WTN: Theo Fleurie

[David M. Bueker]

2005 Coudert Fleurie Clos de la Roilette Cuvée Tardive - France, Burgundy, Beaujolais, Fleurie (2/28/2017)
As an aged Beaujolais skeptic I had been eyeing my remaining bottles (all 2 of them) of this wine with some trepidation. Would it be a window into what I had heard about from the true believers, or would it just be a shell of the fruity wonder that it was on release.

Cut to the chase, it's the former. Twelve years from the vintage, and it is still showing fresh fruit, as well as some solid tannin. It's also moving into a mature phase, with earthy, woodsy aromas, and a citrus zest accent that keeps everything bright and lively. There is sufficient depth of fruit for further aging to resolve the remains tannin, so drink now or hold (for a while) if looking for a fully mature wine.

2005 Coudert Fleurie Clos de la Roilette Cuvée Tardive - France, Burgundy, Beaujolais, Fleurie (2/28/2017)
As an aged Beaujolais skeptic I had been eyeing my remaining bottles (all 2 of them) of this wine with some trepidation. Would it be a window into what I had heard about from the true believers, or would it just be a shell of the fruity wonder that it was on release.

Cut to the chase, it's the former...

Glad to hear it! Although is 'a shell of the fruit wonder that is was on the release...' really the fear? I don't think anyone would expect the better Beaujolais like Coudert to literally fall apart. I always thought the fear/debate was whether they gained sufficient complexity/development to make it worth the investment of aging, or if they just became slightly different versions of their initial selves.

I don't age Beaujolais too long, not because I haven't enjoyed examples with 15-20 years of age (e.g. Chamonard), but mainly because I have limited space so the hierarchy of aging gives more priority to Burgundy and syrah.

[David M. Bueker]

As a skeptic on aging Beaujolais that was exactly my fear. I have had a very small number of truly aged examples.