Les Jardins Esméraldins: Tasting & Drinking
There is no denying the impact these wines on me; I do not think any wine I have tasted during the course of 2014 surprised me in the same manner as those of Xavier Caillard. The white is pure, fresh, lightly honeyed and charismatic, fresh as a daisy in fact. When Xavier informed me as to the vintage, and the fact the wine had seen out nine years in barrel without a huge dose of protective sulphur dioxide, I was left speechless. Even though I am aware of the protective capability of the lees, as I have tasted a number of Muscadets that have been held sur lie for a comparable length of time (as long as ten years) those wines tend to be stored in sealed, chilly, subterranean tanks. I didn’t expect similar results from a wine held in barrel, and yet it has such purity and freshness. The red wine is, as you might imagine, cut from the same cloth, its hallmarks both purity and precision.
Please log in to continue reading: