1 Wine Dude

A Serious Wine Blog For the Not-So-Serious Drinker

Menu
  • Home
  • About
    • New? Start Here!
    • PR & Samples
    • Press & What-Have-You
  • Wine
    • by badge
      • crowd pleaser
      • elegant
      • kick-ass
      • overachiever
      • sexy
    • Full Reviews
    • Mini-Reviews
  • Stalk
    • facebook
    • LinkedIn
    • Instagram
    • News Break
    • pinterest
    • twitter
    • YouTube
  • Sign Up
  • Books
  • Services
  • Contact
Menu
1 Wine Dude
Tuff Luv at Wine Conversations 2015

Tenderness Among The Tuff Luv (Tasting The 2012 Jadot Les Demoiselles Montrachet)4 min read

Posted on June 10, 2015June 6, 2015 by 1WineDude

in elegant wines, on the road, wine review

Tuff Luv at Wine Conversations 2015
Tuff Luv at Wine Conversations 2015

As I write this, I am dutifully heads down in the process of remaining woefully behind on the coverage I have planned for these virtual pages (a deep dive into some high-end Knights Valley action is currently simmering on that back-burner). Which I suppose will come as a surprise to exactly zero of the long-time readers here.

I am also, as I type this, fresh from delivering a talk at the 2015 DIAM Wine Conversations sessions in Petaluma and Portland, in the form of a presentation outlining why no one “needs” to buy the producer attendees’ wines (and how they might get some of their potential consumers interested anyway). That my talk was replete with “tuff luv” for the industry folks in the audience will also come as a total shocker to, I’m guessing, precisely none of those who are reading this.

Silver linings tempered the dark clouds of my tuff luv messages, however, in the form of the lineup of wines chosen by organizer Evan Goldstein for the blind tasting portion of the seminars. The common denominator (apart from them all consisting primarily of water, I mean) being that each of the chosen wines were closed with DIAM technical corks (also, given the event sponsorship, not a shocker).

Wine Conversations 2015 tasting lineupNow, I’m not stumping for DIAM here, but as I mentioned during the seminar, in general I’m a fan of DIAM, in that I’m a fan of anything that lights a fire under the ass of the natural cork industry. Look at it this way: if staples such as milk or peanut butter had similar failure/contamination rates as wines sealed with natural cork, there’d be Walmarts in the Midwest getting stormed by angry, pitchfork-wielding mobs and engulfed in flames. No one would accept failure rates that high in other food products.

Anyway… All of the wines were also pretty damn interesting, in my not-so-humble opinion, as Evan characteristically went with some geeky surprises (including Okanagan Pinot Noir, Rivesaltes, and a single-vineyard California Viognier). Much entertaining stumping of the crowd (this participant included) thus ensued, and I don’t think that, given the quality of what we were testing, any of us would’ve cared if those wines had been sealed with natural cork, technical cork, or mud and cow dung.

One of the wines in the blind tasting lineup stood out as the clear ringer, however, and it’s the focus of our little virtual gathering of thirsty like minds today…

1WD_Badge_Elegant_thumb_thumb.jpg2012 Louis Jadot “Les Demoiselles” Chevalier-Montrachet (Burgundy, $375)

Well now… at the risk of now sounding like a DIAM commercial, I have to admit that the first thing I noticed about this wine after the reveal was the cork: it’s ridiculously firm, and longer than necessary, and pretty much could fully support my weight standing on it. I managed to crack one slightly after vigorously bending it for about a minute, and even after the abuse it was still structurally intact. You could run a WWII German tank over this cork and probably induce only minimal damage to it. I suspect the tank treads would rip apart first, actually. Anyway, the cork sends the clear message that this wine is probably too serious for you (or just about anybody).

2012 Louis Jadot "Les Demoiselles" Cheavalier MontrachetThe overzealous cork is protecting some fairly impressive cargo. At first sniff, this is a Chardonnay that induces some goosebumps; it’s got the kind of nose that makes no bones about declaring you that you’re in for a treat. At second sniff, you then discern that in twenty years’ time you’d have been in for an even tastier treat, so the encounter with this pretty young thing ends up feeling bittersweet.

Anyway… the stony, chalky, and tiny (1.28 acre) Les Demoiselles vineyard sits south of the Cote de Beaune, where the Chassagne-Montrachet and Puligny-Montrachet villages meet. It was purchased by Louis Jean Baptiste Jadot in 1913 from two sister owners (hence the fanciful moniker), but confusingly had once belonged to the Jadot family previously (having been owned in 1845 by LJB’s great-grand-pappy).

