When Tesco first released their Finest Sancerre/Pouilly Fume by Fournier, Mathew Jukes writing for the Mail on Saturday described the Fume as gooseberry with a wisp of smoke. I didn't get the wisp of smoke but I did get a lovely wisp of acorn. Which means that my acorn is Jukes' smoke.

My first bottle of this ( 2010 ) had that wisp of smoke the second and third ( 10 + 11 ) were correct at first but turned to cabbage water..

Many, many disappointments later, in desperation to rediscover that wisp of smoke that only Sancerre/Pouilly Fume can do I bought this at the full price. I knew I shouldn't. My last bottle of this was poor. The 2011 vintage is a virtual write off and I could sense Dunc shaking his head in disbelief as I walked through the till but buy it I did.

This has that wisp of smoke which still makes me think of acorns.

Finally..

G

Into the second half of the bottle and the subtle acorn has long gone and been replaced by a beautiful rich and lush smokyness. Another year and this could be up there with Ladoucette as the flavour is now quite similar.

Outstanding and very complex.

Is this it ?

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Four wheels move the body - 2 wheels move the soul.

Yes. Lightly chill if you want to enjoy it's subtleties. Chill well if you want it's almost overpowering complexities.

Needs a year but is nice now. However, I could understand some people thinking this unpleasant. At the moment it's in a love it or hate it phase but it will mellow by 2014 and be stunning.

I'm happy enough with it now.

As you can probably tell.

Hi - been on a mini break with our grand children and my eldest and her hubby

Ha ha - brilliant find Mr G. Excellent stuff, and only 7.65 euro in the Hachette. So 45% uk tax and logistics - Grrrr.

Now - ya know this stuff - Bulk - bulk Fournier is a shaking head job - unless the season is Fail Safe ? Or you buy their own domaine production at much bigger money on the fancy pewter label. 2011 is pretty irregular even near the top. Imagine that wine on '02 or '05 . G I bought Arnaud de Lassalle PF '11 ! and '05 smile
The Co-Op have done good again, Yeah, to get Jean-Jaques Bardin in their shops. Tesco would have declined cos not enough volume and probably 1.00 euro more wholesale - duh.

Well done Co Op - sounds very nice indeed.

The SCEV JEAN-JACQUES BARDIN now almost 40 hectares of vines.

Notre domaine est situé au coeur du vignoble de Pouilly-sur-Loire, nous avons une vue panoramique sur sa majesté la Loire et Sancerre. Our field is located in the heart of the vineyards of Pouilly-sur-Loire, we have a panoramic view of the majestic Loire and Sancerre. Nous exploitons nos vignes situées sur les communes de Pouilly-sur-Loire, Saint-Andelain, et sur les communes de Sancerre, Verdigny, Saint-Satur et Ménétréol sous Sancerre pour toutes nos parcelles de Sancerre. We operate our vineyards located in the towns of Pouilly-sur-Loire, Saint-Andelain, and the towns of Sancerre, Verdigny, and Saint-Satur Ménétréol in Sancerre Sancerre all our plots.

Nous pouvons vous accueillir au domaine tous les jours de la semaine entre 9h et 19h, nous avons une capacité d'accueil jusqu'à 50 personnes (sur rendez-vous). We welcome you to the area every day of the week between 9 and 19h, we can accommodate up to 50 people (by appointment


Jean Jacques Bardin Domaines Les Charmes - Guide Hachette des vins

Bacchus has already been there - virtually

Nice find G - ta very muchly. This is one to watch and to drink

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Duncan

First glass of a second bottle. Restrained on both nose and palate but some richness, not at all tart and despite very obvious Sancerrish gooseberry fruit, no wisp of smoke. Like a high class Hoit Poitou sb.

This is classier than the first but give me bottle one anyday.