Mesmerizing Mott's Applesauce on the nose + a runaway palate = this torrontes-like Chablis

Varietal: Chardonnay 

Geographical indication: France, Burgundy, Chablis 
Vintage: 2008
Producer: Domaine Desvignes 

Alcohol: 12.5% 
Tasted at: Irving Vintage Wine Tasting (Groupon) 
Date tasted: 05/24/2010 
Price: ~$15

- Appearance is defined by absolute clarity and lemon color of medium intensity.
- There is a medium intensity in the clean nose of this still developing wine. Aromas are wide-ranging but almost all very subtle. Terroir, minerality and flintiness  first take the stage. They are followed by unripe peaches and green apples. Somewhere in the mix a hint of marmalade comes through, which speaks to the ripeness of the grapes. All aromas aside, however, the most distinctive smell, as well as what really characterizes this Chablis, is an unsweetened and uncinnamoned Mott's Applesauce. Once you think of it you cannot but visualize putting your nose into a freshly opened jar instead of an ISO standard wineglass.
- Its off-dryness, its medium minus alcohol, and the medium plus acidity create a feel of a medium plus body on the palate. As the medium flavor intensity of lemon, apple and stone fruits wears off the acidity lingers. Moreover, on swallowing there is a certain kick in the aftertaste that if not pleasant, is at least attention-grabbing. Length is at medium minus. As much as the palate tries to detect it doesn't compare to the novelties and subtleties that the nose captures. The overlap between nose and palate is direct but brute. The smell entices you to drink the wine, but drinking the wine adds nothing to the experience. In that respect it reminds me of a generic torrontes.
- To conclude: it is ready to drink, but it might develop further, although I highly doubt it; all objectionable plonk aside, and given that there is nothing worse than a nose that doesn't support the palate, I deem the quality to be at good minus. The acidity screams of mussels and oysters.