2002 Le Haut de la Butte, Bourgueil + Jérôme Choblet +

Jacky Blot: 2002 Le Haut de la Butte, Bourgueil, Domaine de la Butte

Jacky Blot and his team took over Domaine de la Butte just before the 2002 harvest with very little time to get to know their new steep sloping south facing vineyard. Le Haut de Butte, as the name implies, comes from the top of the slope before the vines gives way to forest. This 2002 Haut de la Butte is becoming bricky but remains a most enjoyable wine with ripe herbal fruit and a fine balance that is typical of the 2002 – a favourite vintage of mine.

Wines from Jérôme Choblet:

Recently I received some samples from Jérôme – mainly from the Pays Nantais with one from Saumur here are some of them:

2023 Chardonnay Vieilles Vignes, IGP Val de Loire, Moulin d’Argent

This medium weight 2023 Chardonnay has melon and citric notes with quite a long finish making it a pleasant easy drinking wine.

2023 Manoir des Herbauges Vieilles Vignes, Muscadet Côtes de Grandlieu sur lie

This is a delicious young Muscadet! Its crisp, clean citric and saline flavours makes taking another sip irresistible – it is such a refreshing drink! Furthermore only 11% alcohol it has real character. It proved to be an ideal partner to some baked filets of grey sole.

2023 Saumur, Chenin Blanc

This Saumur Blanc has been selected by Sainsbury’s (a leading UK supermarket). It comes from Château de la Salle – just downstream on the River Thouet from Montreuil-Bellay. This attractive, easy drinking, youthful Saumur (100% Chenin) has marked citric notes with a touch of passion fruit and a medium texture. With keeping it may develop further complexity but may well be a wine to drink young. Again the alcohol is restrained at 12%.

The Wine Society:

2020 The Society’s Sicilian Reserve Red

Ripe Nero d’Avola fruit with an attractive texture make this a good everyday red – a reminder of the quality available from the always excellent The Wine Society.

Jim