The domaine has been winemakers for six generations in the Pouilly-sur-Loire. Today they have 10 hectares of Pouilly-fume, 0,3 hectares of Pouilly-sur-Loire and 5 hectares in Sancerre. Since the 1980s the estate has been run by Annick Tinel-Blondelet. Her wines in Pouilly-fume are divided by soil-type. Those soils that contain kimmeridgian marl go into the Cuvee l’Arret Buffatte, while the vines grown on limestone go into the Genetin. There is also a Cuvee Quercus from 40 years old vines grown on kimmeridgian marl where one third of the grapes spend time in wood. The two first cuvees only spend time in stainless steel tanks. We only tasted Pouillys this day, but Domaine Tinel-Blondelet also makes white, rose and red Sancerre from the village of Thauvenay south-east in the AOC-zone. These vines grow on a mixture of limestone and flint.
The wines seem fairly traditionally made to me. In the vineyards the vines are planted with a density of 6600 vines per hectare with the Guyot-technique. In recent year they have started using organic manure to avoid chemicals. In the cellar they use pneumatic presses, 24-48 hours of cold-stabilisation to clarifiy the juice before fermentation and has what they describe as a long temperature-controlled fermentation. The wine matures on the lees with late racking.
In Norway the wines of Domaine Tinel-Blondelet are imported by Strøm AS. As of today the only wine available at Vinmonopolet is the Pouilly-fume l’Arret Buffatte 2007 (#50879, Kr.174,90).
Tasting notes
Pouilly-sur-Loire 2009
This is their Chasselas from 0,3 hectares. This wine had a straw colour. The nose is a bit earthy and unfocused. Some minerality there. Medium to well-bodied Chasselas in the mouth with a light sur lie-character.Quite neutral style as normal is for this grape. But also some earthy elements that seem unclear to me. Medium acidity and length. Not completely well-made Pouilly-sur-Loire and far from the quality of Serge Dagueneau.
Pouilly-fume Genetin 2010
From limestone-soil. Straw colour. Typical and lightly aromatic sauvignon blanc on the nose. Nettle, gooseberries, some chalky minerality. Acidic and refreshing style in the mouth. Clear fruit. Simple and lightly aromatic with a typical mineral background. Fine acidity and good length. Nice easy-going style.
Pouilly-fume l’Arret Buffatte 2010
More minerality on the nose here. Still young and aromatic sauvignon blanc-notes dominating. Medium bodied in the mouth. Refreshing and crisp Pouilly-fume with medium concentration. Clear fruit, again quite aromatic. Young and simple. But this shows more minerality. Good acidity and length. Still an easy-going style.
Pouilly-fume Genetin 2009
More ripeness on the nose here. Still it is the aromatic vegetal side of sauvignon blanc that is in front. Some minerality. Quite open nose. More power in the mouth. A little creamy feeling with more fatness. Typical hints of vegetables, gooseberries. Some minerality. More evolved than the 2010 and this shows more of its fruit. Yet it remains quite simple. Medium acids, good length. This is drinking better than the 2010 right now. Fair quality.
Pouilly-fume l’Arret Buffatte 2009
Straw colour. The nose is more intense here. More minerality in front with some of the vegetable character of the grape present. Powerful in the mouth. Also this quite creamy for a Pouilly-fume. Lots of concentration. Fine minerality and this shows some depth. The acidity is finer here and this shows some elegance for a '09. Good length. Good Pouilly-fume and the best wine of the tasting.
Pouilly-fume l’Arret Buffatte 1996
Yellow colour. This shows rather unfresh on the nose. Oxidation, earthy old fruit. Some yellow fruits, vegetal aromas and a hint of sur lie-aging. Fullbodied and earthy in the mouth. Some boiled vegetables, some oxidation. Unfresh style and over the top. Fine acidity, good length. This is too old for this wine. Interesting for what it was.
The star of the Domaine Tinel-Blondelet was indeed the l'Arret Buffatte. With the 2009-vintage it shows that when it blossoms it is a good wine with some interesting notes. The rest of the wines were rather standard and did not manage to rise above and average level of quality.
Arnt Egil Nordlien
Tasting note: Sep-11
The Domaine Tinel-Blondelet in Pouilly-sur-Loire.
Annick Tinel-Blondelet has run the domaine since the 80's.
Vines above Pouilly-sur-Loire.