Général de la Révolution, Blanc VdF 2019

André Domine, 20.12.20

The second white top cuvée is also based on Vermentinu, but this time united with Rossola Brandica, Riminese, Carcaghjolu Biancu, Biancone and Paga Debbiti. Production 4000 bottles. It is vinified in the same way as Diplomate, yet shows itself to be completely different. "The character of the Général is really full of tension and minerality, with great length on the palate," explains Jean-Charles. "When you drink the Général young, it's a bit discreet, like a General it won't reveal itself immediately. In contrast, it gains in magnitude with age, while retaining tension and minerality." Then it shows a variety of aromas dominated by the herbs of the maquis and citrus fruits, has an extraordinarily stimulating effect and finishes very long with mouth-watering saltiness.

Bright straw yellow, light and green reflections

One notices immediately that a giant is slumbering in the glass. The aromas are still quite packed and restrained. But their outwardly radiating energy is already quite unique. Kaffir lime leaves, salt lemons, grapefruit and mandarin dare to start. A hint of lemon balm follows the citrus fruits alongside parsley. Delicately, a hint of wet chalk and flint can be detected. Thyme, rosemary and sage are much more dominant, even if they are not yet fully exploited. Maritime, iodine impressions can only be guessed at in this youth.

On the palate, it is already clearly more present. It works the palate with a lot of pressure and thrust. Wet stones, a lot of minerality and dark moments characterise it. The fruit hardly comes to the fore and plays more between sour and bitter with only delicate hints of sweet fruit. This is wonderfully animating. Especially the associations with salt lemons cannot be dismissed. For all the intensity of the subtle aromas, it nevertheless creates clarity on the palate. Its precision is astonishingly good and this creates plenty of space for itself on the palate. The interplay on bitters with fine acidity and salty, mineral attributes is very good. In the finish, delicate dried herbs appear alongside some bergamot and bitter oranges.

The giant will wake up. It is only a matter of time.