On the Road with the Grape Guy
Villamont & Aiguevillle Tasting
31 Jan 2024- Details
- Category: On the Road with the Grape Guy
(July 2023) ... Put together by EuroVintage and held at the National Club in Toronto. It's a two producer tasting, both from France: Burgundy and Rhone Valley.
We kicked things off with a little tasting of wine from Bourgogne; Henri de Villamont – a winery established in 1800 and farms 35 hectares of vines in Beaune.
Henri de Villamont 2021 Bourgogne Chardonnay "Prestige" ($23.95) 
- Chardonnay -
Nice texture, with some bruised apple, oxidation / reductive notes and a little burnt butter on the finish. Nice length. (*** ½)
Henri de Villamont 2018 Macon-Villages ($28.95)
- Chardonnay -
Fresh and light, with apple blossom, baked pear, mineral and stony component with floral and pretty pleasing finish. (****)
Henri de Villamont 2020 Pouilly-Fuisse "Grumes D'or" ($52.95)
- Chardonnay -
Nice oaky and smoky notes with deep texture, yellow apple, vanilla oak which leads to butterscotch. Gentle acidity, but well balance - rich and playful; 20 / 30% new oak - this is a real beauty. (****+)
Henri de Villamont 2021 Bourgogne Pinot Noir "Prestige" ($23.95)
Pretty and floral, with spice, sour cherry and good acidity. Gentle oak creates a pleasing and easy finish. (*** ½+)
Henri de Villamont 2017 Santenay "Les Champs-Claude" ($42.95)
- Pinot Noir -
Great nose that lures you right in, with notes of blueberry and spice. Floral, crab apple, sour cherry, cranberry and spice lingers on the long finish. This one is bold and powerful. (****+)
Henri de Villamont 2019 Savigny-Les-Beaune "Le Village" ($58.95)
- Pinot Noir -
Sweet cherry and raspberry, proven to be gentle and easy. There is also violet and blue-cranberry; with some gentle white pepper. This one is pretty and delicate; a real stellar Pinot. (**** ½)
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Second winery today, Chateau Aigueville, which name means "city of water" referring river under the land where the roots touch the river 38 meters below. The winery sits on a 100-hectare plot where lots of intermixed: Grenache and Clairette are spaced out.
Chateau d'Aigueville 2019 Cotes du Rhone Villages 
Nice spice and dark fruit; this wine is totally sippable and enjoyable – with balanced of acidity.
Chateau d'Aigueville 2021 Cotes du Rhone
- 60% Grenache / 30% Syrah w/ Carignan-Mourvedre -
Floral nose and full of cherry, this is very fruit forward and delicate with nice minerality - really a fruit driven wine full of flavour and enjoyment. (**** ½)
Chateau d'Aigueville 2020 Massif d'Uchaux Rouge
Dark fruit and smoke, mocha, black cherry - lush and fruity. (****+)
Chateau d'Aigueville 2022 Cotes du Rhone - Blanc
- 40% Clairette / 30% Viognier / Grenache Blanc / Bourboulenc / Roussanne (equal parts) -
Fresh and lively, with hints of apple blossom and spice. Good acidity, nice texture along with grapefruit zest and pith on the mid-palate to the finish. (*** ½+)
Chateau d'Aigueville 2022 La Rosee - Vin de France
- 100% Syrah -
Red wine played with like a rose; fresh, fruity and floral, light and playful, white pepper and gentle spice. Meant to serve chilled "I'd drink the shit out of this" – was heard this afternoon – (I’d agree). Lovely cherry and spice; Beaujolais-esque all the way. (****+)
