WINES FROM CHATEAU D'EPIRE

ABOUT CHATEAU D'EPIRE
The vineyards surrounding Château d'Epiré were established in the Middle Ages. The Domaine was founded by the Bizard family in the 17th century and has never changed hands. The winery’s cellar is located in a 12th century building which was originally the village church.

"Located in the center of the town of Savennières, the Château d'Epiré is a beautiful manor house resembling Versailles' Petit Trianon. More importantly some of this area's finest Savennières are produced at d'Epiré. I have followed this estate for some time, and feel they have increased the quality of their wines over the last few years.

The Château d'Epiré filters all of its wines except those sold to Kermit Lynch. Why? Sadly, the majority of European consumers and sommeliers are willing to forsake body and taste for perfect stability and sediment-free wines. The estate produces three cuvées each year: Lynch’s bottling, a Cuvée Spéciale, and the regular cuvée. Based on my tastings of each over three different vintages, there is a two-point difference between the normal cuvées and the Cuvée Spéciale and another two-point difference between it and Lynch’s unfiltered cuvée.

Revealing a pale, almost clear color and minerally, floral aromatics intertwined with notes of almonds and hazelnuts, the 1995 Savennières (Lynch Bottling) is a medium-to-full-bodied, rich and silky-textured wine with intense flavors of minerals, stones and touches of anise. Beautifully balanced and long in the finish, this is a super Savennières. Anticipated maturity: Now-2010+. Château d'Epiré's 1996 Savennières is the finest dry wine I’ve tasted from this estate. An extremely expressive and lively nose of flowers, slate and minerals is followed by a deep, intense, medium-to-full-bodied personality. This wine’s powerful and mouth-coating liquid mineral flavors are followed by notes of almonds, chamomile and lemon zests in its exceptionally long finish. My experience with Savennières suggests that it will be at its best for about three years (2000) and then shut down for 6 or more years and reveal all its splendor between 2006 and 2014."

    - The Wine Advocate



"So there I am with these two absolutely fabulous wines in front of me. I’m supposed to say no thanks, my customers would be confused if I bought two cuvées? There are no better white wine deals out there on the planet. So, I didn’t hesitate. The Cuvée Spéciale is what it usually is, their best parcel, old vines next to the Coulée de Serrant, fermented and raised in demi-muids, and bottled unfiltered. All for us! It is intense with a strong gout de terroir to go with the fruit. It is powerful, coiled like a spring, needs some time, and can age well into the next century. Then I bought a cuvée which will wear the same d'Epiré label, except it won’t say 'Cuvée Spéciale'. It is a blend of demi-muid and stainless. This is more accessible, enjoyable now, pretty with hints of spice and pear and, for lack of a better word, ‘exotic’ fruits. It is deep, rich, dry and delicious. Every client who has a cellar and a palate should get some 1997 d'Epiré into it."

    - Kermit Lynch



Website: http://www.chateau-epire.com/?lang=en