Producer note: The fervent biodynamist Jean-Louis Trapet calls 2014 a "vintage that started early but turned out to have an average harvest date due to a poor summer that was responsible for dramatically slowing maturities. We chose to begin picking on the 18th of September and brought in very clean fruit that required relatively little sorting. We had zero trouble with the Suzukii flies except for one parcel that is located next to a bunch of fruit trees and there is was necessary to be very careful. There was quite a high incidence of shot berries and I used between 30 and 65% whole clusters for the vinifications. As to the wines I like them quite a bit because they're super fresh and transparent with good concentration and structure that should enable them to drink well both young and old." Trapet notes that his 2013s, revisited below, were bottled in March 2015. (Polaner Selections, www.polanerselections.com, Mt. Kisco, NY and Classic Wine Imports, Boston, MA; Berry Brothers & Rudd, www.bbr.com, Corney & Barrow, www.corneyandbarrow.com and Champagnes et Châteaux, www.champagnesandchateaux.co.uk, all UK).
Tasting note: Here too there is a discreet application of wood framing the overtly floral aromas that include both lavender and rose along with notes of earth and freshly crushed red berries. The beautifully sleek and intense middle weight flavors exhibit an appealing hint of minerality on the refined, balanced and dusty finish. Lovely and understated.
