WTN: Two Chenins, one old, one not

No wine Monday with leftover lamb incorporated into a Japanese curry with rice and spinach goma-ae.

Tuesday cod in harissa butter, lemony bok choy, carrots with whipped tahini, and couscous.

2002 Chidaine “Les Tuffeaux” Montlouis-sur-Loire
Oops, this was not intended to be cellared this long. Opened and there’s some oxidative notes so I switch to backup for dinner. But after dinner I revisited and found some interest here. Bruised apples, wax, wet wool, with a heavy almond note. Sec-tendre, good acids, it’s certainly showing its age but it’s not dead. I end up somewhat enjoying (more intellectually than hedonistically). B

2019 Huet Le Mont Vouvray Sec
The backup. Very young but I enjoy. Green apple, grapefruit, white flowers. Just a little waxy note to hint of development to come. Good acids, ripe fruit with a touch of sugar, good finish. B/B+ now, patience should be rewarded.

Grade disclaimer: I'm a very easy grader, basically A is an excellent wine, B a good wine, C drinkable. Anything below C means I wouldn't drink at a party where it was the only choice. Furthermore, I offer no promises of objectivity, accuracy, and certainly not of consistency.

No wine Monday with leftover lamb incorporated into a Japanese curry with rice and spinach goma-ae.

Tuesday cod in harissa butter, lemony bok choy, carrots with whipped tahini, and couscous.

2002 Chidaine “Les Tuffeaux” Montlouis-sur-Loire
Oops, this was not intended to be cellared this long. Opened and there’s some oxidative notes so I switch to backup for dinner. But after dinner I revisited and found some interest here. Bruised apples, wax, wet wool, with a heavy almond note. Sec-tendre, good acids, it’s certainly showing its age but it’s not dead. I end up somewhat enjoying (more intellectually than hedonistically). B

2019 Huet Le Mont Vouvray Sec
The backup. Very young but I enjoy. Green apple, grapefruit, white flowers. Just a little waxy note to hint of development to come. Good acids, ripe fruit with a touch of sugar, good finish. B/B+ now, patience should be rewarded.

Grade disclaimer: I'm a very easy grader, basically A is an excellent wine, B a good wine, C drinkable. Anything below C means I wouldn't drink at a party where it was the only choice. Furthermore, I offer no promises of objectivity, accuracy, and certainly not of consistency.

Wow, considering the issues I've had with the '14 Chidaines, you are brave/lucky to have cellared that '02 so long, And good to hear about that '19 Le Mont Sec. I've got one in the cellar that'll sit there a bit longer.

Definitely lucky. After some bad experiences with Chidaine not aging well it was cowardice keeping me from opening this. Never a situation where I was just like "here goes" . I think I have an 05 Clos Habert that is also likely gone, but stopped really buying Chidaine a while ago

[Jenise]

I haven't opened a Huet anything in years. I better check on my stash.

2002 Chidaine “Les Tuffeaux” Montlouis-sur-Loire
Oops, this was not intended to be cellared this long. Opened and there’s some oxidative notes so I switch to backup for dinner. But after dinner I revisited and found some interest here. Bruised apples, wax, wet wool, with a heavy almond note. Sec-tendre, good acids, it’s certainly showing its age but it’s not dead. I end up somewhat enjoying (more intellectually than hedonistically). B

Impressive. Another era. I have very fond memories of drinking 02 Chidaines when they were young, but the drier cuvees, not the Tuffeaux. That was another world and the new Chidaines have nothing to do with them. I'm sure if I could get in a time machine, those 02 wines might taste 'rustic' today. But they were fun at the time!