Reviews

Chêne Bleu Abélard, AOC Ventoux – 2012 – Jancis Robinson – 17.5 Points
17.5 points

As dark at the core as the Héloïse 2012 but with more brick in the colour and at the rim. A little more smudgy. This seems sweeter fruited and a little further down the path of tertiary aromas, though I still find a hint of wild scrub and lavender that is clearly more vineyard than grape variety. The fruit sweetness – including some dried red fruits – is more penetrating on the nose compared with the Héloïse, the developed character is more leathery than black olive, with just a hint of mocha. On the palate, the tannins are more chewy than those in the Héloïse 2012, a little less refined, more chocolate-textured, but equally resolved and melted into the fruit. Not as obviously cool but all in balance with a different kind of freshness from the Syrah-dominant wine. This is perhaps more sweetly hedonistic, succulent, in its seduction if a touch less elegant. Long, leathery-sweet-fruit aftertaste.

Jenae Brobst, June 2, 2020
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Chêne Bleu Abélard, AOC Ventoux – 2012 – Jancis Robinson – 17.5 Points