WTN: Chinon rose and Vouvray on patio

So yesterday we had a friend up from city to celebrate his birthday. Another friend was joining us, but was delayed. We sipped leftover Kesseler Spatlese (good) and enjoyed a gorgeous springlike summer evening. When Sue arrived we gathered around the patio table. As she is a vegetarian, we made do without meat. A squash soup was followed by tomatoes stuffed with pasta and vegggies (from http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.h ... gewanted=2
-we actually had this at La Zucca Magica last summer) and a grilled eggplant risotto. We had two wines:

2007 Pinon "Silex Noir" Vouvray
Clean, some chalky mineral, almost tropical edge to the fruit, I';d call this demi-sec. Good length, zesty, bright. I like a lot. B+

2007 JM Raffault Chinon Rosé
Light body, yet good strawberry fruit with an accent of spice and herbs. Bright, light, and not the least bit tight. Easy drinking, good rose. B/B+

There was cheese and a birthday cake. I also had an older bottle of Malescot St Exupery as Charles has said Margaux (appellation) is his favorite wine, but when cheese course came we agreed for traveling reasons not to open. Next time. Lovely cool night on patio.

Grade disclaimer: I'm a very easy grader, basically A is an excellent wine, B a good wine, C mediocre. Anything below C means I wouldn't drink at a party where it was only choice. Furthermore, I offer no promises of objectivity, accuracy, and certainly not of consistency.

2007 Pinon "Silex Noir" Vouvray
I';d call this demi-sec..

15 grams of r.s. according to our Angers Reporter.

Sounds like you are a fan of his breaking up the Tradition bottling. Have you tasted the other new cuvee as well?

15 grams of r.s. according to our Angers Reporter.

I have trouble remembering what typical range is. That sounds like low side of demi-sec, but I thought this sweeter than the sec-tendre style (which I think they can't label). I found this sweeter than most Traditions, though one of the recent vintages was this sweet.

Sounds like you are a fan of his breaking up the Tradition bottling. Have you tasted the other new cuvee as well?

No, haven't seen it. Not sure I'd describe myself as a fan of breaking up the Tradition: I liked this, I usually like the Tradition (why did I only get a couple bottles of the re-released '02?!?!?!), and haven't tasted only. Look forward to trying other bottle to see how apparent the soil difference is.

15 grams of r.s. according to our Angers Reporter.

I have trouble remembering what typical range is. That sounds like low side of demi-sec, but I thought this sweeter than the sec-tendre style (which I think they can't label). I found this sweeter than most Traditions, though one of the recent vintages was this sweet..

I think demi-sec is usually 10-20 grams/l of r.s. in Vouvray, so this is right in the middle.

Although, as we know from recent experience, perceived sweetness is about a lot more than analytical numbers

I haven't tasted any of the new Pinons and look forward to doing so.

Also, you probably already know this but I thought it was worth noting that the other new cuvee is supposed to give wines that are leaner and more minerally.