Chateau Pierre Bise was all the rage on these wine boards 10/15 years ago, but then they stopped getting imported into the US (at least in the markets where I shop). I even worked the harvest at Pierre Bise in 2005, right before the US sources dried up. Which was when Claude acquired a bunch of new (and better) vineyards. So when I recently saw the wines for sale again, I was curious to see what had been going on.
The 2012 Anjou Rouannières Sec is a vineyard that most people probably associate with Claude's Coteaux du Layon. Not sure why he decided to bottle a sec version but this was a fine rendition. I've had a couple of bottles over these past weeks, and they're polished and firm, yet not heavy, and also have an airy gracefulness to them. Certainly worth drinking in the right circumstances, although not showing a lot of flavor or complexity right now. I'm guessing that is mainly because of the point on the aging curve.
But for just a few dollars more I would rather buy the 2012 Savennières Rouche aux Moines, which is also very polished and firm yet graceful. But, it adds mineral depth and finesse, as one might expect from the vineyard. Again, it may not be at the best part of the aging curve for explosive pleasure, but I'd be very curious to taste this with more age. (Or, a younger version to see what the upfront fruit expression is like)