by Tim York » Sat Apr 14, 2007 2:33 am
Is the producer Yannick Amirault? One of his cuvées, the basic one, I think, has this name. Amirault is one of the best producers in Bourgueil; indeed, le Classement rates him the best. Other good ones are Druet, Blot, Caslot and Mabileau.
Amirault says that he is aiming for a riper style of Bourgueil so as eliminate the typical green, vegetal notes common in Loire Cabernet franc, which displease the mass of consumers but not the real Loire lovers. Global warming is helping him. I cannot recall tasting le Grand Clos 2002 specifically but I did taste some of his 2002s a few years ago. In general 2002 was a very good year in the region, particularly for Chenin based whites, but the reds are also good, with excellent freshness and fruit, if you can take the typical regional green hints and in some wines drying tannins on the finish. Amirault's offerings are likely to show these traits less than most, but if I remember correctly there were traces.
I seem to recall le Grand Clos 2003 as atypically very ripe and 2004 as more typical with freshness and some structure.
Tim York
