Attn US Loire Cab Franc Fans

[Jenise]

Great buy at K & L on an aged CF from a great vintage:

1989 Joel Taluau "Cuvée de Domaine" St-Nicolas-de-Bourgueil (1.5L)
Joël Taluau is a fabulous grower in St. Nicolas de Bourgueil known for making some of the purest expressions of cabernet franc in the Loire. All is hand harvested, cuvees are based on vine age and soil composition. Then the wines are fermented and aged in stainless steel, with a light fining and no filtration before bottling. $59.99.

1989 was a great vintage in the area.

[Jenise]

1989 was a great vintage in the area.

I know, I had an Olga Ruffault that really swept me off my feet. I ordered two of these.

I like 1989 Loire a lot (white or red), but thought this was expensive for a SNdB. Then I saw it was a magnum. Nevermind, carry on.

is this at past its drinking window?

[Jenise]

is this at past its drinking window?

Steve, since I ordered two, I'm obviously betting that it's not. 1989 was a splendid vintage, and the friend who brought this to my attention is familiar with the producer (I'm not). The wine will have extra life since it's a large format bottle, too.

As Jenise notes, mags tend to age longer. I haven't had this wine, but some other 1989 Loire reds (O Raffault "Picasses" Chinon, Breton "Grandmont" Bourgueil) haven't been the least tired (from 750). The base Chinon from Beausejour was a little tired, but that's really intended as a drink young wine.

Sounds like the quintessential garden wine to me!!

And at that age the tannins should be perfectly tame!

[Jenise]

Sounds like the quintessential garden wine to me!!

And at that age the tannins should be perfectly tame!

I once brought an '89 Olga Ruffault Les Picasses to lunch--it was a splendid bottle. Had you all fooled too; you were certain it was a Bordeaux and I believe you guys commented that you don't see these high quality Loire CF's in your market, or at least you didn't use to.

Correct, you did fool us.

We don't see a lot of higher quality CFs from the Loire for the simple reason that the prices rival Bordeaux but few people know them so would rather buy Bordeaux.

Young, they can be even more angular than a young claret usually is - as witness some we tasted with Rasoul. They need time but rarely get it before being drunk up.

For what it's worth, this Cuvée de Domaine is not really the same type of 'flagship' wine as some of the others mentioned in the thread. So I would not expect it to show the same finesse or elegance of a Picasses. But, it should be pleasantly mature wine and in a magnum it is probably very easy to pour for large crowds!

Jenise, I have been a bit dozy. This wine was served from a 75cl bottle at a Loire feast in July last year and I have found my note on it -

Saint-Nicolas-de-Bourgueil Cuvée du Domaine 1989 – Joël Taluau – Alc. 12.5% - another lovely wine very much in the same style as the preceding Chinon with perhaps slightly greater depth and more marked but resolved tannic structure; beautifully elegant; 17/20++.

Your magnums should be even better.

[Jenise]

Jenise, I have been a bit dozy. This wine was served from a 75cl bottle at a Loire feast in July last year and I have found my note on it -

Saint-Nicolas-de-Bourgueil Cuvée du Domaine 1989 – Joël Taluau – Alc. 12.5% - another lovely wine very much in the same style as the preceding Chinon with perhaps slightly greater depth and more marked but resolved tannic structure; beautifully elegant; 17/20++.

Your magnums should be even better.

Woo hoo, Tim! That's very exciting info. I'll pass this along to the friend who brought the offer to my attention. He was sold on the idea that this was a goof buy, but will be thrilled to see it confirmed in a TN.

what is a goof buy? I've seen lots of old wines marked down at K&L that are past the drinking window suggested by the tasting note -- is that what you mean?

what is a goof buy? I've seen lots of old wines marked down at K&L that are past the drinking window suggested by the tasting note -- is that what you mean?

Looks like a typo and am thinking she meant to write 'good' buy.

[Jenise]

what is a goof buy? I've seen lots of old wines marked down at K&L that are past the drinking window suggested by the tasting note -- is that what you mean?

Looks like a typo and am thinking she meant to write 'good' buy.

You're so right. What a silly typo--all I can do is plead tiredness. Was up since 3 a.m. and about the time I wrote this, desperate to resume my night's sleep.

actually, I've made many goof buys!