Roger
Beguinot, Château Soucherie (1991)
Prior
to December 2007 this property was under the ownership of Pierre-Yves
Tijou who had bought the Chateau in 1952. However with his impending
retirement it was put up for sale and the new owner is an industrialist
from the north of
France
. Roger Begûinot had already installed Thibaud Boudignon, a young
winemaker with experience at Chateau Olivier in Graves and De Bortoli in Australia, for the 2007 vintage, specifically to oversee the harvest and
vinification of Le Clos des Perrières. This walled clos within the village
of Savennières
was bought by Tijou in 1991 on the retirement of Eustache
Poilasne. In
addition to this, he purchased a parcel of land in La Croix Picot and
planted here in 2002, although no wine was ever commercialised from this
site. This vineyard has been excluded from the recent sale, being retained
by Mathieu Tijou, Pierre-Yves Tijou’s youngest son.
Wine
Overview:
Under
the Tijous, all vintages of Le Clos des Perrières had been aged in oak.
With regards the new regime, Boudignon harvested the 2007 in two tries with ten days between the two picking dates. The aim was to
catch the berries at full maturity, but before the onset of any botrytis.
The wine was fermented in second hand barriques from Château Olivier
using indigenous yeasts. Malolactic fermentation will be blocked and the
objective is to bottle the wine in September, just in advance of the 2008
vintage.
The
Wines:
The
more recent and final three vintages under the ownership of the Tijous are
pretty uninspiring.
2009
Clos des Perrières
Creamy nose and palate dominated by oak. Decent weight and
concentration and fresh, crisp acidity. There is no obvious malo-lactic
fermentation here which helps equalise the oak. Crunchy. Needs time as
still currently unknit. Accessible and modern, but a bit too modern and
lacking a sense of place. (02/11)
2008
Clos des Perrières
Three separate tries and then aged 9 months in fût with
a further 4 months in tank. Very clean and youthful, primary Chenin. A
little facile on the nose at this stage. The palate is also primary, but
more serious with a good thread of minerality and citrus acidity running
through the wine. Very good potential but needs time to settle down.
(02/10)
2006
Clos des Perrières
Tasted
just prior to bottling. This was raised for 12 months in older wood.
Smokey nose; the wood dominates at this point. Well structured with good
balance and fresh citrus acidity. Juicy with good length. The wood needs
to settle and integrate. A forward and fresh style. (02/08)
2005
Clos des Perrières
Light
and delicate with a floral and lactic, rice pudding like nose. Mid weight
on entry. This is showing some advanced flavours with unknit acidity to
the finish. Marzipan and white flowers. Drink now as unlikely to improve.
Undistinguished. (02/08)
2004
‘Cuvée Alix’
Sold
under this cuvée name to celebrate the birth of Vincent Tijou’s
daughter. Bright. Mid-depth yellow. Clean nose, but with some terpine
notes. A leaner style with less obvious wood, but also lacking some flesh
or fruit. The acidity carries the finish. Authentic but simple. It could
develop further but is pretty average. (02/08)
2001
Clos des Perrières
Polished.
Mid-depth yellow. Mature, terpine nose and shows some of the advanced aged
characters of this vintage. A wine based on structure rather than fruit.
More herbal with a chalky, mineral finish. This is drinking now, but
should age further. (02/08)
1991
Clos des Perrières
Bright. Mid-depth yellow-straw. Tired nose. A little savoury, smoky and
earthy with some cheese-like notes (not unlike cheap Madeira). Light and
shallow. Lean on entry, austere and lacking fruit or flesh. Only the
acidity really remains. Will age but evolve further. Quite simple with the
fruit now stripped. Drink up. (04/09)
1991
Clos des Perrières
The
first vintage produced under Tijou ownership. Bright. Yellow appearance.
Rich, rounded and still youthful on the nose. Creamy on entry (this went
through malolactic) and builds well on the palate. Good balance and
richness with noticeable minerality. This is still in good condition and
has aged well. No rush to drink up. Very good. (02/08)
Chateau
la Soucherie
Beaulieu-sur-Layon
T:
+33 2 41 78 31 18
F:
+33 2 41 78 48 29
chateausoucherie@yahoo.fr
www.soucherie.com
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