Exploring The Forgotten Side Of Bordeaux - Chapter VIII

Time for a mini vertical of Château La Louvière. La Louvière is part of the André Lurton empire. He bought La Louvière in 1965 and have made great efforts to restore both the vineyards as to the château itself. The name comes from the wolfes (louves) that rummaged the local forest and made the region a favourite hunting place for the medieval society.

The 1983 below was the last vintage that was fermented and stored in tanks and cemet vats. From the 1984 vintage barriques was used, at first with 100% new oak, and by now it has been scaled down to ca 45%.
The cepages is now 90% Sauvignon Blanc and 10% Semillon, but reading David Peppercorn´s Bordeaux from 1991 it is obviously that the Semillon part was higher during the 80´s. Funny enough he lists the vintages of "real quality" to be all vintages between 1981 and 1986 (the last vintage even "exceptional", glad I have one...), except the 1983. Interesting, since I found it to be a really good wine, see below.

I have liked the wines from this estate, the relatively few times I have tasted it. I have old notes from the 1995 (90p), 1996 (89p) and 2000 (90p) and here is a recent note of the 2008.

1983 Château La Louvière
A beautiful mature, deep, warm nose with notes of candied lemons, warm grass, lanolin and some moisturizer. Very good. There is an ever so slight scent of botrytis. A very fine dried up sweetness. Lovely.
The taste is warm, spicy and mature with notes of tangerines, lanolin, dried apricots and rubber. A fine acidity. Long. This has matured into a fine bottle of white Bordeaux.
91p   (tasted 2015/07)

1990 Château La Louvière
There is some maturity here as well, but the fruit is fresher and more vibrant than the 83. Fine notes of sweet lime, paint, coconut flakes and thai basil, Complex and fine. A very spicy nose. Very, very good.
The taste is big and intense with notes of candied lemons, rubber, stale nuts and warm grass. A long, creamy finish with a fine acidity. This is on top of its game. A different creature than its 7 year older sibling, but as good.
91p   (tasted 2015/07)

1998 Château La Louvière
Unfortunately, this turned out to be the ugly duckling in the line up. The nose is subdued and earthy with notes of dried fruit, some fur and a moist wall-to-wall carpet.
The taste is big and steady with notes of candied tropical fruit, soap, glue and moist earth. Very dense. I´m sceptic that this duckling will transform inte a beautiful swan with age, but since I have one more bottle I will wait 10+ years and see.
78p   (tasted 2015/07)