Jean-Max Roger,Vieilles Vignes 2015 – Sancerre

The wine has a pale ruby color, with slight garnet reflections. The nose is reserved at first and requires aeration. It then expresses subtle chocolate notes (chocolate morello cherry, chocolate prunes, dark chocolate with mint), associated with a ripe and gourmet fruity material (morello cherry, blackcurrant, red cherry, crushed raspberry, blackberry, damson plum), as well as refreshing herbaceous scents (dried mint, dried blackcurrant leaf, a hint of dried sage and tobacco), an airy floral bouquet (cornflower, violet, dried rose), as well as a hint of smoke, toast in the background, sweet spices (liquorice, dried vanilla, nutmeg), racy minerality (limestone, dry stone). The palate is lively, tangy and juicy. The attack expresses chiseled notes of red cherry, cranberries, bird cherry, crushed raspberry, then complemented by touches of blackcurrant, morello cherry and blueberry. In the mid-palate, we find the herbaceous notes of blackcurrant leaves, sage, as well as sweet spices (liquorice, crushed coriander seeds, nutmeg), tobacco, wet leaves and dried rose. The finish is persistent, tasty, sapid and chocolatey. It expresses the tangy notes of cocoa nibs, mint chocolate and bitter cocoa in the background. The tannins are polished, fine, but solid. Beautiful salivating acidity.