Puzelat-Bonhomme 2011 Touraine “La Tesnière” Pinot d'Aunis ($17.49)
Rather light ruby color, and the slight haze that I reported in tasting a newly arrived bottle in November 2013 seems to have fallen clear. I was worried how the wine was faring six years after the vintage, but it’s holding up well if not evolving; it’s not really a wine meant for the long term, but it’s sturdy, little changed. The intriguing aroma mingles fresh violets and a generous grind of fragrant white pepper, and it’s crisp and snappy in flavor, fresh acidity, dried cherries and white pepper and distinctly stony minerality in a very long finish. My wife loves this wine and so do I; we bought half-cases of the 2010 through 2013 as the came along, but it’s not made any more. Only one 2012 is left in our stash, and we’ll drink it up for a special occasion this summer. U.S. importer: LDM Wines Inc., NYC; Louis/Dressner Selections. (April 22, 2017)