1968 Coteaux du Layon

The people at Moulin Touchais call 1968 a 'petit millésime' i.e. it was cool and wet so not particularly conducive to quality. The vintage was first released in 2018, 50 years after its maker, Joseph Touchais, decided to bottle a small amount for the hell of it in some pre-loved bottles - it's now a lottery what bottle you receive your 1968 cuvée - there were five different styles used!!! It's an amber-hued wine that has now taken on the oxidative nose of an Amontillado; the 1970 looks far fresher. That said, if you like Amontillado aromas (which I do) then you'll find the nose of this 1968 rather attractive with its olive, dried apricot and briney characters, toffee and walnut. There's plenty of welcoming sweetness (60g/L) here and the cool season has imbued it with freshness on the almost malty finish. Intriguing, appetizing although you do have to like oxidative characters. Long, long length.