WTN: 2011 Pierre Bise Liquoreux

I don't drink many of the intensely sweet wines. But I like them. So recently I decided to buy the 2011 Pierre Bise Clos de la Soucherie Côteaux du Layon Beaulieu and the 2011 Pierre Bise Quarts de Chaume. To reminisce on old times/producers, to see how the recent wines taste, and to enjoy the sugar!

I was not disappointed. From what I understand it was not the hottest year in the region, but both of these wines are intensely sweet and creamy with dark chewy raisins and viscous vanilla. Of course the chenin structure was there and these were not lacquered Sauternes. But still, I'm not sure how much riper or sweeter these wines could be.

I'm also not sure if I could really tell the difference between the wines at this point without looking at the label. Maybe the power of suggestion was for darker raisins and more elegance on the Quarts de Chaume, but I wouldn't want anyone's life to depend on correctly identifying it blind!

Will the distinctions emerge with time? Or will the $30ish Beaulieu always be a better value than the $50ish Quarts de Chaume?

Good note Rahsaan my friend. You are very fortunate to find such gems in your area..nothing of such note up here . Now visits to London are a different story. By the way did you see my Albarino note here?

I rarely drink Albarino, but obviously the wines can be very good.

From my understand the Pierre Bise wines were without a US importer for maybe 5 years but now they are being imported again, so I thought it would be interesting to try them. I have been the most impressed with the Savennieres Roche aux Moines, but didn't need prodding to have some sweetness.