Michael Lewis
Michael Lewis
By the way, I tend to agree with Nathan that the Chinon Blanc is not really one for long-term aging, but I have no firsthand experience trying to cellar it.
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Two young Chenins, one especially excellent
- Thread starter Oswaldo Costa
- Start date
Ian Fitzsimmons
Ian Fitzsimmons
originally posted by Michael Lewis:
originally posted by VLM:
originally posted by VLM:
Had the 2018 Baudry Chinon Blanc yesterday. Just a taste from Steph's glass and it was charming but in a manner for near term consumption. It's a different animal from the Croix Boissée Blanc.
Michael Lewis recently IGd a bottle of 2018 Croix Boissée Blanc so maybe he'll chime in.
Interestingly, the Baudry Blanc firmed up a bit after a day in the fridge. Finished the last bit last night. I still don't see the need to age it, though.
Oh hey, would you look at that? Here I am. Yes, I thought it made sense to pull the cork on one of my bottles of the 2018 Croix Boissee blanc. I think it was the early appeal of the 2017 that made me think it might be a good idea. Well, don't do it with the 2018. You have to work much harder to appreciate this vintage out of the gates. It is a more forceful wine on the palate and, if I am being honest, I thought the 13.5% showed a bit more than I remembered being the case for the 2017 (which may have been lower). But there is a lot of material lurking in the 2018 and I would wager that some time in the cellar will help.
Speaking of which, last year when we were visiting Baudry, a bottle of the 2000 Croix Boissee blanc magically appeared from the cellar. It was radiant, precise, and perfectly harmonious. There is no question that, at least when it never leaves their cellars, the wine can age (and not merely last, but change and improve).
Okay, I have to launch a full-bore search and see if I can find my bottles, so we have more data to work with.
originally posted by Michael Lewis:
originally posted by VLM:
originally posted by VLM:
Had the 2018 Baudry Chinon Blanc yesterday. Just a taste from Steph's glass and it was charming but in a manner for near term consumption. It's a different animal from the Croix Boissée Blanc.
Michael Lewis recently IGd a bottle of 2018 Croix Boissée Blanc so maybe he'll chime in.
Interestingly, the Baudry Blanc firmed up a bit after a day in the fridge. Finished the last bit last night. I still don't see the need to age it, though.
Oh hey, would you look at that? Here I am. Yes, I thought it made sense to pull the cork on one of my bottles of the 2018 Croix Boissee blanc. I think it was the early appeal of the 2017 that made me think it might be a good idea. Well, don't do it with the 2018. You have to work much harder to appreciate this vintage out of the gates. It is a more forceful wine on the palate and, if I am being honest, I thought the 13.5% showed a bit more than I remembered being the case for the 2017 (which may have been lower). But there is a lot of material lurking in the 2018 and I would wager that some time in the cellar will help.
Speaking of which, last year when we were visiting Baudry, a bottle of the 2000 Croix Boissee blanc magically appeared from the cellar. It was radiant, precise, and perfectly harmonious. There is no question that, at least when it never leaves their cellars, the wine can age (and not merely last, but change and improve).
Cool! That 2000 *might* be the first bottling. I'd love to taste that as I tried it out of barrel during my first or second visit to Baudry when Bernard was still front and center.
Thanks for the info on the 2018. I'll try to keep my hands off, but I've been pretty eager to gauge all the different Chenins I've been trying lately against one another before they're lost to memory.
Michael Lewis
Michael Lewis
Interestingly enough, the 2018 Grezeaux, which I opened last night, is also labeled as having 13.5% alcohol (like the 2018 Croix Boissee blanc), but does not show it in the least. It's showing like I hope and expect young Grezeaux to show. Edgy, juicy, and scintillatingly prickly, but not hard.
Oswaldo Costa
Oswaldo Costa
originally posted by Michael Lewis:
Interestingly enough, the 2018 Grezeaux, which I opened last night, is also labeled as having 13.5% alcohol (like the 2018 Croix Boissee blanc), but does not show it in the least. It's showing like I hope and expect young Grezeaux to show. Edgy, juicy, and scintillating prickly, but not hard.
A 2016 Grézeaux was like that a few months ago.