Tasted in Denicé with Jean-Frédéric Sambardier, making coffee, 08 February 2018.
Manoir du Carra Sambardier
Le Carra
69640 Denicé
Tel: +33 4 74 67 38 24
www.manoir-du-carra.com
Jean-Frédéric on 2017:
“2017 was a hard vintage because we had two big hail-storms in Fleurie and Moulin à Vent which cost us 80% of the production in those appellations. Elsewhere we had very nice result in terms quality and quantity though. Our harvest began at the end of August – we started on the 27th in white but for those it was only half a harvest there due to the dryness – it was really too hot to harvest in the afternoon – but fortunately at the start of September came some rain so we waited a couple more days for the reds, though some early ripening places were ready too soon for the rain. It looks like a nice vintage with good concentration, supple – maybe more like 2009 than 2015. We will see…”
Jean-Frédéric on 2016:
“2016 brought us more acidity and freshness. Maybe we are guilty of judging too early because the wines have evolved really well – it’s not 2015 in terms of concentration, but it is very Beaujolais. We had to wait late – we didn’t finish harvesting until well into October. Fleurie and Moulin à Vent were hailed again – 10 hl/ha – but for the domaine as a whole we made an okay yield.”
The wines…
Another good result for this producer – the Juliénas is worth a search.
2016 Beaujolais Blanc
Tank elevage, bottled in March, Denicé and Montblain for the grapes – both argillo-calcaire.
A little green citrus and floral. Good volume – a little fat but at the same time it has minerality and a little rigour. Refreshing and with salinity in the finish – quite a complex wine.
2016 Beaujolais Villages Cuvée non-filtre
Two bottlings usually for this.
Relatively modest colour. A little toasty reduction. In the mouth too – but there’s a nice line and shape to this wine. The texture is good and the flavour is slowly melting over the palate. Faintly saline finishing. This is super.
2016 Brouilly Terre de Combaty
From the south of the appellation, plain south-facing vines.
More colour. The nose also a little tight but with super depth of red berry aroma. Open, layered, red berry flavour too. A little structure but easy and wide flavour over the palate. Holding long. Very tasty! Wait six months – you probably don’t need more!
‘A terroir that can be slightly sauvage but after 5 plus years its sumptuous…’ Also a tank sample, this one to be bottled in March.
A nice volume of aroma here – a little complexity that hints of gas – yes there’s just a little but this is wide and has lovely intensity – this has really great potential – depth and complexity – already delicious wine.
2016 Moulin à Vent
Bottled in August, nearly 70% less. A small part of elevage in barrel.
More depth again with a super inviting combination of higher and lower toned notes. Freshness, followed by a growing weight of flavour in the middle. Really holding well, edged with a halo of fine tannin. Slowly fading in the finish. Good wine, but I’ve a preference for the Julienas this year!