So dinner was pasta with a Pierre Franey recipe for bay scallops in cream sauce, with a broccoli rabe/pea side and the 2002 Closel "Clos du Papillon" Savennieres. There has been some recent buzz about the '02 Closels going off a cliff. This has a worrisome deep gold color as it poured, and I am concerned that I get some apple peel notes that might be the harbinger of imminent oxidation. But those notes seem to fade over dinner. There's a lot of a wooly Chenin note, rich deep pit fruit and citrus, a honied edge to the finish though it seems dry. Not going over a cliff, but seems mature. But I revisit towards the end of the NCAA championship game (not much of a game, but as a UNC grad I enjoy the blowout!). Whoa, very impressive. If anything fruit seems younger, there's a deeper mineral edge, finish is long and lively. I was going to say B+/B drink now, but that last glass makes me think I can leave my other two for a bit, I'd give final glass A-
Grade disclaimer: I'm a very easy grader, basically A is an excellent wine, B a good wine, C mediocre. Anything below C means I wouldn't drink at a party where it was only choice. Furthermore, I offer no promises of objectivity, accuracy, and certainly not of consistency.
