It's not one of the producers you mentioned, but sometime in 2018 or 2019, I impulse-bought Domaine des Baumard's Clos du Papillon (dated 2016, I think). I knew nothing about the contrasting Chenin styles of Loire sub-areas at the time, and had probably never heard of Savennières, much less its micro-appelations. I rarely even buy French whites to begin with. But somehow I had a hunch.
It didn't get opened until six months into the pandemic, on an occasion (under otherwise stressful conditions) that marked the first time I'd seen family since the pandemic began. It was life-affirmingly amazing and one of the few highlights of that fraught year.
I've yet to encounter Baumard in a brick-and-mortar again, but by chance I already have that very Domaine aux Moines in my fridge, waiting to be indulged.
On Savennieres, specifically Nicolas Joly’s Coulee de Serrant.
I can remember my first (and only) trip to the property with my former wife back in 1992 or 93.
The importer at that time was anxious for someone from Sherry-Lehmann (the OLD Sherry-Lehmann!) to visit the property to give a boost to their sales.
Nicolas was the perfect host, but we got the distinct impression that after a quiet night in Angers we had been transported into another dimension.
The opportunity to taste older vintages removed some of the mystery of that wonderful but challenging wine at its peak, but the most memorable thing about that day were the surroundings.
Normal flowering plants after M. Joly had applied his biodynamic magic were gigantic.
Congrats on bringing these to your readers attention , if they weren’t already ). Savenieres makes tremendous wines. I’m sure you’ve heard Nicolas Joly speak. He is one of the most passionate winegrowers I’ve ever met. His belief in biodynamic farming is unwavering to say the least.
I'll have to start exploring Loire wines. Great newsletter. However, one thing hits a nerve with me: the “godfather of biodynamic viticulture.” Biodynamics is a fringe, pseudoscientific theory of agriculture invented by a clairvoyant with no farming experience. I can't support anti-science nonsense, and I don't like it being promoted. As Brian Dunning said, "Essentially, we're talking about witchcraft and sorcery being employed as a modern farming tool." I realize that otherwise mentally competent adults can believe in quirky things, but biodynamics should have all our crap detectors pinned in the red. https://skeptoid.com/episodes/4026
A Wine That Even Critics Don't Understand
It's not one of the producers you mentioned, but sometime in 2018 or 2019, I impulse-bought Domaine des Baumard's Clos du Papillon (dated 2016, I think). I knew nothing about the contrasting Chenin styles of Loire sub-areas at the time, and had probably never heard of Savennières, much less its micro-appelations. I rarely even buy French whites to begin with. But somehow I had a hunch.
It didn't get opened until six months into the pandemic, on an occasion (under otherwise stressful conditions) that marked the first time I'd seen family since the pandemic began. It was life-affirmingly amazing and one of the few highlights of that fraught year.
I've yet to encounter Baumard in a brick-and-mortar again, but by chance I already have that very Domaine aux Moines in my fridge, waiting to be indulged.
Today we opened a bottle of Les Vieux Clos 2021 by Famille Joly at Tacoma Wine Merchants. Beautiful!
On Savennieres, specifically Nicolas Joly’s Coulee de Serrant.
I can remember my first (and only) trip to the property with my former wife back in 1992 or 93.
The importer at that time was anxious for someone from Sherry-Lehmann (the OLD Sherry-Lehmann!) to visit the property to give a boost to their sales.
Nicolas was the perfect host, but we got the distinct impression that after a quiet night in Angers we had been transported into another dimension.
The opportunity to taste older vintages removed some of the mystery of that wonderful but challenging wine at its peak, but the most memorable thing about that day were the surroundings.
Normal flowering plants after M. Joly had applied his biodynamic magic were gigantic.
Something right out of Woody Allen’s SLEEPER.
Quite a “trip” back in 92.
Mick Yurch
Congrats on bringing these to your readers attention , if they weren’t already ). Savenieres makes tremendous wines. I’m sure you’ve heard Nicolas Joly speak. He is one of the most passionate winegrowers I’ve ever met. His belief in biodynamic farming is unwavering to say the least.
I'll have to start exploring Loire wines. Great newsletter. However, one thing hits a nerve with me: the “godfather of biodynamic viticulture.” Biodynamics is a fringe, pseudoscientific theory of agriculture invented by a clairvoyant with no farming experience. I can't support anti-science nonsense, and I don't like it being promoted. As Brian Dunning said, "Essentially, we're talking about witchcraft and sorcery being employed as a modern farming tool." I realize that otherwise mentally competent adults can believe in quirky things, but biodynamics should have all our crap detectors pinned in the red. https://skeptoid.com/episodes/4026