2016 Arbois Savagnin Ouille

Showing the pure varietal profile, the 2016 Arbois Savagnin Ouillé reflects very much the style of Domaine du Pelican—clean, fresh and focused wines. It fermented and aged in foudre and 500-liter barrels for ten months. It has good ripeness and nicely integrated oak. The palate revealed pungent flavors or great intensity and good acidity. 18,000 bottled produced. The aim is to make Savagnin the grape of the Domaine. This is my favorite wine of the portfolio, a wine with energy and character.

Fermented and aged in 500-litre casks, topped up (ouillé). Cask sample but ready for bottling. Savagnin skins are tough so pressing has to be slow and gentle – more so than for the Chardonnay. Unexpectedly fragrant, it has a leesy minerality but also orange pith and Victoria plum – an extraordinary range of aromas. But the mineral is dominant. Then full in the mouth, bone dry, ripe, rich and spicy. Extraordinary intensity and complexity, deep and almost chewy because it has so much texture but no phenolic grip. Creamy and deep and long and so fresh. (JH)

Showing the pure varietal profile, the 2016 Arbois Savagnin Ouille reflects very much the style of Domaine du Pelican—clean, fresh and focused wines. It fermented and aged in foudre and 500-liter barrels for ten months. It has good ripeness and nicely integrated oak. The palate revealed pungent flavors or great intensity and good acidity. 18,000 bottled produced. The aim is to make Savagnin the grape of the Domaine. This is my favorite wine of the portfolio, a wine with energy and character. Dec 2017, www.robertparker.com