Horrible pun but great wine. Last night I had to conquer this sultry heat so I opened the 2001 Luneau-Papin Muscadet "Clos des Noelles - Terroir des Schistes - Excelsior." It was a tremendous example of why you should keep Muscadet. This thing was tight right out of the gates but soon developed like a great white burg does in the glass. Super clean minerality along with complicating notes of ripe strawberry skin and lime zest. Palate had a rich creamy texture and some green apple fruit along with some zany acidity that an acid freak like me thrives on. The palate had a wonderful savory element as the wine opened up. The concentration was awesome. Incredible purity and depth. As good as it was last night it is even better as I sit here and type this post. This is Grand Cru Muscadet. Just astounding. I have one more bottle which I will hold for at least five more years.
Monday, July 30, 2007
It was a great Musca-night
Horrible pun but great wine. Last night I had to conquer this sultry heat so I opened the 2001 Luneau-Papin Muscadet "Clos des Noelles - Terroir des Schistes - Excelsior." It was a tremendous example of why you should keep Muscadet. This thing was tight right out of the gates but soon developed like a great white burg does in the glass. Super clean minerality along with complicating notes of ripe strawberry skin and lime zest. Palate had a rich creamy texture and some green apple fruit along with some zany acidity that an acid freak like me thrives on. The palate had a wonderful savory element as the wine opened up. The concentration was awesome. Incredible purity and depth. As good as it was last night it is even better as I sit here and type this post. This is Grand Cru Muscadet. Just astounding. I have one more bottle which I will hold for at least five more years.
Lyle,
ReplyDeleteIs this one of two special, site specific bottlings from L-P that spends a very extended time on the lees? Tried those in May, just incredible wines.
My only concern is how are we going to cellar those rack-busting bottles?
James
james,
ReplyDeleteyes it is. This one is mostly schist soil whil the other "Clos des Poyet" is mica/schist. I have not had a Clos de Poyet in a while. I remember preferring Noelles each time I have had them side by side. It is 24 months on the lees and I think they are currenty the best Muscadet has to offer. Luneau-Papin is DRC of Muscadet.
One of the best cases of wine I have ever purchased will always be the mixed case Luneau-Papin put out several years ago. Two bottles each of six vintages, I think the whole box sold for all of $120 wholesale. The 1989 was a revelation.
ReplyDeleteJames
Just opened a bottle of the 2002 which I haven't had for a year +, and though it's so young it should be in the ICU, it is showing near-Raveneau concentration. Monstrous and oily and almost chewy (the concentration factor again) - so exuberant with dried flowers and a truckload of strawberry skins, peaches, cream, yogurt, spice, tea leaves, bay leaves, bay scallops, scallop shells, shellfish, fish heads, heads of lettuce with a dollop of Yquem. Freaky good stuff.
ReplyDeleteMaybe a heavy bottle does mean profound wine? - is this where Napa got the idea?
Stephen,
ReplyDeleteThat note is near brilliant. I might have to buy a bottle to cellar with my 2001.
That dollop of Yquem had me rolling on the floor.
Just FYI, over the course of the night the over-ripe fruit skins (haunting strawberry), dissipated and the wine was like a 24-hour news channel covering a breaking story about minerality. All minerality, all the time - though it kept its oily saltwater edge.
ReplyDelete