Thoughts on Aging Chabils

originally posted by Odd Rydland:
There were some strange things going on with the Duplessis Clos 2000.

I remember quite a few years ago some musty wood. That is definitely not the case now.
 
I haven’t aged a lot of Chablis, but have a few data points. My 1995 Duplessis Montée de Tonnerre and Clos have aged well. 1998 Dauvissat Preuses has held up better than 1996 Forest, with 1997 Raveneau Forêts splitting the difference between the two. I’ve had dreadful luck with Servin and oxidation.
 
I've got some late 90s Dauvissat that slipped to the back of my cellar that I was sort of afraid to pull out with premox but your comments are providing me with the courage to dig deeper and find out if they're still alive.
 
I'm a big fan of Duplessis Les Clos, too. It fills in -- as best anything can -- for Raveneau. I'm able to purchase it at $65-$70, is that seen as too much?
 
originally posted by Tristan Welles:
I'm a big fan of Duplessis Les Clos, too. It fills in -- as best anything can -- for Raveneau. I'm able to purchase it at $65-$70, is that seen as too much?

That’s not too bad. I’ve seen the PCs recently at $50-$60.

I think it’s just the overall price jumps hitting our decades-old sensibilities. Plus pile on the 25% tariff.
 
originally posted by Jayson Cohen:
originally posted by Tristan Welles:
I'm a big fan of Duplessis Les Clos, too. It fills in -- as best anything can -- for Raveneau. I'm able to purchase it at $65-$70, is that seen as too much?

That’s not too bad. I’ve seen the PCs recently at $50-$60.

I think it’s just the overall price jumps hitting our decades-old sensibilities. Plus pile on the 25% tariff.

Oddly I would have to pay $82 for the 2018 Duplessis Clos, but the 1er crus are around $40.
 
originally posted by Tristan Welles:
I'm a big fan of Duplessis Les Clos, too. It fills in -- as best anything can -- for Raveneau. I'm able to purchase it at $65-$70, is that seen as too much?

That seems reasonable for Grand Cru Chablis. I paid around $60 for Louis Michel’s 2017 Vaudesir and $35-40 for 2017 and 2018 Premier Crus from Duplessis, Louis Michel, and Moreau-Naudet.
 
originally posted by Mike Evans:
I paid around $60 for Louis Michel’s 2017 Vaudesir and $35-40 for 2017 and 2018 Premier Crus from Duplessis, Louis Michel, and Moreau-Naudet.

Those good prices, especially the Vaudesir - you have an in.
Best, jim
 
originally posted by Odd Rydland:
A recent (3 days ago) bottle of Defaix Cote de Lechet 2005 confirmed my thrust in aging Chablis for a minimum of 15 years. Creamy and complex, yet with that distinct Chablis minerality and freshness.
Good to hear. I have liked the Defaix wines that I've had, though I think there are as many Defaix as there are Gros so I'm not sure whether it's a trend or just luck.

And my oxydation rate with mature Chablis has been less than 10%, probably significantly less, though Dauvissat, Duplessis and Fevre have all had vintages with some problems.
I've had very good results with Dauvissat. I'm looking around for a substitute only because the pricing has really become intolerable.
 
originally posted by Florida Jim:
originally posted by Mike Evans:
I paid around $60 for Louis Michel’s 2017 Vaudesir and $35-40 for 2017 and 2018 Premier Crus from Duplessis, Louis Michel, and Moreau-Naudet.

Those good prices, especially the Vaudesir - you have an in.
Best, jim

Thanks, that’s good to hear as I didn’t do a lot of price comparisons. They are all from Envoyer from whom I have a lot of other wines coming so it made sense to pull the trigger as the prices seemed reasonable. Your notes on Louis Michel wines were a definite influence in my buying decision.
 
I squirmed out of my normal spending range to buy a few bottles of Michel's les Clos from Envoyer, while passing on the Vaudesir. I haven't found Vaudesir to really hit my Chablis sweet spot - no doubt the sign some deep-seated character flaw. But some of my most memorable wines have been les Clos.

CT says 2075 for Michel les Clos. I'll probably rob the cradle and drink them before 2060.
 
Duplessis didn't really come into play in the Bay Area until Selection Massale brought in the 2009 vintage. There were a few back vintages here and there, but I don't recall anything older than 04 Clos magnums. I did get 07 Montmains and 08 Clos, but the rest of my stash is 2009-14.

Cory and GG did arrange a visit for me and a friend in 2014. My friend has a hobby vineyard (Pinot Noir) in the Santa Cruz Mountains. Lilian drove us up to the top of Vaillons. Those two talked (sign-languaged at times) about vineyard management.
 
originally posted by mark e:
originally posted by Odd Rydland:
There were some strange things going on with the Duplessis Clos 2000.

I remember quite a few years ago some musty wood. That is definitely not the case now.

Yeah, when I first had the wines in the 90s there was a musty element that I experienced and remember that through the 2000s (but that's just memory). Certainly, the wines I've had since SM started bringing them in have been much cleaner and quite good but I don't regularly drink them as the local distributor doesn't get any.

For those who are fans of Duplessis, which of their wines do you think best represent their style and holdings?
 
originally posted by Tristan Welles:
I'm a big fan of Duplessis Les Clos, too. It fills in -- as best anything can -- for Raveneau. I'm able to purchase it at $65-$70, is that seen as too much?

Interesting. I wouldn't compare Duplessis to Raveneau. I think they're closer to Dauvissat if I had to make a comparison.
 
originally posted by Jeff Grossman:

I've had very good results with Dauvissat. I'm looking around for a substitute only because the pricing has really become intolerable.

I recommend Laurent Tribut for a Dauvissat-like approach. They're cousins, but that of course doesn't necessarily translate to the glass. In this instance, I think it does. Tribut doesn't have the same terroirs as Dauvissat, but still makes very nice wines.
 
originally posted by Jim Hanlon:
originally posted by Jeff Grossman:

I've had very good results with Dauvissat. I'm looking around for a substitute only because the pricing has really become intolerable.

I recommend Laurent Tribut for a Dauvissat-like approach. They're cousins, but that of course doesn't necessarily translate to the glass. In this instance, I think it does. Tribut doesn't have the same terroirs as Dauvissat, but still makes very nice wines.

Agree Jim. With Dauvissat prices as they are, Tribut is a great way to scratch that itch.

on the debate about longevity, I've had good luck over the years. Lucked into a 1981 Dauvissat Sechet bottle a couple years ago and was floored by how regal it was.
 
originally posted by Matt Latuchie:
originally posted by Jim Hanlon:
originally posted by Jeff Grossman:

I've had very good results with Dauvissat. I'm looking around for a substitute only because the pricing has really become intolerable.

I recommend Laurent Tribut for a Dauvissat-like approach. They're cousins, but that of course doesn't necessarily translate to the glass. In this instance, I think it does. Tribut doesn't have the same terroirs as Dauvissat, but still makes very nice wines.

Agree Jim. With Dauvissat prices as they are, Tribut is a great way to scratch that itch.

on the debate about longevity, I've had good luck over the years. Lucked into a 1981 Dauvissat Sechet bottle a couple years ago and was floored by how regal it was.

Matt, since you’re weighing in here: did you see the comment about Servin and oxidation? Any experience of your own? (I recall you opening a Servin in Chicago years ago)

Mark Lipton
 
Any experience with Pinson? I had a magnum of Montmains, I think. Okay, as I recall, but not memorable. I probably drank it too young.

B. Defaix Lechet VV is nice, if you can find it.
 
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