This one is Montrachet all the way (it spent about 18 months in oak), with rich creaminess evident at first sip. The nose, after being given a few minutes to shake is dust off, is about equal parts honey, white flowers, toast, minerals, and pungent citrus fruitiness. As enticing as that aromatic package is, it’s the tease of a texture of this wine in the mouth that seals the deal (and reveals just how much of a mere infant this Chardonnay is at the moment). There’s an intriguing interplay – no, that’s too tame a word, actually… it’s more like a serious, energetic, well-choreographed dance, with hints of joy and melancholy – between beer creamy breadth and focused, lemony tang. The finish is toasty, long, and thoroughly elegant, and… almost sad… damn, why didn’t we just wait another twenty, twenty-five years before opening this…? F*ck!!!!

I know, it’s kind of rare, and more than kind of expensive. It’s also that friggin’ good.

keep Portland weird

Cheers!

  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)
  • More
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window)
  • Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window)
  • Click to print (Opens in new window)

Related

2 thoughts on “Tenderness Among The Tuff Luv (Tasting The 2012 Jadot Les Demoiselles Montrachet)4 min read”

  1. Bob Henry (wine marketer) says:
    June 11, 2015 at 1:54 am

    Will contemporary white Burgundies last 20 years?

    “A Warning on White Burgundies” — Rajat Parr’s Blog on Wine Spectator

    Link: http://www.winespectator.com/blogs/show/id/15102

    “Oxidation problem makes white Burgundy ‘unreliable’” — Decanter

    Link: http://www.decanter.com/wine-news/oxidation-in-white-burgundy-still-a-problem-37805/

    “BURGUNDY SEMINAR REPORT PART 1: REDUCING THE RISK OF PREMOX” — The Drinks Business

    Link: http://www.thedrinksbusiness.com/2013/01/burgundy-seminar-report-part-1-reducing-the-risk-of-premox/

    1. 1WineDude says:
      June 11, 2015 at 8:35 am

      Bob, fully aware. In this case, it’s a bet that I’d be willing to take.

Comments are closed.

Dude’s New Books

Wine Taster's Guide Now Available!

“Bravo! Wine Taster's Guide is a perfect primer for both wine novices and learning enthusiasts." ―Evan Goldstein, Master Sommelier

Wine Taster's Journal Now Available!

"Wine Taster's Journal belongs in everyone's cellar… preferably wine-stained, dog-eared, and well-used.” ―Brian Freedman, wine/spirits/travel columnist

Get Some Wine


Vivino 15% Off Code: 2021NEW15 (1st Time Buyer)

Popular Stuff

  • Wine Reviews: Weekly Mini Round-Up for February 22, 2021
    Wine Reviews: Weekly Mini Round-Up for February 22, 2021
  • Wine In the Time of Coronavirus, Part 34: Make Wine Like a Girl (Women Run the Show at Benzinger & Imagery)
    Wine In the Time of Coronavirus, Part 34: Make Wine Like a Girl (Women Run the Show at Benzinger & Imagery)
  • CSW Exam Don'ts
    CSW Exam Don'ts
  • Help, My Wife Only Drinks Bad Chardonnay! (How to Rescue Her From Wine Hell)
    Help, My Wife Only Drinks Bad Chardonnay! (How to Rescue Her From Wine Hell)
  • Bitterness in White Wines (No... Really!)
    Bitterness in White Wines (No... Really!)

About + Contact

Joe Roberts

Joe Roberts

Certified Specialist of Wine & WSET Advanced
Author, speaker, consultant, wine judge, & critic.

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • RSS Feed

Find Stuff

Sign up, lushes!

Join 36,559 other subscribers

Fine Print

This site is licensed under Creative Commons.

Code of Ethics and Privacy Policies.

Play nice!

Get The Guide

Wine Tasters Guide Footer
#1 New Release in Amazon's Wine Tasting category
This site uses cookies. Duh. Cookie Policy
©2021 1 Wine Dude
Yo yo YO!

Wine Tasters Guide InstagramWell, hello there!

If you like what you’re reading (and want to like more of what you’re drinking), consider subscribing.

If you’re up for a more immersive wine learning experience, check out my books and other services.

Cheers!

loading Cancel
Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
Email check failed, please try again
Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.