2017 L'Etoile Savagnin

The 2017 L'Etoile Savagnin is muted and not very expressive when poured from the bottle. It was produced with grapes from two plots on gray and blue marl soils, and it fermented in stainless steel and aged in 228-liter oak barrels that were initially full but never topped up. The effect of the flor is, however, quite mild this year; it's smoky more than spicy and has an ashy touch. The palate feels more expressive and pungent, dry and balanced but without the clout and complexity of the great vintages.