Seibel 54-55

 

Back in October 2019, we bought this bottle from Herve Lethielleux at Caves L'Etiquette in Paris. At the time we wrote:

"The wine Herve was itching to show us was this Pet Nat made from an obscure hybrid called '54-55'. This in fact a Seibel hybrid more commonly known as Plantet. It was one of the new resistant varieties widely planted in the wake of Phylloxera. Most common in the Loire it was authorised in every departement. Now down to 1,105 ha. from 27,900. It tastes of rasperries and something odd apparently. It is at this juncture that we realise we now care less whether a wine is good than if it is interesting. Oh dear."

 Well, although Herve had given us no choice we were glad he had foisted this on us because it is utterly gorgeous. 'Wine Grapes' says Plantet is a "Hybrid once popular in the Loire, now producing slightly odd. raspberry-flavoured wines." 

We didn't get any oddness, just the juicy raspberryness. Compared to a lot of hybrids, this is a good one. Quite a surprise really and no need to apologise in advance as we felt we needed to at the time.