Le Rocher des Violettes Montlouis-sur-Loire Les Borderies

Vin très minéral. Bon potentiel de garde. A attendre.

This is a confuser -- would have guessed it for 2015, not 14, the woolly & honeyed riches are so plush. It's not that there's *no* structure -- it's just that theres not quite the spine you'd expect from old-vine Weisskopf in 2014. Went quite well with bacon/chard/soft-boiled egg dinner, actually, but wasn't the shimmering beastie I'd hoped for. 89++? (Loved forceberry's melon note -- it's definitely in there!)

Pale lemony yellow color. Somewhat restrained nose with aromas of ripe red apples, some waxy tones and subtly oxidative nuances of nuttiness and bruised green apples. The wine feels moderately full-bodied, ripe and juicy on the palate with complex off-dry-ish flavors of red apples, steely minerality, some honeyed richness, a little bit of woolly lanolin character and a hint of cantaloupe. The pronounced, racy acidity gives the wine wonderful freshness, focus and structure. The finish is lively and mineral with …

Bottle variation. At best - pale; a metallic note; well defined, just off-dry, not obviously demi-sec. Long. May well be better for more time. Rather ordinary.

Loire White Flight (SF Wine Trading Company) : Full yellow. Floral aromas. Typical glossy Chenin attack, slight residual sugar, pear and orange. Very much like Vouvray at the front end, then dry, mineral, and full of soil on the finish, more like Saumur or Savennières. Interesting and quite good.

3 Blinds at Nopa on a Sunday (Nopa SF) : Blind 1—White Wine: Clear, day-bright. Medium lemon, reflections of straw and gold in the glass. No gas or sediment. Moderate tears. [tasted for RS: there’s some RS: ~10-15g.] Nose: Moderate intensity. Clean. Slight lime character. Earthiness - slight funk. Slight honeyed character, but not overt botrytis. No oak influence. Slight nuttiness. Overall primarily savory. Youthful, with a little complexity. Palate: Medium body, Alcohol is moderate: ~12.5% [actually 13%] High acid, …

Yellow. Interesting nose of yellow apple and ginger. Medium weight with a bit of dilution. Off dry. Apple and pear fruit with a cidery quality, some spice, surging acidity which calmed down when the wine warmed to a proper temperature. Good.