Message for Jon: Chenin Blanc/Boulay withdrawal

[henjef]

Jon:

I understand that the Loire Valley harvests have been somewhat lackluster since 2005, and I have drunk through all of my dry Chenins I purchased from you when I started with Garagiste in 2007 and have just 1 mag left of Boulay's 2007 Mont Damnes. Can we expect you to be loading up offers for the '09 vintage, and if so, how soon?

[henjef]

8/5 offer from Jon today--thanks Jon!

Sancerre

Dear Friends,

Boulay has done it again with their Clos du Beaujeu and Mont Damnes, two wines that have become a beacon and a blueprint for other producers in the region to follow. As far as Sancerre is concerned, Boulay is working at a level above nearly everyone else.

Unlike many of their neighbors that have gained recent notoriety and acclaim, the Boulay family still works for you – they respect how hard it is at the present moment (economically) and they’ve resisted the temptation to match pricing with the other “first growth” quality producers in Sancerre. Even though their wines are arguable among best in the appellation (they are certainly the highest rated/lowest priced portfolio by Tanzer over the last 3-4 years), they’ve retained a sensible pricing structure on the high-end wines with a philosophy that is very easy to support.

Not only are they looking out for their consumer base but they are also some of the kindest individuals you are likely to come across. They tell it like it is without games, gimmicks or other and the wines reflect this no-nonsense, unmanipulated approach (which are some of Sancerre’s purest examples).

Both wines below are VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED as crystal-clear representations of their vintage and vineyard (mixed with a dose of unexplainable ferry dust that sets the very finest wines apart from their peers). There is no clear-cut favorite and one is not “better” than the other – both will make an appearance in my personal cellar.

As usual, very little Boulay came to the US and in 2008 even less than the norm. While the attention and critical acclaim has been nice for them, it has also put added pressure on allocations - please let Niki know your interest at your earliest convenience:

2008 Gerard Boulay Sancerre “Monts Damnes” - $29.99 (IWC92)
A beautiful, floral wine that lives on its nervous and tensile character while riding a tightrope of elegance, white fruit extract and solid rock – thrilling:

Tanzer’s IWC: “($45) Bright yellow. Expressive, mineral-driven bouquet offers an array of citrus and floral qualities, with subtle spice and ginger notes picking up strength with air. Stains the palate with zesty lemongrass and pear flavors. A musky anise quality arrives with air and adds depth to the long, spicy, stony finish. 92pts”

2008 Gerard Boulay Sancerre “Clos du Beaujeu” - $29.99 (IWC92)
The 2008 Clos du Beaujeu is a fantastic wine – it has the overall presence of a grand-cru level example that opens layer by layer over many hours of air contact. Built for ageing, this wine has a track record of up to 20-25 years of evolution but it is so darn tough to resist tonight - a few hours in the decanter are all I need to convince myself that 20 years is just too long to wait. A harmonic and powerful expression of this hillside vineyard near Chavignol that will tantalize and serve to educate the palate:

Tanzer’s IWC (Josh Raynolds): “($45) Light gold. Sexy aromas of white flowers, mace, pear and Meyer lemon. Offers a suave blend of fleshy orchard fruits and nervier citrus elements, with strong mineral cut and building floral character. The minerality defines the long, sappy, focused finish, which leaves spice and talc notes behind. I really like this wine's marriage of volume and vibrancy. 92pts”

This parcel is directly from the winery cellar with perfect provenance.

[jeff hellman]

Boulay is a Sauvignon Blanc producer, not a Chenin Blanc producer.

[henjef]

Really??? Then why did I put in the subject line both Chenin Blanc and Boulay, instead of just Chenin Blanc. Do you have anything substantive to add?