Vieilles Vignes Part 2: The Wines

These 2 examples of "old vine" wines embody the descriptives in my previous post:

2008 Gerard Tremblay Chablis Vieilles Vignes
Medium gold. Fragrant lemon/lime scent, with "wet limestones" (mineral presence) with a smoky element.Deep, vibrant fruit profile (with some pineapple and other tropical fruits) intermingled with complex mineral flavors. Long finish (especially for a young white wine).

2009 Domaine Mardon Quincy Tres Vieilles Vignes

Pale gold. Lemon peel/rind, fresh cut grass notes (typical of the Sauvignon Blanc grape). Round but balanced , with robust flavors- grapefruit, parsley, and a mineral chalk component. Good acidity. A hint of lime as well. The mineral sensation lingers in the corners of the mouth. Also a slate and limestone nuance. A slightly oily (viscous) mouthfeel. A moderate to long finish.

So based on the"Vieilles Vignes Theory", these 2 young wines had the complexity and depth that come about from the older vines and everything they contributed to each of the 2 varietals.

A Tale Of "Vieilles Vignes" (Old Vines)_Part 1 Of...

So if you have not heard of this term (or even if you have), I will break it down for you:

"Vieilles Vignes" (France) literally means- Old Vines. Now here is where the fun begins:

First of all, why would old vines even be indicated on a wine label? Well in principle, older vines tend to yield more concentrated grape bunches, with less berries and less water content per berry at the end of the growing season. And furthermore, older vines have longer roots which have burrowed further down in the soil to obtain nourishment and have even reached into the sub-soil of each particular vineyard. In theory, this would seem to signify that the grapes are being nourished by water that has been exposed to all content that exists in that particular vineyard's geological sub-soil makeup.

So this would typically indicate that wines produced with the specific "VV" designation would exhibit:

- more distinct, concentrated flavors than their "non VV" bottles

- a more complex flavor profile with nuances of the sub-soil content of each particular vineyard...

More to follow... with 2 examples...