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Nicolas Joly Savenierres Les Vieux Clos 2011 750ml

size
750ml
country
France
region
Loire Valley
appellation
Anjou-Saumur
subappellation
Savennieres
WA
91
Additional vintages
2022 2019 2011 2010
WA
91
Rated 91 by Wine Advocate
The golden 2011 Savennières Les Vieux Clos from Nicolas Joly started disappointing. It lacked both a clear, aromatic bouquet and a good palate. Although its cork was terribly black and mildewed on the exterior site (which was more or less the case with all the 2011s from this estate) the second bottle I opened a month later was better, offering honey, quince, caramel and nut flavors on the nose and a quite clear and expressive palate with a salty and compact and only slightly bitter finish. Strangely, the first wine became better over the next three weeks when I stored the bottle at a constant temperature of 12° C. Just in case there is a consumer out there who is willing to open an expensive bottle of wine three or more weeks in advance here is my finding of what you could eventually expect: Ripe, sweet and minerally scented aromas of honey, quince confiture and hot stones on the nose are followed by an elegant, sweet, fresh and fruit intense palate and an expressive and persistent finish. However, the finish, which initially was bitter is now much longer and more complex, though it keeps its slightly bitterness which we would hardly tolerate in a clean and modern wine. Obviously you have to be prepared to receive different qualities with the same label. So if you like Russian Roulette you can get a 91 scorer but also <80. I opt for the better bottle here.
Image of bottle
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Nicolas Joly Savenierres Les Vieux Clos 2011 750ml

SKU 745668
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More Details
Winery Nicolas Joly
barrel

Vintage: 2011

The year 2011 was an interesting year for many northern and central European countries, as the weather was more than unpredictable in the spring and summer. However, in most countries, the climatic conditions thankfully settled down in the late summer and fall. The result of this slightly difficult year of weather in France was a set of surprisingly small yields, but overall, these yields were of a higher quality than those harvested in certain previous years. A fantastic set of wines was also made in Italy and Spain, and the Rioja wines - when released - are set to be very good indeed. Austria also had superb year in 2011, with almost fifty percent more grapes being grown and used for their distinctive Gruner Veltliner wines than in the year before. Possibly the European country which had the finest 2011, though, was Portugal, with wineries in the Douro region claiming this year to be one of the best in decades for the production of Port wine, and the bright, young Vinho Verdes wines. In the New World, the Pacific Northwest saw some of the best weather of 2011, and Washington State and Oregon reportedly had a highly successful year, especially for the cultivation of high quality red wine grapes. Chile and Argentina had a relatively cool year, which certainly helped retain the character of many of their key grape varietals, and should make for some exciting drinking. South Africa had especially good weather for their white wine grape varietals, particularly Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc, and many South African wineries are reporting 2011 as one of their best years in recent memory.
green grapes

Varietal: Chenin Blanc

The green skinned grapes of the Chenin Blanc varietal are used for a wide range of different wines. In their native home of France, they are used for the production of some excellent sparkling crémants, or allowed to develop noble rot, which intensifies their natural sweetness and produces some unusual and intense flavors In most countries around the world, though, Chenin Blanc grapes are used for the production of high quality still white wines, which have the ability to express the finer features of the terroir they are grown on. Many winemakers like to age their Chenin Blanc wines in oak or chestnut barrels, which adds an extra layer of complexity to the wines. These grapes thrive best in heavy clay soils, and ripen late in the season, when their natural flavors can come through fully.
barrel

Region: Loire Valley

Within France, the one region most closely associated with fine white and rosé wines is surely the Loire Valley. With over eight controlled appellations, and a relatively large expanse of land covering this wide valley, the Loire Valley is an ideal location for wineries wishing to produce large quantities of excellent quality vines for their wine production. Indeed, this region has been associated with excellent white wines for over a thousand years, with it once being the favorite wine region for the crowned heads of England, France and beyond. Today, it produces a wide range of white wines, and several rosé and red varieties also. It is also widely celebrated for being home to some of France's most lively and fruity sparkling crémant wines, which more than match those produced in nearby Champagne.
fields

Country: France

It is widely understood and accepted that the finest wines in the world come out of France. Whether you are drinking a vintage bottle from one of the famed Grand Cru wineries of Bordeaux - such as Chateau Margaux or Chateau Lafite-Rothschild - or a more simple and affordable bottle from one of the lesser known appellations in Burgundy, the likelihood is that the wine is packed full of intense and interesting flavors, and has a fine, balanced structure typical of almost all French produce. This reputation for excellence is taken extremely serious by the French, with dozens of regularly updated laws and regulations ensuring the quality and accurate labeling of wines. Such dedication and passion for fine wine, representative of the region in which it is produced, means customers can be assured that when they buy a bottle from France, they are buying something almost certain to please and delight.