Stunning sweet Chenin: Chateau Pierre-Bise 'Les Rouannières' Coteaux du Layon

January 23, 2013

Stunning sweet Chenin: Chateau Pierre-Bise ‘Les Rouannières’ Coteaux du Layon

Chateau Pierre-Bise ‘Les Rouannières’ Coteaux du Layon 2010 (Loire Valley, France)
Source: Tasting
www.terroir-selections.com.au

What a magical wine this is. A magical wine that showcases just how perfect sweet Loire Chenin can be. Claude Papin, proprietor of Chateau Pierre-Bis, has been called a ‘doyen of Anjou viticulture’ and this style is really all about the magical fruit at the core.

Produced from a combination of shrivelled, late harvested fruit and some botrytised bunches, this is fermented half in old barrel and half tank. 100% Chenin Blanc. 180g/L of residual sugar.

It’s just beautiful cumquat and marmalade juice. Has a beautiful light toffee and toasted caramelised citrus fruit but without actually feeling heavy sweet like a fully botrytised wine. The balance here between sweetness and texture is superb, the finish long and so perfectly weighted. Length and clarity is perfect – you can just taste those slightly shrivelled Chenin Blanc grapes.

Stunning sweet wine. Stunning! I could drink this all day, such is the sweet lightness. Magical.

Drink: 2013-2028+
Score: 18.7/20 95/100
Would I buy it? In a heartbeat

2010, Chenin Blanc, Loire, Top Wine, Wine

Andrew Graham was once voted the 23rd most trusted wine critic on the planet. A WCA Journalism Young Gun now old hack with 25yrs as a buyer, judge, journalist, marketer and too much more.

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4 responses to “Stunning sweet Chenin: Chateau Pierre-Bise ‘Les Rouannières’ Coteaux du Layon”

AndyPat

January 25, 2013 at 8:48 pm

what would you drink it with Andrew? Some kind of french cheese? It sounds lovely

Reply
1. ozwinereview
  
  January 26, 2013 at 4:17 am
  
  Fruit desert, cheese, pastry type things. Sweetness is pretty balanced so should be versatile.
  
  Reply
colin

January 28, 2013 at 5:11 am

Andrew,
Enjoy the comments as always. As a newbie I will buy the wines you critcise as well as the ones you applaud (if I can find them). But why would I buy a dud , you ask….I suppose its to understand the criticisms as well as the applause in an attempt to train my palate. May sound a bit odd but I see it as part of the experience.Its okay to say "I dont like that", but I want to be able to capture and understand why I dont like it. After all that ,can you provide some advice on how I would find a wine such as you have described above. Many thanks as always.

Reply
1. ozwinereview
  
  January 29, 2013 at 6:44 am
  
  Hi Colin,
  
  I'd go small independents such as Steve's in WA, Europa in Melbourne, East End Cellars in Adelaide of Five Ways in Sydney for a start. If you can't find this particular bottle ay decent sweet Loire Chenin is a good start (if that helps).
  
  Reply