WTN: Oxidation, sometimes intentional

[David M. Bueker]

Dinner with my parents last night. Grilled some lemon chicken & some asparagus.

The 2002 Domaine William Fevre Bougros Cote de Bouguerots was oxidized before its time, but did find a place in a marinade for tonight's dinner.

The 2000 Huet Vovray Petillant is starting to show more maturity, and is turning more complex with bready, nutty (perhaps oxidative) tones that go beyond the primary pear and lemon fruit. Quite tasty, and it was a very nice match with the chicken.

A bottle of 2004 (Domaine botling) Louis Jadot Corton Charlemagne was in no way oxidized, and in all ways lovely with minerla cut, elegant fruit and oak that was not overbearing (the strength of the wine certainly helped in that regard). This was an even better match with the chicken, and I savored the last glass for a good 90 minutes as it became more and more delicious.

Finally my dad wanted to try the 1998 Lopez de Heredia Vina Gravonia. This was my parents' first foray into the (intentionally) oxidized style of white LdH, and they liked it, finding it brothy and rich. I thought it was good, but not one of the better whites I had tasted from LdH. It was great with the chicken.

I know you're not a big fan of oxidative styles (neither am I, though I find the subject very interesting) so have you found the LdH whites to be within your threshold of acceptability? Or has their degree of oxidativeness (?) varied a lot?

David, thanks for the notes. Too bad about the Fevre. We had a very nice bottle of 2000 Fevre Les Preuses last night--with no signs of oxidation.

I like the "brothy" description of the '98 LdH Gravonia. I have a few hanging around and am looking forward to one probably this Fall some time.

[David M. Bueker]

Yeah, my prior bottle of the 2002 Bougros (at Peter C's 2008 Red Sox opening day party) was great. It's random alright.

Oswaldo - I found this bottle of LdH Gravonia less oxidative than most I have tried, but then it was also younger. I liked it, but it's not something I would want to drink on a regular basis.

Anybody ever heard of intentionally oxidized Muscadet? I commented at a wine dinner that a Muscadet we were drinking was obviously and unpleasantly oxidized. The distributor happened to be there and indignantly said that no, it wasn't oxidized; "that's the way it's made." Hooey! The wine was oxidized. Anyhow I forgot to note the name of the winery but wonder if in fact the wine was intentionally oxidized. (If so, the wine maker is making a big mistake. The wine was terrible.)

[David M. Bueker]

Nope - never heard of intentionally oxidized Muscadet. Sounds awful.

It was (awful).

Like many white wines, as Muscadet ages it can take on nutty oxidative notes. Although we all know David is not a fan of aging Muscadet..

Yes, I know that nutty oxidatie aroma and flavor and have Muscadets in my cellar going back to 1989 (mostly Louis/Dressner imports), but the wines the distributor bought were relatively young, and her emphasis was on that's how they are "made." My guess is the winery or importer told her that and she swallowed it.

Was the Fevre the estate botttling or the other one that Fevre releases?

[David M. Bueker]

Domaine bottling on the Fevre. Hence my title of "Domaine."

Domaine bottling on the Fevre. Hence my title of "Domaine."

Didn't read carefully enough. Pre mox is really a great pain. Although i've had good luck with the Fevres.

Yes, I know that nutty oxidatie aroma and flavor and have Muscadets in my cellar going back to 1989 (mostly Louis/Dressner imports), but the wines the distributor bought were relatively young, and her emphasis was on that's how they are "made." My guess is the winery or importer told her that and she swallowed it.

Is Joly making a Muscadet now?

Mark Lipton

[David M. Bueker]

My luck with Fevre has been mixed. This bottle of Bougros and a previous bottle of Grenouilles (September '08) were oxidized, but all otehrs have been ok.

That's better luck than I have had with Brocard, where 3 of 4 bottles of the 2002 Le Clos have been shot.