Summer Log 20: Old Stuff From The Cellar (Roilette Edition)

1995 Clos de la Roilette Fleurie:


This bottle was beat. There was still some fruit and acidity, but the wine tasted heavy and flat.

1997 Clos de la Roilette Fleurie:

Even less expressive, slightly oxydized. Not good.

2000 Clos de Roilette Fleurie "Cuvée Tardive":

After the first two disappointments, this one finally hit the spot. It was a little closed off at first, but quickly came to life. There is a term in Beaujolais called "pinotise", which means that aged Beaujolais start to take the characteristics of old Pinot Noir, and this was definetely the case here. It was balanced, elegant and a pleasure to drink. But it didn't even come close to:

1995 Clos de la Roilette Fleurie (Methuselah):

Finding an occasion worthy a 6 l bottle of wine is no easy task, but a visit from our ENTIRE family in early August gave us the opportunity. Because the 95 I'd opened from 750 was really tired, I was nervous that it would be 8 times worst in this extra large format. To my surprise, the wine was full brightness and life, almost like a current release! Everyone loved it, and we drank about half of it at dinner.

The next night was round two. In the 24 hours that had passed, the wine had pinotised considerably, taking darker notes of fruit and feeling fuller and structured. It was still delicious, but tasted much more like a serious older wine than the night before. Didn't stop anybody from finishing the bottle though.

Next up, our visit to Oratoire St-Martin in Cairanne!

And if you missed it the first time:

PREVIOUS SUMMER LOG: ELODIE BALME IN ROAIX

and

OLD STUFF FROM THE CELLAR (PART 3)