Vouvray's Espace du Vin
The tasting room
Jean-Michel Pieaux, president of the Vouvray producers
In early April Marie Thomas
of the Syndicat des Producteurs de Vouvray kindly arranged a tasting of the
2011 Vouvrays at the appellation's Espace du Vin. The building that houses the
Espace previously belonged to M. Musset, who was formerly president of the
Vouvray Syndicat des Producteurs.
Before we started the tasting
we talked briefly about the 2012 vintage, especially the frost of April
16th/17th when Rochecorbon was more affected than further east in the
appellation around Vernou and the valley of the Brenne. Catherine Dhoye-Deruet.
2011 in Vouvray was a rather
easier vintage than 2010 when rained arrive at the wrong time in late
September/early October provoking rot and forcing the vignerons to pick very
quickly.
In the tasting there were 22
Vouvray secs, eight demi-sec and seven moelleux. The wines were tasted blind.
Coup de Fougue, Florent Cosme in Noizay
2011 sec
Favourites
Coup de Fougue, Florent Cosme
Florent is the brother of
Matthieu (Domaine de Beaumont) and has only recently set up his domaine in Noizay.
Vibrantly citric, fresh style with good length.
Cuvée de Silex, Domaine des
Aubuisières, Bernard Fouquet
Attractive weight, texture
and complexity with a touch of sweetness and then a typical hint of bitterness
in the finish that is so characteristic of Chenin Blanc.
Lean, austere style with very
clean flavours - just a touch of sweetness mid-palate. Will be interesting to
see how it ages.
Also showed well:
Domaine de Beaumont, Matthieu
Cosme
Jean Michel Gautier
Clos de Nouys
Le Peu Morier, Domaine
Vincent Carême
Denis Breussin
Vignoble Brisebarre
Domaine de la Fontainerie,
Catherine Droye-Deruet
Le Clos de la Meslerie, Peter
Hahn
Les Jours Heureux, Alain Robert
**
Demi-sec
Favourites
Les Jours Heureux, Alain
Robert
Clean, citric aromas, quite
complex although will benefit from further time in bottle for all the elements
to come together harmoniously.
Cuvée Marcus, Clos de l'Epinay, Luc Dumange
Cuvée Marcus, Clos de
l'Epinay, Luc Dumange
Good concentration and
texture, quite a taut, austere style for a demi-sec but with good length and should age well.
Also showed well
Domaine de la Rouletiere,
Jean-Marc Gilet
**
Moelleux
Cuvée Lubin Grand Liquoreux,
La Croix des Vainqueurs, Laurent Bonneau
Discreet aromas but rich,
concentrated fruit on palate, complex flavours – honey and rich dried apricot,
barley sugar and baked apple.
Also showed well
Les Perruches, Domaine de la
Poultiere
Cuvee Beauclair, Christian
Blot
Souvenirs d'Automme, Caves
Cathelineau, Jean-Charles and Frédéric Cathelineau
