WTN: I love Pepiere (I know, I know)

Last night Betsy made mussels in a white wine sauce, preceded by a few Kumamotos (looking that them, I thought they would be hard to open, but found them much easier than Eastern oysters). Wine was the 2006 Domaine de la Pepiere (Marc Ollivier)"Clos des Briords " Muscadet VV. Yippee yi yo. This has a lot of potential,but is really drinking well now. Lemon and grapefruit, bracing acidity, a hint of bread yeast, lots of mineral/saline notes. Excellent length, lingers on. A-

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.

Briords? Never heard of it.

Thanks, Dale. I havent opened an '06 yet but it looks like I should.

[David M. Bueker]

I was in a bistro outside of Paris last night and ordered fresh oysters and a glass of Muscadet. What did they serve me but the 2005 Briords. I had no idea that American internet wine geeks hadn't bought all of it. I ordered a second glass to go with my scallops.

It was a great match.

Briords? Never heard of it.

Thanks, Dale. I havent opened an '06 yet but it looks like I should.

Heck Bill, still drinking those muskys too early!

Bob, I understand why you say "too early," but maybe you haven't tasted the 2006. I'm drinking my case of 2006 Pepiere Briords VV now, although I will wait a decade or so for the 2004s and 2005s to drink at their best. The relatively fruity 2006 is beautiful now but it seems to me it doesn't have the acid backbone and cellaring potential of the two previous years.

I think it does have pretty good acidity, but agree that it drinks well now. You don't get that coiled-up power feeling you got from the 2004. Sure it will age for a decade easily, but why?

Bob, I understand why you say "too early," but maybe you haven't tasted the 2006. I'm drinking my case of 2006 Pepiere Briords VV now, although I will wait a decade or so for the 2004s and 2005s to drink at their best. The relatively fruity 2006 is beautiful now but it seems to me it doesn't have the acid backbone and cellaring potential of the two previous years.

Thanks Clint, all the TNs here have told me how these wines age. I was just putting out some bait for Bill, lately he just swims by!!!

I was just putting out some bait for Bill,

I'm circling, waiting to strike.

I was just putting out some bait for Bill,

I'm circling, waiting to strike.

Mussells in a white wine cream sauce, chopped shallots and spinach!!