Domaine des Orchis (Philippe Héritier)
Quintessence d'Altesse Roussette de Savoie
Savoie, France
Insane nose. Vanilla extract, lemon flesh and pith. Intense minerals. Just an essence. Love it. This wine has more fruit in 19 with that lemon pith than in 18 and there’s not much lemon pith! This is a mineral lover’s wine. Really just a heavenly nose on p n p. Very impressive. Complex, concentrated and has lovely purity to it and a long lemony, mineral finish. This is luscious yet lean. There is serious finesse here and just lovely texture and sap. This is the best version by far. Wow.
Insane nose. Vanilla extract, lemon flesh and pith. Intense minerals. Just an essence. Love it. This wine has more fruit in 19 with that lemon pith than in 18 and there’s not much lemon pith! This is a mineral lover’s wine. Really just a heavenly nose on p n p. Very impressive. Complex, concentrated and has lovely purity to it and a long lemony, mineral finish. This is luscious yet lean. There is serious finesse here and just lovely texture and sap. This is the best version by far. Wow.
May 12th, 2021Huge nose. Huge aromas. Green apple, spice, white alpine fields of flowers. Also fresh tilled dirt. Like the freshest. Huge earnest and vocal aromatic minerality reminds me of Chenin Muscadet. Like Coteaux de Loir or Jasnieres. So layered and complex. Really just ethereal and so distinct. This is one of the longest aging Altesse out there. Wow, so elegant and pure with just searing mineral force. Juicy and so balanced with unreal acidity and depth. This is not for everyone in that it has a severity/austerity not meant for every drinker but all my geeks will adore this. So luscious. It’s the liquid equivalent of a long, meandering Tarkovsky film like Stalker or Nostalgia. Love it.
Huge nose. Huge aromas. Green apple, spice, white alpine fields of flowers. Also fresh tilled dirt. Like the freshest. Huge earnest and vocal aromatic minerality reminds me of Chenin Muscadet. Like Coteaux de Loir or Jasnieres. So layered and complex. Really just ethereal and so distinct. This is one of the longest aging Altesse out there. Wow, so elegant and pure with just searing mineral force. Juicy and so balanced with unreal acidity and depth. This is not for everyone in that it has a severity/austerity not meant for every drinker but all my geeks will adore this. So luscious. It’s the liquid equivalent of a long, meandering Tarkovsky film like Stalker or Nostalgia. Love it.
Aug 9th, 2020Stunning nose. Such a laser like sharp expression of Altesse. Huge green apple, mineral, hay, wild flowers, white flowers, super expressive, steely and mineral, almost Muscadet like, dense and intense with super terrific acidity and freshness. Long and laser like. Iodine and so so mineral on the finish. Inner mouth mineral aromas. Terrific structure. Pure and concentrated. Big structure and ageability. Needs air. Likely an hour.
Stunning nose. Such a laser like sharp expression of Altesse. Huge green apple, mineral, hay, wild flowers, white flowers, super expressive, steely and mineral, almost Muscadet like, dense and intense with super terrific acidity and freshness. Long and laser like. Iodine and so so mineral on the finish. Inner mouth mineral aromas. Terrific structure. Pure and concentrated. Big structure and ageability. Needs air. Likely an hour.
Feb 9th, 2019
From a Grape grower and snail wrangler. Excellent.
From a Grape grower and snail wrangler. Excellent.
Jan 21st, 2024
High Alpine stuff - aromatic, firm scaffolding.
A dank funk of mossy biscuit, mountain florals, orchards and pitty stone fruits. The baked, oxidized versions, with specks of cinnamon and nutmeg. Browned just the way I like.
Full body, cool and waxy depart from the high acid train ride of Summer 2022. It's nice to bounce back and forth, so I remember how acid feels on my teeth.
Flavors in the bitter almond, bosc pear, white jasmine, theme.
High Alpine stuff - aromatic, firm scaffolding.
A dank funk of mossy biscuit, mountain florals, orchards and pitty stone fruits. The baked, oxidized versions, with specks of cinnamon and nutmeg. Browned just the way I like.
Full body, cool and waxy depart from the high acid train ride of Summer 2022. It's nice to bounce back and forth, so I remember how acid feels on my teeth.
Flavors in the bitter almond, bosc pear, white jasmine, theme.
Wow. A great example of what it is.
Nose is mountain flowers with a kiss of mountain flower honey. The honey is not really perceptible. It adds depth. So fresh. As this opens the floral ty is just gorgeous.
Palate is gorgeous. Perfect balance. Fruit is like liquid flowers almost. Fruity but I can’t place the fruit. Quince? Like really well made 1e cru Chablis but mountainy. Very delicious but so pure. Julie Andrews in sound of music. A hint of minerality.
If this had more palate complexity it would rush into the elite category. For a “simple wine” this is as good as it gets.
Amazing change of pace wine.
Bought from fass selections.
Wow. A great example of what it is.
Nose is mountain flowers with a kiss of mountain flower honey. The honey is not really perceptible. It adds depth. So fresh. As this opens the floral ty is just gorgeous.
Palate is gorgeous. Perfect balance. Fruit is like liquid flowers almost. Fruity but I can’t place the fruit. Quince? Like really well made 1e cru Chablis but mountainy. Very delicious but so pure. Julie Andrews in sound of music. A hint of minerality.
If this had more palate complexity it would rush into the elite category. For a “simple wine” this is as good as it gets.
Amazing change of pace wine.
Bought from fass selections.
Huge green apple and melon on the nose, like apple chewits. Bone dry and with a saline, chalky finish. Awesome.
Huge green apple and melon on the nose, like apple chewits. Bone dry and with a saline, chalky finish. Awesome.
Aug 24th, 2016
Roussette 2011. Dry and sweet. Not bad at all!
Roussette 2011. Dry and sweet. Not bad at all!
May 1st, 2015