May 18, 2011 – Vigneti Massa, Lapierre, Domaine de la Cadette, and Thévenet, The Wine Bottega, Boston, MA
Both Mathieu Lapierre (son of Marcel) and Jean Montanets of Domaine de la Cadette were present to pour some of their wines, along with Ernest Ifkovitz of Portovino Imports. A couple of other Beaujolais were also poured.
Not all of the wines were available for purchase last night, so not all have prices listed for them.
2010 Vigneti Massa Barbera Rosato “Fuso” Colli Tortonesi DOC
Fuso is Portovino Imports’ line of entry-level wines from various producers. These Barberas were both made by Walter Massa of Vigneti Massa. (There is also a Fuso Verdicchio di Matelica from Belisario that I haven’t tried.)
Light-bodied, very mineral, slightly rustic perhaps, with good underlying acidity, and cherry/berry notes. A nice rosé – also the only Barbera rosé that I can recall having. $15.
2009 Vigneti Massa Barbera “Fuso” Colli Tortonesi DOC
Medium-bodied, nicely balanced, with good underlying acidity and very light tannins. Again, quite mineral, with cherry and blackberry notes, and hints of spices. Not an ager, but a very good QPR for near-term consumption. $15.
2009 Vigneti Massa Timorasso “Derthona” Colli Tortonesi DOC
Walter Massa is responsible for bringing the Timorasso grape back from the dead, so to speak, to the point where others have realized its potential and have also planted it (I have also had another nice Timorasso from Pier Carlo Semino at La Colombara.) This wine is medium-bodied, nicely structured, with good underlying acidity; showing a definite earthy/mineral quality along with citrus and apple notes. Very good – should benefit from a few years in bottle. $27.
2006 Vigneti Massa Croatina “Pertichetta” Colli Tortonesi DOC
Medium-bodied, well balanced, with good finesse and underlying acidity. Earthy/very mineral, with cherry, mixed berry, and spice notes. Very good/excellent. $27.
2008 Domaine de la Cadette Bourgogne Blanc “La Sœur Cadette”
100% Chardonnay – this producer does grow a small amount Melon de Bourgogne, but that wine was not at this tasting. Medium-bodied, fresh, well-balanced, with nice acidity; shows mineral, citrus, and apple notes. Very good.
Although the vines are near Chablis, the Cadette wines aren’t as steely. Not coming from the well-known Kimmerdigian soils of Chablis, they have a very different character.
2008 Domaine de la Cadette Bourgogne Vézelay Cuvée la Châtelaine
100% Chardonnay. Medium-bodied, very mineral, with good underlying acidity; shows, peach, apple, and citrus notes. Very good.
NV Domaine Marcel Lapierre Raisins Gaulois X Vin de Table Français
From the 2010 vintage. Medium-bodied, less dense, well balanced, with elegant cherry, dark berry, earth, and mineral notes. Smooth, without being so in a manipulated sense. Very good QPR for $14.
2010 Domaine Marcel Lapierre Morgon
This isn’t available for sale in the States just yet, but we got a sneak preview; you can buy it in France now. Moderately full-bodied, lightly funky, perhaps, nicely balanced; full of cherries, minerals, and earth, with some spices. Great finesse. Excellent.
2008 Jean-Paul Thévenet Morgon Vieilles Vignes
Medium-bodied, lightly spicy/earthy; quite mineral; cherry/berry notes. Has the structure and the balance; just needs more time to come into its own. $35.
2009 Charly Thévenet Régnié Grain & Granit
Fuller, denser, and more tannic; well balanced, with good acidity and finesse. Shows notes of cherries, stones, minerals, roses, and spices. Excellent. $35.