Didier Dagueneau was the undisputed star of the Loire Valley, hailed worldwide as the leading exponent of Sauvignon Blanc. It was no surprise then that the wine world was more than a little taken aback by his death in 2008. Thankfully Didier had passed his wealth of knowledge onto his son Benjamin and daughter Charlotte, who have continued their fathers (in some cases rather left field) work with the vineyards.
The 2009 vintage is simply superb, Benjamin and Charlotte have truly come into their own with these wines, although they will never truly be out of their fathers shadow, they have now produced wines that have scored as highly across the board as they have since Didier’s death.
These are wines that I personally adore, yes there are plenty of far cheaper examples of Sauvignon Blanc, but very few that are anywhere near as stellar as the wines chez Dagueneau as David Schhildknect says in Parker’s Wine Advocate “it’s simply a fact now that you have to make the same well-justified sacrifice to experience these wines that you would in order to put top-notch Burgundy on your table”. I have a magnum of Silex 2006 sitting on the dining table at home which is earmarked for consumption over the weekend, can’t wait!
You will find below further notes from Parker’s Wine Advocate and details of the wines on offer below that:
“Didier Dagueneau’s son Louis-Benjamin (whose name now appears on the label) is in charge of the domaine that his recently-deceased and much-lamented father brought to such notoriety. Benjamin Dagueneau – whose intense focus is obvious – has been working alongside his father for several years, and the crew here – one person each for the estate’s 11 hectares (27 acres) – are no doubt exceptionally capable of carrying on. The 2009 collection (whose Pouilly-Fumes weigh in between 13 and less than 14% alcohol) promises to be the best group of Sauvignons rendered in that year. ……All of the 2009s were still in barrel when I visited. The 2008s – harvested a mere two weeks after Didier Dagueneau’s death in a flying accident at age 52; and in bottle for only two months when I tasted them – are also superb as a group. The fermentative and elevage regiment here has for some time been entirely in larger barrels, in particular demi-muids and customized, 350-400-liter, cigar-shaped casks of Dagueneau design that maximizes lees contact. Fermentative temperature is controlled when necessary by inserting an exchanger. In view of how long Didier Dagueneau’s success had been recognized and how many ambitious Loire attempts at wooded Sauvignon prove inexpressive of their fruit and sites but depressingly similar to one another, one would think that the “methode Dagueneau” should be studied and adopted by at least a few other ambitious Loire growers, but it (sic) that’s happened, I have not tasted it! Incidentally, this is one domaine where (already high) prices have not remained static, so unfortunately it’s simply a fact now that you have to make the same well-justified sacrifice to experience these wines that you would in order to put top-notch Burgundy on your table.. (Incidentally, while this is the subject for another time, the nobly-concentrated Dagueneau Jurancons – of which I tasted a 2005 and 2004 – are magnificent, with superb detail, magical levity, as well as irresistibility rather than over-the-top sweetness. “The idea is to have a balance with high acidity, not a confiture,” remarks Benjamin Dagueneau. “Chateau d’Yquem is very good, but heavy. These wines aim at something a little more Germanic in style.” I was already grinning before he said this!)”
David Schildknecht - eRobert Parker.com #190 Aug 2010.
This offer is open from Thursday 10th May 2012. as these wines are in extremely short supply they are not available to purchase online, please contact us directly if you would like to purchase some of these fantastic wines.
Blanc Fumé de Pouilly, Didier Dagueneau 2009 - £175.00 per case (6x75) in bond Buy Now.
“There is as usual nothing mundane about the “basic” Dagueneau cuvee, the estate’s 2009 Blanc Fume de Pouilly. This is the sole cuvee at its address to blend across two soil types – Marne chalk and silex – as well as across several far-flung parcels, some of which were hailed on this year, and the parts had not yet been assembled for this 2009 when I tasted in June, so I offer only a composite impression. Smoky red currant, lime, and nettle display an aromatic pungency that coincides with a bright, energetic, silken-textured, very pure palate impression. White peach and wafting florality are conveyed by the (in this vintage, one-third) Marne chalk portion. The suffusion of chalk here is as usual impressive without in any way blocking the mouth-watering flow of fruit, and the same can be said as far as the influence of wood is concerned. This finishes with vibratory intensity and ringing clarity, as though it had been grown in a vintage from which nobody else in the region got to make wine. Expect it to be worth following for at least 6-8 years. Drink 2010-2018“ 91-92+ David Schildknecht (Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate)
12 cases available.
Pouilly Fumé Buisson Renard, Didier Dagueneau 2009 - £260.00 per case (6x75) in bond Buy Now.
“From a single parcel below the estate’s home base of Saint Andelain – deeper but still flint-strewn – the Dagueneau 2009 Blanc Fume de Pouilly Buisson Renard smells of peppermint and cassis, with nettle and huckleberry adding pungency and bitterness on the ample, lushly-textured palate. Kiwi, pineapple, and nectarine well-up to banish any thought that this might become austere, and lead to a lusciously juicy finish. This exceptional etude in fruit and herb sublimates any obvious sense of things mineral yet is nonetheless impressively complex. Drink “92-93+ David Schildknecht (Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate). Drink 2012-2020
1 case available.
Pouilly Fumé Pur Sang, Didier Dagueneau 2009 - £235.00 per case (6x75) in bond SOLD OUT
“Based primarily on fruit from a relatively clay-rich site in Saint Laurent, the Dagueneau 2009 Blanc Fume de Pouilly Pur Sang smells deliciously of elder flower white peach, and cassis. Vividly peachy and with rock-licking minerality, in the mouth this could be mistaken for a great Riesling. Nettle and grapefruit lend brightness in a long, luscious, vibrant finish that also incorporates rich, saline oyster liqueur and oyster meat-like elements. This is going to be both accessible and at the same time worthy of careful attention to its nuances over the coming decade or so. Drink 2010-2020 ”92-93+ David Schildknecht (Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate)
SOLD OUT
Pouilly Fumé Silex, Didier Dagueneau 2009 - £310.00 per case (6x75) in bond SOLD OUT
“From an enclave just outside the cuverie in Saint Andelain, the Dagueneau 2009 Blanc Fume de Pouilly Silex delivers an almost inordinate diversity of floral, herbal, citrus (predominately grapefruit), and pit-fruit (predominately nectarine) elements, with the bitterness of fruit pits, smoky pungency of red currant and crushed stone, as well as notes of shrimp shell reduction and iodine inflecting a long, bittersweet, yet at the same time vibrant, buoyant finish. This silken textured seducer should gain with time in bottle and be worth following for ten or a dozen years. Drink 2010-2022” 93-94+ David Schildknecht (Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate)
8 cases available.
As well as the world beating PouillyFumé’s Domaine Didier Dagueneau have a sister estate in Jurançon. This slightly less famous (but no less superb) estate produce world beating sweet wines from this classic region.
Jurançon Les Jardins de Babylone, Didier Dagueneau 2008 - £350.00 per case (6x50) in bond Buy Now.
SOLD OUT Drink 2012-2020+
These wines are due to be shipped imminently and we should have them available for immediate delivery. As ever these wines are in extremely short supply so please either contact us directly, or call the office on 020 7963 9060.
