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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

Originating in France yet now grown in many parts of the New World, Chenin Blanc is one of the most versatile and highly regarded white wine grape varietals on earth. These green skinned grapes hold a relatively high acid content, and as such can be used for making still white wines of exceptional quality, as well as superb sparkling wines (such as the Crémant wines of the Loire Valley) and extremely aromatic dessert wines. Their natural transparency means that they are a fine grape for expressing their terroir in the bottle, and winemakers often experiment with this varietal to coax unusual and intense flavors from the grapes, such as allowing the development of noble rot on the fruit in order to make sweet and viscous wines of a unique character.
barrel

Region: Loire Valley

The ancient wine region of the Loire Valley in France is a perfect place to discover the country's finest examples of white wines, which are made with a highly successful blend of traditional and modern wine-making techniques. Indeed, the Loire Valley has a wine-making tradition which stretches back almost two thousand years, and today continues to be a standard bearer for fine white wines made predominantly with Chenin Blanc and Sauvignon Blanc varietal grapes. However, it also produces superb red wines from the Cabernet Franc grapes which thrive there, and plenty of excellent rosé and sparkling wines for which the region is also famous. With almost ninety controlled appellations, the Loire Valley is an extremely important region within France, and the significance of their produce cannot be overlooked.
fields

Country: France

French winemakers are subjected to several laws and regulations regarding the wines they produce, and how they can be labeled and sold. Such procedures are designed to increase the overall quality of the country's produce, and also to ensure that wines made in each particular region or appellation are of a character and type which is representative of the area. Thankfully for consumers of wine world-wide, the French have a particularly high reputation to uphold, and seem to do so flawlessly. Every year, wineries from all over France produce millions upon millions of bottles of fine wine, making the most of their native grape varieties and the excellent terrain which covers most of the country. From the expensive and exquisite red wines of Bordeaux and Burgundy, to the white wines and cremants of central France, the French are dedicated to providing the world with wines of the highest quality and most distinctive character.