Jean Vullien Vin de Savoie Mondeuse 2005

I'm revisiting this for about the 1oth time since I first tried it, and I like it more each time I do (it became my "go-to" food wine for a while, hence the numerous tastings).

The mineral and fruit reaches up subtly but surely from the glass, a mixture of ripe red berries, maybe some dried cherries, and a hint of violets. There is something really seductive about the finish on the nose but I can't place it. The acidity is enough that it calls for food, but there is a creamy quality that lingers on throughout the entire mouth after swallowing.

$18.99 at Potomac Liquors, I should have bought the remaining bottles because I'm pretty sure the distributor was just about out and this isn't easy to find.

[David M. Bueker]

No it isn't easy to find. Nothing from the Savoie is easy to find. Good catch.

We can get one example of Mondeuse here in California-les Fils de Charles Trosset, and I found it a very very nice drink. But then, look at my sig line

Good to see Savoie Mondeuse on this forum again - Jean Vullien (who I didn't know was exported - perhaps a one-off?) is a reliable if not really exciting producer, but he has some good vineyards and 2005 was an excellent vintage - great note Kyrstyn. There are few other Savoie Mondeuse available in the USA apart from Les Fils de Charles Trosset, there's also Louis Magnin (Arbin) brought in recently by Louis Dressner and André et Michel Quenard (Chignin) imported by Kermit Lynch, both reliable but quite different styles.

.. I found it a very very nice drink. But then, look at my sig line

Errr .... Brian, despite what you may see in all the books where Jura (including Arbois) and Savoie are linked together, they really have virtually nothing in common - they are linked for editorial convenience (both very small regions in the eastern part of France, so can put together on a map). But great that you like both!

Good to see Savoie Mondeuse on this forum again - Jean Vullien (who I didn't know was exported - perhaps a one-off?) is a reliable if not really exciting producer, but he has some good vineyards and 2005 was an excellent vintage - great note Kyrstyn.

Jean was the guest/presenter at one of Lauren't Guinand's members events, and while I recall enjoying some of the other wines he brought with him, the Mondeuse was definitely everyone's favorite. I just called Potomac and they said the distributor still has 4 bottles left and they're going to get them for me

Wink, a question for you: How long do you think the '05s will hold up? What sort of ageing can one typically expect from these wines? Also...how well do they travel? I wouldn't mind taking a couple bottles with me when I move to Crete in May, but I'm taking three flights and they're likely to get jostled quite a bit, regardless of how well I pack them. Would it just be a matter of letting the bottle shock subside? (Sorry if that last one is a stupid question, but I seem to recall reading somewhere that certain wines travel better than others).

.. I found it a very very nice drink. But then, look at my sig line

Errr .... Brian, despite what you may see in all the books where Jura (including Arbois) and Savoie are linked together, they really have virtually nothing in common - they are linked for editorial convenience (both very small regions in the eastern part of France, so can put together on a map). But great that you like both!

Oh...I guess I really know that!

Geographical proximity! That's enough for me.

Plus, both regions do feature "odd" indigenous grapes that have that acidity/white pepper flavor I love.

Wink, a question for you: How long do you think the '05s will hold up? What sort of ageing can one typically expect from these wines? Also...how well do they travel? I wouldn't mind taking a couple bottles with me when I move to Crete in May, but I'm taking three flights and they're likely to get jostled quite a bit, regardless of how well I pack them. Would it just be a matter of letting the bottle shock subside? (Sorry if that last one is a stupid question, but I seem to recall reading somewhere that certain wines travel better than others).

The 05s will last better than some years, but still for Jean Vullien's Mondeuse I would think another 3 - 5 years maximum. As to how well they (or other wines) traavel, I think all 'modern' wine travels well (and the Vullien will be in this category). The exception are so-called 'Natural' wines. Wines where the dose of the preservative SO2 is very low or the rare zero-added-sulphur wines are at risk of spoiling when travelling due to the temperature changes etc. But yes, all wines benefit from leaving alone for 2 - 3 months after travel like this.

Thanks, Wink!