Tasted in Courgis with Thomas Pico, 07 April 2022.
Domaine Pattes Loups
Grande rue Nicolas Droin
89800 Courgis
Tel: +33 3 86 41 46 38
www.pattes-loup.com
More reports with Domaine Pattes Loups
Because of Thomas’s much longer elevage, we initially tasted a vintage one-year-older than the majority of other domaines, now it’s more like two! Actually, we will only taste one from 2019 today the rest from 2018. Given the style of the vintage, Thomas is even asking himself the question “Should I bottle my 2021s before my 2020s? I just went through over 40 separate samples of my 20s and I’m very happy – they are tending to reduction a little now – but I’m happy. For now, I think they lack some emotion – so I’m waiting for that.”
Watch this space!
The domaine has been practising organic viticulture for 20 years and now is Demeter certified.
Thomas on this year’s frost:
“Monday morning saw -6.5°C. Lots of my colleagues here think they could have lost 60% – I’m not at that level – it’s early to judge and it’s certainly better than last year but it’s not great.”
Thomas on 2018:
We had a magnificent year – very good in volume – like I’ve never seen. We started our harvest the 4 September, finishing about the 25-26 September – 3 weeks of harvesting – I’ve never seen that either! Clearly very ripe grapes too – the wines partly remind me of those in 2015 – and they were not the easiest to ferment – it’s a rich vintage. We have some VCI – I’ve never had that before either. It’s a dream after the yields of 2016 and 2017. I find a lot more balance in the wines after the extra elevage – some are botted but not all yet. What are currently commercial are the following:
The wines…
“if Thomas can do this with 18s and 19s – just wait for his 20s.” Bravo!
We start with the newly bottled wines:
Hmm that’s direct, fine fruited – what an invitation. Wide, vibrant – almost as incisive as the 20s but with a little extra ripeness to the fruit. Just in bottle a month – that’s a simply great 2019 villages!
2018 Chablis 1er Beauregard
Also not long in bottle. 1.7 hectares – ‘Sol magnifique’ – but it needs harvesting later.
A wider nose – a different vibration – more golden fruit – a hint of the Chateau Beru in this aroma. Deep, silken, golden fruit again – not oxidized but a nod in that direction. Really vibrant finishing – ooh that’s so good.
Actually, not all is yet bottled, just a part.
Hmm- that’s airy and spiced – no comparison to other domaines with this. Wide, vibrant, intense – if Thomas can do this with 18s and 19s – just wait for his 20s. Ultra-vibrant with long finishing waves of flavour. Great wine
Less volume of aroma but more fresh width to that aroma. A touch of tannin to the texture, growing in a more structural shape. That’s another super finish – almost sparkling with complexity – the Chablis a little more impact, here with a little more complexity. Super-long again – another bravo 2018!