Vissoux

J

Jim Hanlon

Jim Hanlon
I'm curious about the experiences folks here have had with Domaine de Vissoux. I've been buying the wines because they're well priced, the practices seem sound, and Gilman and other critics whose opinions mean something to me generally praise them, sometimes effusively. But I've never had a bottle I'd describe as memorable, or even excellent. My experience is not robust, maybe 12-15 bottles over the years. I just drank a 2011 Fleurie Garants that kind of sat there. It didn't seem dead, but it also didn't have any drive, lift, or liveliness. That's been my general impression -- the wines are fine, but not engaging.

Have others had better experiences? I have too much wine and am considering selling these off, but don't want to be hasty. Thanks
 
Oh, I think of them as outstanding, but am also aware I haven't really kept current. Their traditionelle was often the fave. But there is so much great Beaujolais out there. I do wonder if there is a bit of a changing of the guard/resettling right now, with some of the older guard a tad less engaged/focused. Can't tell if it's that or the conditions, including my own.
 
originally posted by Jim Hanlon:
VissouxI'm curious about the experiences folks here have had with Domaine de Vissoux. I've been buying the wines because they're well priced, the practices seem sound, and Gilman and other critics whose opinions mean something to me generally praise them, sometimes effusively. But I've never had a bottle I'd describe as memorable, or even excellent. My experience is not robust, maybe 12-15 bottles over the years. I just drank a 2011 Fleurie Garants that kind of sat there. It didn't seem dead, but it also didn't have any drive, lift, or liveliness. That's been my general impression -- the wines are fine, but not engaging.

Have others had better experiences? I have too much wine and am considering selling these off, but don't want to be hasty. Thanks
Click to expand...

i have had pretty much the same experience as you.
 
2005 Fleurie, Poncie was memorable.
All the wines I’ve had have been good or better.
I don’t hesitate to buy any of them if I have the money.
Big fan.
Best, jim
 
I've had wonderful bottles of 2004 Vielles Vignes (all consumed by 2005 and very good, bright); 2009 Fleurie "les Garants" and "Poncie" that were all very good by my notes. I drank these from 2011-2016 and they were great.
If I was buying I would still buy this producer. The Fleuries had more structure and interest but the Beaujolais VV was very pure and lovely.
 
I’m with BJ. Garants is a personal favorite, it tends to be chewy and stoney until it relaxes, which can take a while. I’ve read that this vineyard is reclassified Moulin-a-Vent, like Coudert Roilette, and from the same area as Coudert’s wine.

I have some 2011, too, and will dig up a bottle eventually.
 
Piling on here, we’ve always really enjoyed the Beaujolais VV, but have less experience with the Fleuries. What we have had has been very good, though, juicy and balanced. I’ve got a few more hiding in the cellar and will give some thought to them when we open one.

Mark Lipton
 
there are two topics here

I agree with aforementioned Mr Gilman on just about everything, but our ongoing disagreement on 2011 Beaujolais is well-publicized by a wide range of biased and unbiased media outlets. I actually think they suck for the most part - in fact, various accusations aimed at 2011 red Burgundy (that I am a fan of) could easily be diverted southbound on A6.

re Chermette in general, I have unfortunately all but lost track in the past 7 years, but previous efforts have been fantastic. I still have some 2005 Traditionnelle(!) that's cruising delightfully into the twilight. I think it would be fair to say that most of the top Beaujolais producers discussed here require an understanding of when to drink their wines, and frequently some patience. Less so with Chermette - they are pretty good young, and have a long pleasure-inducing window relative to expectations within each appellation.
 
originally posted by Bill Lundstrom:
originally posted by Jim Hanlon:
VissouxI'm curious about the experiences folks here have had with Domaine de Vissoux. I've been buying the wines because they're well priced, the practices seem sound, and Gilman and other critics whose opinions mean something to me generally praise them, sometimes effusively. But I've never had a bottle I'd describe as memorable, or even excellent. My experience is not robust, maybe 12-15 bottles over the years. I just drank a 2011 Fleurie Garants that kind of sat there. It didn't seem dead, but it also didn't have any drive, lift, or liveliness. That's been my general impression -- the wines are fine, but not engaging.

Have others had better experiences? I have too much wine and am considering selling these off, but don't want to be hasty. Thanks
Click to expand...

i have had pretty much the same experience as you.
Click to expand...

