Unexpected complexity, WTN: 2003 Marc Bredif Vouvray

2003 Marc Bredif Vouvray - France, Loire Valley, Touraine, Vouvray (7/18/2008)
Seems like a wine that has entered its second life with a surprising complexity. Golden/straw in color. Honey nose. Sweetish caramel, cooking-pear, vanilla and pineapple with a sensation of freshly dried hay, backed up by flinty minerals on a slightly sticky texture leading to an rich honey-like finish with a pleasant bitter overlay and a muted after-taste of freshly cut charcuterie. A wine to drink on its own. (89 pts.)

Posted from CellarTracker

Sounds like tasty stuff, Jan. I would assume this would age nicely for some time to come. Anything in the wine to indicate otherwise?

Jan, I reported on three tastings of this wine in the April Wine Focus - notes here.
I liked it when tasted in 2005, was not so enamoured in 2006, but loved it when tasted earlier this year. I agree it has entered a second life. It seems to be evolving beautifully.
Cheers,
Sue Courtney

I would assume this would age nicely for some time to come. Anything in the wine to indicate otherwise?

Unfortunately, I am not an expert in determining drinking windows. Right now, the wine seems balanced which suggest further aging potential.

In general, I am fascinated by these 2nd lives of whites that are not necessarily Montrachet Grand Crus, when the freshness wears off they either are destined for the sink, or the apricot/dried fruit forms the base for a very complex, completely different wine.