The Great White Wines of France

TASTING NOTES

The Great White Wines of France... A very fine tasting that took place on 3 November at the Oenoschool workshop. A unique opportunity to sample the finest terroirs of the great white wines through 8 exceptional bottles!

Sancerre les Caillottes 2011 Francois Cotat The colour is pale with green reflections. A nose of citrus, lightly honeyed, with white and herbaceous flowers. The palate is marked by a sharp acidity, well balanced by a lovely volume. It is fairly short but opens up nicely with aeration.  

Côtes du Jura Jean-François Ganevat 2011 cuvée Florine (chardonnay) Pronounced golden colour. A slightly reductive nose with aromas of candied citrus, pineapple and white fruits. Plenty of volume and acidity on the palate; the whole is somewhat disjointed but remains fairly pure and long on the palate.  

Batard Montrachet 2000 Hospices de Beaune Dame de Flandres The colour is golden to old gold. A nose of rancid butter, caramel and citrus with no oxidative notes. The palate appears younger but faithful to the nose, with milky and white fruit notes. Plenty of volume with a beautiful finish of dried fruits and candied orange. A fine wine to drink without waiting too long.  

Châteauneuf du Pape 2000 Beaucastel blanc (80% Roussanne) An orange-hued colour and a very complex nose of quince, candied fruits, tea and ginger. The wine is rich and opulent yet not excessive, with petrol and exotic fruit notes... ready to drink.  

Mas Jullien blanc 2008 The colour shows little evolution. A nose of anise, dried fruits and white fruits, rather floral. A beautiful acidity on the palate, a very straight, very fresh wine. The finish betrays a warmer climate, but it remains a model of balance that can still age for at least 10 years.  

Coulée de Serrant 1996 An old gold/orange colour, a complex nose (dried fruits — figs, floral...). The palate is initially marked by a strong acidity and a very alcoholic sensation; with aeration the wine settles somewhat and the mid-palate brings balance, even if the whole remains quite disjointed.  

Domaine de Chevalier 2001 blanc (70% Sauvignon 30% Sémillon) The colour shows little evolution. A discreet nose with vanilla, pineapple and citrus notes. The palate is very young and very straight, with some notes of grapefruit, white fruits and a light vanilla touch. A very lovely wine that needs time to gain in complexity.  

Riesling Frédéric Emile VT 1976 Trimbach (cuvée du trois cent cinquantenaire) A copper-coloured robe. A nose of wax, mushrooms, truffle, citrus zests, milky notes, slightly petrol-tinged. The palate is in line with the nose, very long, with citrus and honey notes... The sugar is almost imperceptible — a very fine wine.