Saumur-Champigny, Anjou-Saumur, Loire Valley, France
Poured into a decanter about 30min prior to service and enjoyed over the course of a few hours. The 2005 “Les Poyeux” pours a deep garnet color with a near opaque core; medium viscosity with moderate staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with gorgeous notes of ripe and tart red and black fruits: currants, blackberries, dark cherry, tons of violets, horse blanket, tobacco, some pyrazines, some leather, fine warm spices, and ferrous minerals. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long and overwhelmingly sanguine. It’s incredible how much character can be packed into a 12.5% ABV wine. A stunning bottle. Drink now through 2045.
Poured into a decanter about 30min prior to service and enjoyed over the course of a few hours. The 2005 “Les Poyeux” pours a deep garnet color with a near opaque core; medium viscosity with moderate staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with gorgeous notes of ripe and tart red and black fruits: currants, blackberries, dark cherry, tons of violets, horse blanket, tobacco, some pyrazines, some leather, fine warm spices, and ferrous minerals. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long and overwhelmingly sanguine. It’s incredible how much character can be packed into a 12.5% ABV wine. A stunning bottle. Drink now through 2045.
Jun 8th, 2025
Starting to emerge from its shell, this is still tight and needs decanting, but with air and time is very delicious. Cranberry, raspberry, dried roses, olive tapenade, currant, tobacco, graphite, clove, nutmeg. More to come. I’ll save my remaining bottles for another couple years. Better 2024+ is my best guess.
Starting to emerge from its shell, this is still tight and needs decanting, but with air and time is very delicious. Cranberry, raspberry, dried roses, olive tapenade, currant, tobacco, graphite, clove, nutmeg. More to come. I’ll save my remaining bottles for another couple years. Better 2024+ is my best guess.
Nov 14th, 2021
Excellent showing. Great concentration and mid palate presence. Long finish
Excellent showing. Great concentration and mid palate presence. Long finish
Jul 23rd, 2021
Fresh, racy, nuanced, and striking. Ripe aromas and flavors of blackberry, plum, olive and spice throughout, with very fine, whispery tannins, and so much finesse. It’s incredibly drinkable right now and has decades before it. One of my favorite wines of the tasting. (Jason Wilson, Vinous, July 2020)
Fresh, racy, nuanced, and striking. Ripe aromas and flavors of blackberry, plum, olive and spice throughout, with very fine, whispery tannins, and so much finesse. It’s incredibly drinkable right now and has decades before it. One of my favorite wines of the tasting. (Jason Wilson, Vinous, July 2020)
Cabernet Franc like few can make, luscious without green.
Cabernet Franc like few can make, luscious without green.
Oct 13th, 2018Extremely fine and wellstructured tannines. Animalness while at the same time round enough to compensate for the greeness of the cab franc. An outstanding wine
Extremely fine and wellstructured tannines. Animalness while at the same time round enough to compensate for the greeness of the cab franc. An outstanding wine
Oct 13th, 2018
One sniff of the glass tells you you’re in the Loire Valley. Green pepper, herbs and tobacco resonate. Precise and silky on the palate . The only thing that tempered my enthusiasm was the level of complexity was not at the level this producer is known for. Perhaps more time is needed.
One sniff of the glass tells you you’re in the Loire Valley. Green pepper, herbs and tobacco resonate. Precise and silky on the palate . The only thing that tempered my enthusiasm was the level of complexity was not at the level this producer is known for. Perhaps more time is needed.
Oct 2nd, 2018
Iron, pencil shavings, wild berry, earthy spice, wet stone, great acid. Probably the best most expressive/focused cab franc I’ve ever had. Just got better and better as it opened. Thanks Doug!
Iron, pencil shavings, wild berry, earthy spice, wet stone, great acid. Probably the best most expressive/focused cab franc I’ve ever had. Just got better and better as it opened. Thanks Doug!
Sep 14th, 2018
Still young but incredible stuff. Purity that is perhaps unmatched.
Still young but incredible stuff. Purity that is perhaps unmatched.
Sep 7th, 2018
