Will Stanley

9.5

I have scant experience with Loire Chenin Blanc, but having heard such incredible things about Jacky Blot, who sadly passed away in May this year, I have been eager to try his wines. I love South African Chenin, so I suppose that was my benchmark while trying this.

What a tremendous wine this is. From a single vineyard in Vouvray (but raised in Montlouis), it opens up almost immediately but benefits from decanting, with exuberant aromas of lime, melon, orange marmalade, burnt butter (odd, with no malo fermentation), truly a wine you can happily sniff for ages! But there’s something sweet in there, and it entices you for a sip. It’s that marmalade again, forthright on the palate, a fleck of sweet ripeness amidst an acid-driven palate that’s utterly engrossing and really quite elegant in spite of the obvious power. It finishes very long. This is brilliant stuff. Minerality is important to Jacky Blot, but he notes how minerality on its own “makes the wine hard to drink. The slowness of fermentation gives fatness and roundness to the wine, and the long fermentation is like a permanent battonage”. And on malolactic fermentation, which he avoids, Blot notes how malic acid “is the spinal column of the wine, giving structure, adding relief and vibrancy to the wine, whereas weight and body, roundness and flesh are coming from old vines, restricted yields, ripe grapes and the long fermentation.” Minerality and acidity provide a colossal backbone for this powerful wine.

Enjoyed with scallop & samphire pasta; soundtracked by Lonnie Liston Smith’s ‘A Garden of Peace’. — 8 months ago

D Manos

8.9

Simple, forthright and direct. Great quality price ratio. — 6 years ago

Yoon Ha

Master Sommelier/Wine Director Benu

9.4

They say that '83 outperformed '82 at this chateau. Not for those who like their Bordeaux forthright, hardworking and determined. — 8 years ago

Edgar Martin

9.5

Stern but impressive of deepness and complexity, very forthright palate, fine tannins — a year ago

Russell Perry

9.2

Delicious Merlot. — 3 years ago

with Danielle

Neal Schaffer

9.0

This is a forthright and genuine expression of Peumo. Bursts with intense dark purple color and displays a subtle but elegant nose. This wine doesn't hide from what it is: full-bodied and highly acidic. Lots of tart red raspberries, cherries, sour plums, and sweet elderberries on the nose. Herbaceous sage and spearmint slice through the palate. Great dark cocoa and green peppercorn nuances. Healthy amounts of oak from start to finish. Drinking very young right now. Tannins are more bitter like fresh kale and drinks a little hot. Still, what an amazing food and table wine to have on call. Could cellar for another 5 years without any issues. Cheers! — 7 years ago

with Dana

Guillermo Camacho

9.1

Classic example. The oak is not as coconut and dill heavy and the fruit is a bit more forthright than some other Rioja producers. Nose of cigar red and blue berries. Palate of bright fruit with medium acid and tannin. Drinking well now, but this still has plenty, plenty of life. — 2 years ago

Jake Hajer

9.0

This is really good in the rich fruit and palatability way. -But over blown. Reminds me of Heidi Barrett’s Fantesca Pinot. Tastes as if it were made in Napa. Blueberry, boysenberry, mixed red fruit, rich. Medium/medium+ bodied. Lots of vanilla. Very enjoyable, but should be in some other category than Pinot. — 3 years ago

George Wallace

9.5

Crisp and forthright, earth and stony brilliance. — 8 years ago

Lynn Gowdy

9.0

Pineapple, green apple, and hints of oak with medium acidity- an austere wine. Drinking without food, oak was forthright. The second day with lentils, ratatouille, chevré, black garlicky olives and toasty grain bread, the wine stands up validating itself. Enjoyable with this food, know a better pairing is in order. — 9 years ago