The 1991 white Crozes-Hermitage-Les Meysonnieres offers up a more honeyed, pear-like nose, and is made in a chunkier, more fruity and obvious style, without the underlying mineral component possessed by the St.-Joseph. Although fuller and slightly more ostentatious, it offers more power rather than finesse.
The young Michel Chapoutier continues his quest of cultivating his vineyards in an organic fashion, and turning out wines that reflect the soil, the grape, and the vintage. These concentrated (because of low yields) wines are made with minimal intervention by the winemaker. Chapoutier did extremely well with his northern Rhone vineyards in 1991. In some of the less renowned appellations, Chapoutier continues to make stylish, classy white wines.
Importer: Paterno Imports, Chicago, IL.