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Philippe Delesvaux

Philippe Delesvaux came to the Loire through his agricultural studies. A Parisian by birth, he did not come from a family with a history of viticulture. During his time in the Loire, when he gained experience on an Anjou farm managing cereal crops and raising livestock, he was exposed to the vine. And it clearly had a major effect on him. By 1983 he had purchased some vineyards and began to produce his first vintage in a shed. It only took a few years before he was turning out benchmark wines comparable to the very best of the appellation.

His greatest wines are the Selection de Grains Nobles, made from carefully selected nobly rotten grapes. There are also two super cuvées, Carbonifera and Anthologie. The Clos du Pavillon and La Moque are both sourced from vineyard plots in St Aubin. Clos du Pavillon is a more masculine, full-bodied wine reflecting its volcanic terroir, whereas La Moque is a more delicate, racy affair. (5/8/04)

Contact details:
Address: Les Essarts, La Haie Longue, 49190 St-Aubin de Luigne
Telephone: +33 (0) 2 41 78 18 71
Fax: +33 (0) 2 41 78 68 06

Philippe Delesvaux - Tasting Notes

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1998

Philippe Delesvaux Coteaux du Layon St Aubin Clos du Papillon 1998: My final bottle of this wine, sadly. It remains a deep, burnished orange-gold hue. The nose is so characteristic of this wine, again showing intense minerals, with a rocky-stony character, and plenty of botrytis giving a caramel-quince streak. The palate is undeniably rich, again full of botrytis, with a creamy-oily texture, fabulously hedonistic, low in acidity, yet focussed and stylish. With a long, fading finish, this is really excellent. A Christmas Wine. 17.5/20 (December 2006)

Philippe Delesvaux Coteaux du Layon St Aubin Clos du Papillon 1998: Rich, burnished orange-gold. Lovely nose, heady and aromatic, with plenty of rich orange and quince character, with a firm volcanic mineral streak as well. Rich yet balanced, with an appealingly, slightly bitter structure. Absolutely packed with mineral influences, smoke and gunpowder. Superb wine for what is essentially a lesser vintage. Good length. From a Loire Extravaganza tasting. 17.5+/20 (July 2005)

Philippe Delesvaux Coteaux du Layon St Aubin Clos du Pavillon 1998: Harvested at 20 degrees potential alcohol. The Clos du Pavillon is normally the source of fruit for Delesvaux's super Carbonifera cuvée. A deep, rich, golden hue. The nose is fat and loaded with minerals, botrytis, smoke and cordite, offset by notes of flower-petals. The volcanic soils shine through. Balanced palate, combining delicacy and poise, and a superbly fresh acidity, with a full and rich texture and a slightly grippy structure. Notes of quinine, alongside prolific mineral and gunpowder flavours. Delicious stuff. 17.5+/20 (June 2004)

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