The date, Thursday March 24, 2011 the place, Corporate Caterers 29th and Rock Road. I have to admit that I avoided Yvon Mau wines from 2003 until I Sold my store in 2011 citing quality and bottle variances as my main concern. I would occasionally bring a label or dependant upon demand and leave it at that. Seeing as it had been about seven years since I had been to an Yvon Mau portfolio tasting. I decided to revisit them and was in for a pleasant surprise. I usually like to evaluate a wine in the privacy of my own home usually with a meal or snack I think is suitable for the occasion. I like to have a glass or to during the course of the evening and contemplate the wine's qualities as it is left to aerate throughout the course of the evening. However with sixteen wines to get through in about an hour and a half the participant's had to look, sip, swirl and spit.
Here is a quick run down of the sixteen wines and their tasting notes.
1. Seigneurs De Bergerac White 2010
50% Sauvignon Blanc 40% Semillon 10% Muscadelle
Color: Pale, almost translucent. Nose: Pear, Tangerine Palate:Light-bodied with citrus and lemon-lime on the palate.
2. Chateau Coustaut La Grangeottae Blanc 2010
100% Sauvignon Blanc
Color: pale straw color. Nose: Minerals, wet stones. Palate: Light bodied, very low acidity, light taste of citrus and fresh cut grass. Finish: Quick and fast, a bit disappointing.
3.Seigneurs De Bergerac Rose 2010
50% Merlot, 40% Cab, 10% Cab Franc
Color: pale pink. Nose: Nice strawberry, hint of lime. Palate: Good balance, a little reserved on the fruit, pretty delicate even for a rose. Just O.K.
4. Seigneurs De Bergerac Red 2009
45% Cabernet 45% Merlot 10% Cabernet Franc
Color: Dark ruby red. Noes: Dark black fruits, licorice. Palate: Earthy, somewhat restrained, tannins kick in and show the strength and longevity of the 2009 from Bordeaux. A consistent favorite among consumers year end and year out. A wine to buy by the case.
5. Chateau Boutillot Bordeaux 2009
51% Merlot, 41% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Cabernet Franc
Color: Dark Ruby with tinges of purple. Nose: Hints of bramble berry, black cherry. Palate: Tannic, full-bodied. Good length on the finish.
6. Chateau Laurensanne Cotes De Bourg 2008
50% Merlot, 50% Cabernet
Color Dark ruby red with black licorice colored tinges. Nose: black cherry, spices. Palate: More blackberry and black cherry with a little tightness on the mid-palate. Needs 2-3 more years in bottle.
7. Chateau Jalousie Beaulieu Bordeaux Superior 2009
75% Merlot, 25% Cabernet
Color: Extremely dark almost violet. Nose: Concentrated. Palate: Blackberry and other dark fruits with rich earthiness. Once again showing how the Bordeaux excelled with rich ripe fruit from 2009. One of my cheaper favorites.
8. Chateau Hoyt Cote De Castillon 2006
60% Merlot, 20% Cabernet, 20% Cabernet Franc
Color: Dark ruby red w/ tinges of violet. Nose: Rich nose, full of fruit. Palate: Real Merlot integration with flavors of plum, earth hint of earthiness. Warm enticing finish. Still closed a bit. I liked this one as well.
9. Chateau La Croix Blanche Montaigne St. Emilion 2009
80% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc
Color: Dark ruby red with purple overtones. Nose: Very faint, rustic nose. Palate: Slightly closed, tannic, very young.
10. Chateau Garderose Lalande De Pomerol 2006
80% Merlot, 20% Cabernet
Color: Dark reddish purple. Nose: Dark rich plums and earth. Palate: Plums, candied cherry, still very young and restrained.
11. Chateau Du Perier Medoc Cru Bourgeois 2008
50% Merlot, 50% Cabernet
Color: Dark ruby red with purple overtones. Nose: Hint of earth with essence of tobacco smoke. Palate: Lots of plum, full bodied with a smooth finish and very accessible.
12. Chateau Citran Haut-Medoc 2008
50% Cabernet 50% Merlot
Color: Dark Ruby red. Nose: Very perfumy. Palate: Blackberry, Black Cherry, Earth, Tobacco, Oak. Long finish.
13. Chateau Pontet-Caillou Pessac-Leognan 2008
50% Cabernet, 42% Merlot, 8% Petit Verdot
Color: Brilliant ruby purple. Nose: Earthy, rich vanilla and a hodgepodge of dark black fruits. Palate: rich and a long concentrated finish. Very impressive from Yvon Mau.
14. Chevalier De Lascombes Margaux 2006
55% Cabernet, 45% Merlot
Color: Rich dark red. Nose: Classic Margaux nose. Palate: Rich, ripe and concentrated, with a long elegant finish. Best Yvon Mau wine I have ever tasted.
15. Chateau Lafaurie Saint Croix Du-Mont 2007
80% Semillon, 20% Sauvignon Blanc
Color: Pale gold color. Nose: Hints of apricots, oranges and citrus. Palate: Great and flowing not overbearingly sweet and great balance, very nice.
16. Henri Abele Champagne Brut NV Reims.
33% Chardonnay, 33% Pinot Noir, 33% Pinot Meurier.
Color: Light delicate, pale straw. Nose: Light aromas of crumb cake and lemon cake. Palate: Lively acidity and rich fruit flavors.
All in all I was overly impressed with this tasting. I ended up buying the Pontet-Caillou, the Chevalier De Lascombes and the Chateau Lafaurie. These wine will arrive at retailers who purchased them in advance
around the first couple weeks of June. Since most of the orders taken are pre-orders, some inventory may already be sold out. I also have to recommend the Seigners De Bergerac Red 2009, Chateau Boutillot 2009, the Chateau Jalousie Beaulieu 2009, along with the Chateau Hyot 2006. All are great price/value wines ready to drink now or to cellar for a few years, especially the 2009's. If you retailer has any questions in the Wichita, KS area about what wines will be availible tell them they can contact Rob Bennett of Glazer's of Kansas for further information and when the next Yvon Mau tasting will be held.
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