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2011 Vin Gris

DOWNLOAD TASTING NOTE

We debated how to describe the colour: think 9 carat gold with the merest reflection of copper, maybe freshly cut maple wood. By no stretch of the imagination would anybody think rosé. The nose is wild strawberries and a hint of cream. The palate is intensely textural and mineral, dry but not harsh, reminiscent of a white Côte de Nuits, with the flavours continuing the strawberry and cream theme. This is sophisticated stuff, not simply a lunchtime amusement.

Tasting Date: 24th March 2016

While the wine has classic Vin Gris strawberry and florals, it is still to young to benefit from the complexing of serious bottle age. Given the lighter character of the 2011 vintage, that complexity might be lacking in the material? Time will tell. Attractive and enjoyable rather than complex.

Vintage Summary 2011

Growing Season & Vintage Conditions

The growing season was most unusual with spring being the warmest and most stable to date and no frosts. We experienced a very early, fast and successful flowering which resulted in solid crops across all varieties. We were relieved to see things cool down in January, which set the pattern for a cooler and wetter mid-season. The description “wetter” must be read with respect to our normal very low rainfall, so still not a lot of rain. The weather settled for a flawless and warm Indian summer during harvest. There was no rain and the harvest started very early on March 21. We see the wines as being less overtly fruity (possibly a good thing as overtly fruity wines can appear one dimensional and simple) with reasonably firm structures and a pleasant kind of rusticity about them. Precision, mineral and tension will be good descriptors for the 2011’s.

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2011 Vin Gris

DOWNLOAD TASTING NOTE

We debated how to describe the colour: think 9 carat gold with the merest reflection of copper, maybe freshly cut maple wood. By no stretch of the imagination would anybody think rosé. The nose is wild strawberries and a hint of cream. The palate is intensely textural and mineral, dry but not harsh, reminiscent of a white Côte de Nuits, with the flavours continuing the strawberry and cream theme. This is sophisticated stuff, not simply a lunchtime amusement.

Tasting Date: 24th March 2016

While the wine has classic Vin Gris strawberry and florals, it is still to young to benefit from the complexing of serious bottle age. Given the lighter character of the 2011 vintage, that complexity might be lacking in the material? Time will tell. Attractive and enjoyable rather than complex.

Vintage Summary 2011

Growing Season & Vintage Conditions

The growing season was most unusual with spring being the warmest and most stable to date and no frosts. We experienced a very early, fast and successful flowering which resulted in solid crops across all varieties. We were relieved to see things cool down in January, which set the pattern for a cooler and wetter mid-season. The description “wetter” must be read with respect to our normal very low rainfall, so still not a lot of rain. The weather settled for a flawless and warm Indian summer during harvest. There was no rain and the harvest started very early on March 21. We see the wines as being less overtly fruity (possibly a good thing as overtly fruity wines can appear one dimensional and simple) with reasonably firm structures and a pleasant kind of rusticity about them. Precision, mineral and tension will be good descriptors for the 2011’s.