In planning our itinerary, I thought a day on the Rive Droite (Right Bank) would be welcome and I'd heard folks say how charming the town is and with an ancient history. I am so glad we did!
We began at Beau-Sejour Becot. This was a must-visit here because one of my first forays into older right bank wine was from this house and it was delicious. It was a nice visit with an extensive ATV tour around the perimeter of the vineyards, some of which is lying fallow awaiting a replant. On the outskirts of the limestone plateau, we got to witness an area where channels were dug into the limestone. It was explained that this is where the Romans dug these small trenches, then filled in with soil and planted vines initially in the vineyard. That just touched the tip of the iceberg for the history we got to witness.
I again forgot to get my notebook out of the car so I don't have specific notes. Here we tasted 2014 Chateau Joanin Becot, 2017 Chateau Bernon Becot, 2017 Beau-Sejour Becot and 2001 Chateau La Gomerie. Each was tasty and a different expression from various members of the family. It was nice to get acquainted with more from the house having only really seen the estate's grand vin in the market. The welcome surprise was La Gomerie. Here we got to guess the vintage and were surprised by the layers of complexity as well as life remaining in this 2001. Their tasting also has four small bites to accompany each wine. A nice touch.
After this, we went into town for a walk around before lunch. The ancient ruins among the buildings are just stunning. We went into an underground cave/cellar that was open and free to the public.
I was unable to secure an appointment at Troplong-Mondot, but we did get a seating at the Michelin-starred Belle Perdrix restaurant on site. Breathtaking views across the village, exceptional service and a well conceived, well executed menu here. Highly recommended if you find yourself in the region!
From lunch, we (rushed) to Chateau Canon la Gaffeliere. This was another that impressed me with their 2020 vintage at the Unions de Grands Crus BDX tasting in SF, so I wanted to visit. Another lovely tour and some standouts here were the unique mix of old barriques, concrete fermenters and even glass globes.
We tasted:
2012 Chateau D'Aiguilhe- A very pretty nose, floral and red-fruited with gorgeous accents of rose, lavender and fresh meadow with flecks of mint. Lovely texture with cherry and red currant. A sexy wine, fresh and vibrant that is high toned on red fruit and spiced plum. Lots of freshness for a wine of its age, and very tasty.
2013 Clos de L'Oratoire- A reserved nose at present. Plum and rhubard with touches of spice and cedar. On the palate, it's lean and elegant. Earthier notes with red and black currant and plums. Only a touch of herbs and hints of raspberry coulis. Pleasant earth to balance out the luscious fruit. Best enjoyed with food.
2016 Chateau Canon la Gaffeliere- A lovely nose with good intensity and layers. Rose petals, spice, plum, currant/cassis with a touch of spicy herbs and pretty vanilla and oak spice. Flavors of cassis and plum with spicy raspberry and dark cherry. There is a great purity of fruit with nice freshness. A touch of brandied cherry and mulberry. Excellent balance and freshness. Really a lovely wine.
We ended at Chateau Coutet. Our thoroughly entertaining tour guide greeted us outside where we learned about their biodiverse efforts and farming practices. Then, into the cellar for some welcoming "air conditioning" and tour where we learned about their finding of this ancient bottle with blown glass stopper that inspired their newer special and limited bottling with the same closure.
I unfortunately lost track of any photos of our lineup or note-taking, but the wines are very nice. This was another I sought out based on their super tasty 2020 wine.
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