Jean Foillard's Morgon 3.14

[Jenise]

Spent a weekend in the San Juan Islands and stumbled over one of those wine-stores-that-time-forgot. Drug home many bottles of Lapierre's MMIX which the islanders apparently didn't appreciate, and also a bottle of the 2007 Foillard Morgon 3.14--a bottling I've never laid eyes on before. Wasn't cheap but I was so completely and utterly dazzled with the 2009 Foillards (the Py and Courcette) I couldn't resist. From what I read on the 'net just now, looks like I'm in for a treat, eh?

Oh, that is a gorgeous wine. Very different from the regular Morgons, and absolutely worth it.

[Jenise]

Oh, that is a gorgeous wine. Very different from the regular Morgons, and absolutely worth it.

Any idea when best to drink a vintage like 07 that has been sitting on a grocer's shelf for, I'm guessing, a year or two? Was probably released in 2010.

FWIW and IMHO, since you said you have several bottles I would open one now to see what you're dealing with. In part because it sounds like storage/heat damage is potentially an issue. But also so you can see how it tastes and look forward to the rest of your bottles!

This cuvee is probably not in its peak drinking state right now and probably needs a few years to come together. But much like the other Foillard cuvees the dominant theme is still silk (just richer, more intense and deeper than in the other cuvees). Plus, since you're a Bordeaux drinker, whatever acid and tannin are not fully resolved in this wine will seem like a trifle compared to Bordeaux at a similar stage of evolution.

I don't think the 2007 was released that early actually... I only saw it in NYC a few months ago. But pop one and check the storage, and if all's well store it for the long haul.

I don't think the 2007 was released that early actually... I only saw it in NYC a few months ago..

Crush first sold some of the 2007 in March 2011. They may have gotten another shipment recently.

[Jenise]

FWIW and IMHO, since you said you have several bottles I would open one now to see what you're dealing with.

Unfortunately, I said that I bought a number of other wines but only 'a' bottle of this one. Your point's otherwise well-taken, but I do need to get this right. Hopefully it's not damaged, just perhaps a little further along than a pristeenly stored bottle would be.

@Salil: the rule of thumb, I read somewhere, is that these are released three years after vintage. Might be a generality that didn't apply to 07, though.

Crush is offering the 2009 at $55

Good luck with this, while normally I'd expect a year or so at grocery temps to be survivable, It's a real gamble with a producer who minimizes SO2 additions.

[Jenise]

Good luck with this, while normally I'd expect a year or so at grocery temps to be survivable, It's a real gamble with a producer who minimizes SO2 additions.

That sure crossed my mind. Hopefully the San Juan Island climate was kind to it.