Avalanche de Printemps Fleurie Gamay

Call me crass if you will, but this smelled like a reindeer ate a whole lot of cherries and roses, and shat it all out. Thankfully we didn't have to taste that - all sweet and plummy on the palate, with a salty edge. Less arousing than the first bottle for me, but more in line with expectations.

A very umami wine. While I'm sure this can be attributed to a higher-than-normal level of free glutamic acid, I felt that it was the complex interplay of mouth-coating texture, acidity, savoury and acetic flavours that drove home the sensation. Delicious in its own way, but in typical Delienne-fashion, this all ended in a volatile mess by day three. The wine showed best in day two when the reductive manure-like aromas melded in with the high-toned red fruits, anise and meaty notes, appearing mostly as a savoury olive character. Led with a salty attack in the mouth that gave the impression of having preserved plums. The mid-palate was surprisingly juicy and fruity, considering how savoury the finish was, which left me salivating with the notes of cured meat and chinese olive vegetable condiment. Certainly an interesting wine this Christmas season.

Orange peel, rose petals, dried cherry. One of the best expressions of Gamay I've tried in some time.

Large format. Pretty volatile, earthy, brooding for a gamay

Vincent had this 7 years ago

Still drinking light and fresh. Tons of tart red berries with a fair amount of spice. Good acidity and really drinking well.

Earthy, mushroom, red berries

Finish of sour cherry cough syrup that was actively unpleasant to drink

Slightly harsh nose, with ripe red berries, but an acidic, lingering burn that runs down the throat. High acidifying with ripe red and tart fruit, peppery finish on the tip of the tongue, with little mid palate or tannins. The acidity lingers but pairs well with savory, oily roasted meats.

Sweeter and more expressive than the Metras, but not as deep or nuanced.