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Les Varennes du Grand Clos 1997
Les Varennes du Grand Clos (Chinon red wine) |
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Description
Another vintage to the credit of this vineyard. Time works its magic and this wine follows in the footsteps of its big sister, La Dioterie.
With its dense, intense purple robe, a nose of very ripe fruit, jam, red fruit liqueur, its full, fleshy mouth evoking prunes and figs, we can say in all confidence, after a year of ageing in barrels, that this is a first class wine of extreme finesse.
Dated
April 6, 1998
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Tasting notes
Like many 1997’s, it was harvested when over-ripe (resulting in a marked lack of acidity).
It can remain in the cellar a bit longer, but is evolving rapidly, so be careful.
A deposit has formed so it has to be decanted: leave the bottle upright for a few hours then decant. A must for preventing bitterness or aromatic deviation due to lees in suspension.
Dated
September 16, 2006
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Tasting advice
Drink now, without waiting too much. |
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Comment on the vintage and the
1997 harvest
Despite the spring frost on a portion of the young vines, the precocity of flowering, early June, had us predicting a great vintage. Alas! A large part of this advance was lost due to damaging rainfall and cold at the end of June and early July.
Then the stifling heat of August perturbed the ripening process, before the sunshine and some salutary rainfall corrected these irregularities.
However, careful sortings were still necessary to ensure selection of only the best. |
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