2024/7/17-18. Now a premier cru vineyard. Still very young, a bit yogurt and lactic initially, which clams but remains as a roundness complementing the high-toned character. There’s lemon tart, flowers, yogurt cream, butter, chalk, and some vanilla and mace. Very balanced and drinkable on the palate — 4 months ago
Slightly different: La Cote… — 8 months ago
2024/9/4-5. Perhaps the most complete of the Merlin Pouilly 1ers I’ve had so far (though I still haven’t opened the Clos de France and was only able to get 2021, not 2020). There’s an overall balance and subtlety to the wine, but the elements are all there - fruit, mineral, acid, just a hint of judicious oak — 3 months ago
2024/7/7-10. Glossy yellow gold. Lemon rind, apple tart, toast, stone and custard. Mouth filling but not tiring, good acidity. Good Pouilly, enjoyable now but with the ability to evolve a bit more — 4 months ago
2024/8/27. Merlin’s Cras is known (or at least noted by Jasper Morris) as being long-lived, and I’ve enjoyed bottles at 10 years. (I’d like to try older vintages…) But this is lovely now as well - perhaps it’s the vintage, but there’s a focus reminiscent of Chablis paired with Southern richness. Cool lemon, stone and custard on the nose, acid, mineral and fruity body in balance on the palate. — 3 months ago
Premier Cru Pouilly Fuissé … who would have guessed? — 5 months ago
Drank with escargot in pastry shells appetizer, and sweetbreads with morels entree. Dark raspberry, violet, medium length finish. Dry good pairing. — 8 months ago
Ian Hamel
2024/9. While it doesn’t quite have the scale or depth of the more prestigious appellations, all the elements are here - lemon confit, cream, stone, a little toast — 2 months ago