Olivier et Lafond – Matt Walls Wine Blog

Olivier et Lafond

Matt — Sat, 29 Dec 2018 19:21:27 +0000

Full, sweetly fruited, rounded, more concentrated and generous than their standard Châteauneuf-du-Pape, with more length of fruit. Damson, touch of garrigue herbs and sage. Nice sense of purity and freshness. Tannins are soft, malleable, and just ample enough to bring freshness. Convincing.

Olivier et Lafond

Matt — Sat, 29 Dec 2018 09:58:25 +0000

A little Cinsault in the blend here too, all destemmed. Gentle, detailed berry fruits. Only medium-bodied, lovely sense of freshness, with a tight tannic frame and good sense of tension. Not terribly concentrated but well-handled for the vintage. Early drinking, with much pleasure. No overt oak – no oak apparent. Alcohol just a little raised, but very drinkable nonetheless.

Olivier et Lafond

Matt — Sat, 29 Dec 2018 09:53:14 +0000

A blend of 5 different varieties originating from 5 different terroirs and two different vintages, mostly very old vines. Deeply coloured. Deep black cherry scents, dense and fresh. Full-bodied, intense concentration and good freshness, tight tannins, well balanced. Good length of fruit, very black cherry on the palate too. Would put it in Lirac, or perhaps Vacqueyras – between the two in style, with a hint of Ventoux. Good structure.

Olivier et Lafond

Matt — Sat, 29 Dec 2018 09:48:16 +0000

Five-year-old negociant business, a partnership between two winemaking consultants. 100% Clairette. Pale in colour. Medium-bodied, good freshness and drinkability, a fine mineral seam and lifted finish. Touch of citrus pith and almond. Fairly long for a Ventoux. It’s fairly simple in fruit, but very well balanced and drinkable. A good rich aperitif option.

Olivier et Lafond

Matt — Sat, 29 Dec 2018 09:38:57 +0000

100% Old vine Clairette. Aromatically quite straightforward, with fresh floral notes and dried pear. Medium- to full-bodied, a pleasant gentle bitterness on the finish, good freshness and fruit and a fairly long finish. Broad but not gloopy, well balanced, fresh, good balancing acidity. No overt oak influence or unbalanced alcohol.

Olivier et Lafond

Matt — Sat, 22 Dec 2018 16:02:13 +0000

Five-year-old négociant business, a partnership between two winemaking consultants. Violets and plum fruit on the nose, good sense of ripeness, almost sweet core to the fruit. A little on the heady side, alcohol is a little high. Good, fairly straightforward style with discernible Gigondas character.

Olivier et Lafond

Matt — Sat, 22 Dec 2018 15:56:50 +0000

Five-year-old négociant business, a partnership between two winemaking consultants. Medium-bodied, with fairly intense acidity, well tapered, with warming alcohol on the finish. Fine, soft tannins – a little loose in structure. Good intensity, but a little heavy – alcohol a little too high for comfort. Elegant, but not the most complex.

Olivier et Lafond

Matt — Sat, 22 Dec 2018 15:52:58 +0000

Five-year-old négociant business, a partnership between two winemaking consultants. Victoria plum with some darker, brambly fruit. Medium-bodied, pretty powerful acidity and tight tannins – a structured Côtes-du-Rhône with warming alcohol on the finish. Good breadth of juicy, ripe fruit on the mid-palate. Good concentration.

Olivier et Lafond

Matt — Sat, 22 Dec 2018 15:32:06 +0000

Five-year-old negociant business, a partnership between two winemaking consultants. Good freshness on the nose. Straighter on the palate than the 2017, not so broad. Keener, more focused. Similar phenolic style, still generous, just neater. Deliciously textural, food-friendly style of Côtes-du-Rhône Blanc.

Olivier et Lafond

Matt — Sat, 22 Dec 2018 15:25:38 +0000

Five-year-old negociant business, a partnership between two winemaking consultants. Pale in colour. Very much pear in aroma, touch of pear drop, fairly straightforward nose. Fairly full-bodied, broad and flowing, with adequate acidity and a phenolic aspect. Dry, voluptuous on the mid-palate, really came into its own with food. Nicely done – good concentration, slightly warming alcohol. Fairly long, quite textural style – soft and silky.