2003 Coteaux du Layon Saint Lambert Les Bonnes Blanches
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Tasting notes
The Pithon 2003 Coteaux du Layon - Saint Lambert Les Bonnes Blanches – from a chalky site that is gaining notoriety – reflects a deep copper color to the eye and considerable new wood in the nose. Resin, lanolin, coconut, brown spices and butter cream aromas segue into a palate where caramelized pear and quince mingle with raisins and pungent spices as if in a chutney. Candied citrus, white raisin and vanilla cream dominate a long, buttery finish - like a hot crossed bun. Impressive in its confectionary, pure botrytis way, this rich, viscous Coteaux du Layon wants a bit of lift and refreshment. Jo Pithon, one of the outspoken advocates of biodynamic viticulture, puts his wines, both dry and nobly sweet, through extended time in barriques, and the results in 2005 include wines marked by pronounced lees, malolactic, and wood character which in a vintage already tending toward fat and fullness some tasters may enjoy more than I did. Importer: Elite Wines, Lorton, VA; tel. (703) 339-8150
Critic scores
Average Score
Jancis Robinson MW
David Schildknecht, Wine Advocate
More reviews and scores
Deep tawny copper producer of 100 per cent botrytised Chenin grapes. Tangy rich with masses of both residably suagr (200 g/l) and grapefruit peel to keep is refreshing. Still very slightly astringent and it fades just a little at the end. This would make a great lesson on the scent of botrytised grapes. I preferred the balance of this to the more massive Varennes 2003 Quarts de Chaume and the nectar-like Ambroisie 2003. As for the wittily named XXL de Chenin 1997 which took five years to ferment one degree and is 700 g/l suagr – it truly is a curiosity. (JR)