2014 Domaine Didier Dagueneau, Blanc Fume de Pouilly, Loire Valley, France.
Louis-Benjamin’s wines are living up to the legend of his dad, in fact these 2014’s are without a doubt equal to any young Dagueneau that I’ve tasted in the last 15 vintages, and while I have a particular fondness for Pur Sang, this Blanc Fume de Pouilly is a really impressive Sauvignon Blanc. Stunning purity and full of mineral the 2014 Dagueneau Blanc Fume de Pouilly (Pouilly-Fume) has a sublime earthy core with layers of lemon/lime, white peach, dried mango and green melon along with wet stones, chalk and brine. This vivid and gripping white fills out on the palate with lees notes and textural feel, but still dynamic, vibrant and vigorous, this is a masterclass in Sauvignon Blanc. As with all Dagueneau, the best is yet to come, another 5 to 7 years should produce even better things here, though I must say Louis-Benjamin has crafted this Blanc fume de Pouilly in such a way that it shows it’s elegance and intrigue even now, it’s lovely in it’s charm and fresh detail, where you most certainly would not want to open Pur Sang or Silex for 5 to 10 years, this one can be really enjoyed in it’s youth. The 2014’s are classic Dagueneau with a subtle character and an almost dreamy nature to them, they are hard to resist, they are great reminders too, that there is great Sauvignon Blanc out there, least we forget.
($76 Est.) 93 Points, grapelive
