘96 Bretons have been fabulous for a long time now and it’s good to see they are still going. I have one Chinon Picasses left.

So good to see Eden post! Can Kay be far behind?

 

[Marc Hanes]

Hah, I had a bottle of Torbreck the other day and thoughts turned to Eden. The universe acts in mysterious ways.

(All my 96's gone, alas.)

 

[Jeff Grossman]

I have no '96 red Loire left; only Huet and Pinon.

 

[Jayson Cohen]

originally posted by Jeff Grossman:
I have no '96 red Loire left; only Huet and Pinon.

Just a few reds left. Happy to share if you are interested. In addition to the Breton, Taluau VV and Olga Picasses.

I also have a few ‘97 Loire reds.

 

[Jeff Grossman]

originally posted by Jayson Cohen:

originally posted by Jeff Grossman:
I have no '96 red Loire left; only Huet and Pinon.

Just a few reds left. Happy to share if you are interested. In addition to the Breton, Taluau VV and Olga Picasses.

I also have a few ‘97 Loire reds.

I have a vertical of Croix Boissee (but not back to '96), one or two Clos Rougeard, and a couple young'ins that won't last long. I do like Franc.

 

[Brad Kane]

originally posted by Jayson Cohen:

originally posted by Jeff Grossman:
I have no '96 red Loire left; only Huet and Pinon.

Just a few reds left. Happy to share if you are interested. In addition to the Breton, Taluau VV and Olga Picasses.

I also have a few ‘97 Loire reds.

At this point, maybe wait until next year to celebrate the 25th anniversary of that great vintage? Hopefully, we'll be able to jeeb together before too much longer.

 

[BJ]

old skool all the way yay!!!

 

[Karen Goetz]

originally posted by Brad Kane:

originally posted by Jayson Cohen:

originally posted by Jeff Grossman:
I have no '96 red Loire left; only Huet and Pinon.

Just a few reds left. Happy to share if you are interested. In addition to the Breton, Taluau VV and Olga Picasses.

I also have a few ‘97 Loire reds.

At this point, maybe wait until next year to celebrate the 25th anniversary of that great vintage? Hopefully, we'll be able to jeeb together before too much longer.

Enjoy! I drank up all my other 1996's in the past two years and have one Les Perrières left out of all Breton, Baudry and Amirault wines. Too bad I'm on the West (fire) Coast or I'd bring it by to savor with yuz. I do not regret drinking them up...

 

[Jeff Grossman]

originally posted by Karen Goetz:
Enjoy! I drank up all my other 1996's in the past two years and have one Les Perrières left out of all Breton, Baudry and Amirault wines. Too bad I'm on the West (fire) Coast or I'd bring it by to savor with yuz. I do not regret drinking them up...

Speaking of which... exactly where are you, K, and are you safe?

 

[Karen Goetz]

originally posted by Jeff Grossman:

originally posted by Karen Goetz:
Enjoy! I drank up all my other 1996's in the past two years and have one Les Perrières left out of all Breton, Baudry and Amirault wines. Too bad I'm on the West (fire) Coast or I'd bring it by to savor with yuz. I do not regret drinking them up...

Speaking of which... exactly where are you, K, and are you safe?

It's so nice of you to ask! I'm in Oakland. Those that understand biology/environment/science and the dangers of protracted exposure are frightened (I'm one). It's a respiratory disaster here. Can't go outside. It's very different when you are living in it from what can be conveyed via media.
Dangerous levels of toxins and particulates for weeks so far from all the fires over CA and beyond. The scope of destruction on the West Coast is difficult to comprehend from afar. The impacts of this will affect the rest of the country in the near future.
What bothers me the most is the lack of federal response to a national disaster where people are dying and suffering.
Almost incomprehensible losses of habitat and human and other animal life in CA, OR, WA.
The fires aren't the only deadly thing. I'm pained to think of the probable fallout as this goes on and on. Little attention paid to the millions of people living amongst the products of incineration.
It's a strange situation, akin to communities living under a siege.

 

[Jeff Grossman]

originally posted by Karen Goetz:
It's so nice of you to ask! I'm in Oakland. Those that understand biology/environment/science and the dangers of protracted exposure are frightened (I'm one). It's a respiratory disaster here. Can't go outside. It's very different when you are living in it from what can be conveyed via media.
Dangerous levels of toxins and particulates for weeks so far from all the fires over CA and beyond. The scope of destruction on the West Coast is difficult to comprehend from afar. The impacts of this will affect the rest of the country in the near future.
What bothers me the most is the lack of federal response to a national disaster where people are dying and suffering.
Almost incomprehensible losses of habitat and human and other animal life in CA, OR, WA.
The fires aren't the only deadly thing. I'm pained to think of the probable fallout as this goes on and on. Little attention paid to the millions of people living amongst the products of incineration.
It's a strange situation, akin to communities living under a siege.

I have a friend in Pittsburg. He is keeping the windows shut and buying air filtration / smoke reduction for the house. Your description reminds me of the stories from Australia earlier this year. The new normal?

"Under siege" is an apt description.

 

[Lee Short]

Here in PDX, air purifiers are long gone and even furnace filters are hard to find. Glad I had stocked up.

 

[Jeff Grossman]

originally posted by Lee Short:
Here in PDX, air purifiers are long gone and even furnace filters are hard to find. Glad I had stocked up.

I seem to recall you are a stocker.

 

[Rahsaan]

Despite all this talk about lengthily-aged Breton, tonight I opened 2014 Clos Sénéchal and was very glad that I did. It's been a while since I've had Loire cab franc at home, and this was a nice return. Drinkable dark fruits and fine-grained finesse via the silky crunchy texture. The silky harmony may become even more prominent over the years, but I'm happy tonight!

 

[Karen Goetz]

2014 was a beautiful year for Bourgeuil and I enjoyed many of them right away, even cuvées that also benefit from thoughtful aging. They also have miles to go. How lovely to try stuff at different points in their lives (and ours).
I opened a 2011 Baudry Croix Boisées last night and it was lovely. Graininess and voluptuousness in the same mouthful. Slightly stern but in a good way; structure holding up the black soil notes and crimson fruit in mouth and bouquet. This is a beautiful wine right now, slightly heady and definitely dense, but its a forest you want to walk through in the dark, in moonlight, alone, unafraid.