Vanessa

9.2

“Nothing added, nothing removed” is a phrase some use to describe the philosophy of low-intervention (or “natural”) winemaking. 🌱

The winemaker is like a vessel, carrying Mother Nature’s gifts from the land (and vintage) to your glass, where each sip can transport you to a particular place and time.

Nicolas Joly is an illustrious vigneron revered for his deep commitment to biodynamics and minimal intervention winemaking. 👏 He leads his family’s estate – Famille Joly – located in the prestigious appellation of Savennières in the Anjou-Saumur region of Loire Valley and specializes in top quality, cerebral, age-worthy dry whites made from the Chenin Blanc grape.

This takes patience, strength, and resilience for which the seahorse is a spiritual symbol (among other things). 🌊 It’s no wonder the Famille Joly features this beautiful, gentle creature on its bottle and labels.

This wine comes from ‘Les Vieux Clos’ where vines are harvested at 25 hL/ha which is HALF of the appellation’s allowance of 50 hL/ha.  👀

As a result of favorable growing conditions and these low yields, the grapes were allowed to become ripe, which explains the high alcohol at 14% ABV and round but balanced fruit expression.

This wine underwent a wild fermentation, followed by a natural malolactic conversion (MLC), and then it aged 12 months in large neutral oak with no fining or filtering before bottling.

The color is pale gold. On the nose and palate are harmonious notes of yellow apple, quince, papaya, dried orange peel, citrus blossom, chamomile, ginger, saffron, cinnamon, cream, white pepper, lanolin, wet slate …

It has power and elegance, nuance and vibrancy, with a persistent finish.  We think it pairs nicely with the baked herb & lemon salmon, asparagus and couscous.

Cheers to winemakers who share a piece of their land and heritage with the world one glass at a time! 🥂🥂🥂
— a month ago

with Deked1

Matthew Cohen

9.2

Richer.

Nose: lemon flowers.

Palate: lovely. Nice sweet Leominster fruit. Long. Delicious.

Source — 2 months ago

Ian Hamel

9.1

2024 spring / summer. I though this was more fleshed out and satisfying versus other recent encounters - very nice — 4 months ago

Adam Gäfvert

9.1

Full bodied and botrytised dry-ish Grand cru chenin. Very aromatic and fruity. Some nice texture and a touch of funk. — 20 days ago

Jeremiah Glazer

9.3

Very surprised by this Riesling. Apricot stone fruit without being in-your-face sweet. Has some nice minerality and a super pleasant long-winding finish. — a month ago

Chris Buggy

9.0

Peach pear and apricot, good body. — a month ago

with Jennifer

Matthew Cohen

9.0

Nose: lemon flower. Intense.

Palate: very light. Juicy. Not much fruit.

Source — 2 months ago

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.2

2020 vintage. Tasted over the course of 1.5 hours. Medium body. Darker fruits (similar to Troplong-Mondot but less structure) evident from the get go. Plenty of upfront and mid-palate grip with things softening a bit in the later going. Picked up two bottles from Costco...seem to remember it retailing somewhere between $26-$33 a bottle. Definitely worth that pricing and beyond but this specimen wasn't hitting the high score/notes suggested by the Neal Martin review or Delectable others on this particular vintage. Maybe my palate was blown out by the previous wine...a 2019 Barolo. Perhaps. Will likely roll back and pick up two more bottles just to have laying around since it was drinking nicely anyway for the price. Was unfamiliar with this producer and a bit more "practice" won't hurt. 11.26.24. — 23 days ago

Timothy Eustis

Wine Director, Red Lion Inn

9.3

Black fruit, bacon fat and complex as the day is long. — a month ago

Matthew Cohen

9.2

Nose: white flowers.

Palate: almost grunery. Wooly? Good fruit. Mineral. Well made.

Source — 2 months ago