Wine tasting at Les Caves

Friday night and it was down to Les Caves de Pyrene for a wine tasting. They were presenting a series of 'Old Vine' wines and we were interested to find how these 50+ year old wines tasted.There were six whites, six reds and two so called sparkling, which were in fact a cider and a perry from Normandy.
On the whole we felt the old vines did not live up to their billing and in the end we couldn't even manage 12 bottles between the three couples, so nothing was bought in the end, but a couple did seem worth a mention.
A and I were interested in the Loire wines on offer because of our trip there this coming summer. The first was a 40-65 year old Muscadet, Clos des Allées 2009 at £8.59. Its nose was of fennel or licquorice, but it was a little bland tasting. The other Loire wine from Touraine region was 150 year old, pre-phylloxera, Provignage 2008 at £35.05. This was very flowery - someone mentioned elderflower cordial, but also quite acidic, On the whole, the general opinion 'was not worth the money'!
But there was a interesting white Pacherenc, Vielles Vignes 2009, £10.10, which A described as almost like calvados. We decided it would make a pleasant aperitif, but when you need to buy 12 bottles, we'd be drinking it for ever!
Moving on to the reds, we started with the Minervois La Nine 2008. The forst glass I had was so full of sedement - and only two thirds of the bottle was gone, that we asked for another glass. The new bottle was clearer, but, wow, there was an almost overwhelming aroma of rotten eggs. Its strong flavour of spice and dark fruits would make it a good match for curry, perhaps, but you need to get passed the nose, first! A Pinot Noir, (Côte Chalonnaise), a Marcillac and a VdPde l'Ardèche passed will little comment, then we tasted a Brouilly, Croix des Rameaux 2009,£16.96, which improved as it breathed a little. The last red was a 90 year old Syrah, Domaine Balthazar, Chaillot 2008 £22.31, which was pleasant with cherry and dark fruit flavours,and also 'chewy'.
Lastly came the cider and the perry. The Chateau de Hauteville, Normandie, was a jolly dry cider - just 3% and £5.83, from over 80 year old apple trees that they recommended with Breton galettes or crêpes.The Chateau de Hauteville, Normandie, Poiré Granit 2009, £12.64, comes from 300 year old pear trees. A much sweeter sparkler than the cider, this was recommended with pan fried scallops or even with goat's cheese.

Les Caves de Pyrene