A thrilling Saumur Blanc

October 28th, 2007 | Category: Wine News

Every now and next I drink a wine that (almost) leaves me speechless. It’s usually not wines that wow with their first sniff or sip, but rather wines that beguile - that draw you in, and as your attention becomes focused on them, they seem to reveal progressively more, engaging both intellect and appetite in a journey of thrilling discovery. OK, less of the flowery language - I just really, really like that sort of wine. It’s what the ‘old world’ does really well.

Domaine du Collier Saumur Blanc La Charpentrie 2004 Loire, France
A brilliant, complex, savoury dry white

wine from the Chenin Blanc variety. A yellow gold colour, the nose is complex with notes of apples, pears, minerals, wax and dry straw. The mouth is savoury and minerally, and quite dry, with herb-tinged appley fruit and a flinty/matchstick reductive character that adds complexity. There’s an acid tang on the finish, together with hints of apricots and pear-skin. I think that is quite profound - a really thrilling effort that should age gracefully for the next 20 years. With its distinctive character, though, I don’t think that is a wine for everyone. 94/100 (Les Caves de Pyrene)

Original post by Jamie

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