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

David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.6

Happy birthday Honey. 🥳🎂🎉 🌹

This is absolutely as exquisite as when we had it for Christina’s birthday March 1, 2023. The benefit tonight is time & attention to focus on it. Delicious.

Green apple, lime, lemon pineapple, stone fruits, slightly bruised golden apple and pear, leans into apple cider, cream, ginger ale, nuts w/ skin, very fine powdery chalkiness, limestone, saline, biscuit dough, sea fossils. Amazing body and acidity, fruit blossoms, jasmine, yellow florals and well; structured knitted, balanced, extremely well polished finish that lasts two-minutes. Drinking beautiful now & with time & life for 10 yrs or more. Love you Sofia.

#MaxwellThisWomansWork — a year ago

Alexander Bastian Nielsen

9.3

A well balanced wine offering ripe apples, pear juice, yellow cherries, lemon peel, roasted and grinded hazelnuts, sourdough, cream, butter, white roses, white tea with jasmine and a complex mix of mushroom, earth and stemmed ginger. Super delicious — 2 months ago

Lyn Farmer

9.4

Terrific example of a high quality Sauternes with lemon zest, peach, apricot and pineapple plus dried apricot, honey, beeswax, saffron, ginger, vanilla and butterscotch. Excellent acidity to balance the restrained sweetness of the wine. Still young with plenty of room to develop. — 6 months ago

David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.2

Some days are better than others to pop a bottle of champagne and drink a toast. Today is one of those better days! Cheers! 🍾🥂

Excellent with roasted chicken & mash potatoes.

Meyer lemon, lemon meringue, lime w/ zest, red & green apples, hints of apple cider, kiwi, green melon, ginger ale, whipped cream, caramel notes, bread dough, yeasty notes, vanillin, alluvial limestone, sea spray, refined chalkiness, yellow lilies, spring flowers, round yet crisp acidity, well; balanced structured & tensioned. Elegant and smartly polished finish that lasts 90 seconds. From 375ml. — 7 months ago

Michelle M

9.2

Lovely bouquet of lemon zest and orange blossom with hints of cedar, creek pebbles, and white pepper. On the palate lemon candy, white peach, and grapefruit pith with fresh ginger and white pepper spice lingering on a medium length finish. Zippy, fun, approachable white wine with a bit of zing. Great value from southern Italy. Went perfect with my pineapple jackfruit Buddha bowl with teriyaki sauce. — 3 years ago

Andrew Cullimore

9.4

Light straw , very young looking . Constant very fine perlage . Quite closed at first then crushed rocks , lemon peel , ginger , white flowers , brioche . On the palate good richness and intensity , lemon , orange rind , buttered bread , touch of roast nuts . Very fine mineral tinged , intense finish . This needs time and will improve over the next 10 years or so and last well a further 5-10 . A good follow up to the 2014 , this shows more backward and will take even longer to reach its peak. Perhaps a little less detailed and precise than the very mineral 2014 but that might just be a question of needing more time in bottle. — 4 months ago

Delectable Wine

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9.3

A deep, cloudy orange color in the glass, the 2020 Catarrato Praruar opens with an airy blend of dried apricots, crushed apples and ground ginger. It’s soft-textured and round, with ripe orchard fruits and a cascade of liquid inner florals that coats the palate with youthful tension. The 2020 tapers off wonderfully fresh, tactile and firm, leaving the mouth watering as hints of candied citrus and sour melon resolve on the close. This is a fantastic vintage of Praruar that can be easily enjoyed by fans of orange wines. (Eric Guido, Vinous, June 2024)
— 6 months ago

Scott E. Becker

9.0

[Tasted on April 6, 2024 at Home with Linda and Joel]

Blend of 55% Pinot Noir, 30% Chardonnay and 15% Pinot Meunier. Mandarin orange, apricot, pear and red fruits, with honey, ginger, vanilla and toast. — 9 months ago

Meg Herring

9.2

Peach ginger pineapple lime orange. Very pretty now but will certainly get even better. — 3 years ago