These were never wines that were at the highest level for my preferences. Like others, the Traditionnelle was always delightful and a great value. I found many of the Cru to be blocky and subsequent, though limited, experience has never changed my mind. I'm also struggling for space and having to make some difficult choices.

As for 2011 Beaujolais, my experiences have been excellent; however, they are limited to Descombes, Desvignes and Coudert from my cellar and who knows what in restaurants that I don't have records for.
 
originally posted by VLM:
originally posted by Bill Lundstrom:
originally posted by Jim Hanlon:
VissouxI'm curious about the experiences folks here have had with Domaine de Vissoux. I've been buying the wines because they're well priced, the practices seem sound, and Gilman and other critics whose opinions mean something to me generally praise them, sometimes effusively. But I've never had a bottle I'd describe as memorable, or even excellent. My experience is not robust, maybe 12-15 bottles over the years. I just drank a 2011 Fleurie Garants that kind of sat there. It didn't seem dead, but it also didn't have any drive, lift, or liveliness. That's been my general impression -- the wines are fine, but not engaging.

Have others had better experiences? I have too much wine and am considering selling these off, but don't want to be hasty. Thanks
Click to expand...

i have had pretty much the same experience as you.
Click to expand...

These were never wines that were at the highest level for my preferences. Like others, the Traditionnelle was always delightful and a great value. I found many of the Cru to be blocky and subsequent, though limited, experience has never changed my mind. I'm also struggling for space and having to make some difficult choices.

As for 2011 Beaujolais, my experiences have been excellent; however, they are limited to Descombes, Desvignes and Coudert from my cellar and who knows what in restaurants that I don't have records for.
Click to expand...

Blocky is a good term for how I've perceived them as well. I have other aged vintages and will try something else based on the feedback here. Thanks all.
 
Similar to the Monkey: Chermette was never a first-choice for me, even in boffo years.

Which 2011 was not. It was serviceable. Wines were not bad, generally said, and the best makers always make the best wine. But meh.
 
originally posted by Jeff Grossman:
Similar to the Monkey: Chermette was never a first-choice for me, even in boffo years.

Which 2011 was not. It was serviceable. Wines were not bad, generally said, and the best makers always make the best wine. But meh.
Click to expand...

From the growers I generally purchase, I liked 2011 better than 2010 or 2012, FWIW.
 
originally posted by Jim Hanlon:
... But I've never had a bottle I'd describe as memorable, or even excellent. ... kind of sat there. It didn't seem dead, but it also didn't have any drive, lift, or liveliness. That's been my general impression -- the wines are fine, but not engaging.
Click to expand...

My take on Beaujolais in general with age. Vissoux wines can age as well, but it's gamay: don't expect miracles.
 
originally posted by Jeff Grossman:
Which 2011 was not. It was serviceable. Wines were not bad, generally said, and the best makers always make the best wine. But meh.
Click to expand...

Serviceable if you know how to pair them food-wise. Had a good experience with a couple of bottles of Guy Breton Régnié recently, once I knew what I was getting into.
 
I'm a fan. Blocky is just about the last word I'd use to describe them. They are plush and satiny, easy to like. I can see people who want their Beaujolais with more ripping structure finding them perhaps too slutty.
 
originally posted by Keith Levenberg:
I'm a fan. Blocky is just about the last word I'd use to describe them. They are plush and satiny, easy to like. I can see people who want their Beaujolais with more ripping structure finding them perhaps too slutty.
Click to expand...

When borrowing Nathan's term, I mean blocky in the sense of foursquare, rather than in a structural sense. You may be right that they're a little plush for my palate.
 
My experience has been that these wines can be rich in fruit (plush) in youth (especially the Poncié, though not the Garants) but, like most very good cru Beaujolais (and other wines) they shut down, passing through a kind of garbagy-to-dumb phase, to emerge on the other side a very different wine: refined, even silky fruit and tannins, supported by palate-cleansing acidity.

The cru Beaujolais I've tasted in this mature stage are comparable in style and quality to some villages and premier cru Burgundies of my acquaintance, though different in flavors-aromas. I've yet to taste one where the Gamay 'pinoters,' in the sense of tasting like Burgundy.
 
Ian, I agree with your note generally on Chermette. This thread prompted the drinking of a Garants 14 last night - really nice wine but just coming off the closed phase - probably great in a couple years.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top