By billn on April 9, 2012
2006 Mischief and Mayhem, Puligny-Montrachet Golden colour. The nose has more than a little butterscotch and a core of floral aromas – eventually an appealing, if slightly disconcerting balsamic note that reminds me more of a red wine. The has a whack of quite powerful flavour, waxy silkiness and sufficient (plenty in a 2006 context) acidity for good balance. The finishing flavour is long with a hint of mineral, but also a trace of oxidation. Fully enjoyed, that oxidative note certainly not spoiling things but it would remind me to finish these up and replace with a younger vintage. Rebuy – No
Posted in Degustation, Rebuy - No |
By billn on April 7, 2012
I’ve got 2006 to 2009 of this wine, and those bottles have shown both concentration and a very similar family resemblance. This 2010, by comparison, is rather blowsy and hardly shows that resemblance today – it remains a good value wine for the cost ex-domaine, but versus what I’ve experienced in recent vintages, this is (today, at least) a relative disappointment. It remains not that much more expensive than sought-after bourgognes so shows value for all that. 2010 Gilles Bouton, Blagny 1er Sous le Puits Rather paler colour than previous vintages. The aroma is rather faint but with a warm, slightly dark sweetness. Some silkiness and a decent balance of acidity. The flavour is rather understated, and far from unpleasant – what’s missing is a [....]
Posted in Degustation, Rebuy - Maybe |
By billn on April 1, 2012
I know it’s April the 1st and here’s a post on Cremant, but don’t conflate the two! The BIVB have been telling me for a while now ‘you know that Cremant is now 13% of Burgundy production, don’t you(?)‘ but for a number of reasons I’ve resisted their entreaties to get my pen out; not least lack of experience but more generally because I see Cremant as ‘different’ to the rest of Burgundy – amongst other things, it’s made on a more industrial scale – not exactly the small domaine principle. There are a handful of Burgundians hand-producing Cremant but they are but specks when compared to the volume of producers like Kritter, Veuve Ambal and Louis Bouillot. Many producers in Champagne are now choosing [....]
Posted in Degustation, Rebuy - Maybe |
By billn on March 31, 2012
Given the long run of Alex’s 2007 and 2008 Bourgogne Chardonnay chez nous, I casually asked Alex how his 2009 was tasting – ‘delicious’ was his answer. Okay, an introductory 6-pack was comandeered – so, is it up to scratch? 2009 Alex Gambal, Bourgogne Chardonnay The nose is rather rich for the appellation, showing a little brioche and with a swirl some ripe fruit. More than a hint of minerality and with a nice initial acidity before filling out in a richer vernacular. It does taste very nice but from the mid-palate onwards I’d just like a hint more acidity. I have to say, the wine was easily despatched, and Alex was right it is very tasty, but based on the mid-palate and finish I [....]
Posted in Degustation, Rebuy - Maybe |
By billn on March 29, 2012
What better way to start the day than with a trio of Blair Pethel’s Beaunes? All were tasted with Blair last Wednesday (21st). 2007 Dublère, Beaune 1er Les Blanches Fleurs I still have a few bottles of this and it has been unremittingly lovely at home. The nose offers of a wide perspective of relatively complex but perhaps a slightly diffuse interest. In the mouth this is the lovely middleweight I recall; wide, subtle and complex – just a very pretty glass of wine. Rebuy – Yes 2008 Dublère, Beaune 1er Les Blanches Fleurs There are aromatic similarities between this and the 2007 – wide, interesting yet perhaps just a little diffuse – the fruit just needs a little polish to bring it completely into [....]
Posted in Degustation, Rebuy - Yes |
By billn on March 28, 2012
Okay, I’m not quite comparing the same wine as the vintages are not quite a match, but they are new wines in my cellar, so… 2009 Alex Gambal, St.Aubin 1er Murgers les Dents du Chien After the 2010 Bouton, this has a little brioche on the nose with higher-toned, faintly agrume fruit. There is more depth and concentration than apparent in the Bouton, if slightly less acidity – so there doesn’t seem to be quite the intensity – but there remains despite the extra richness, balance, and more to contemplate. Very good wine, but then it should be for twice the price of the Bouton Still an easy rebuy for me. Rebuy – Yes
Posted in Degustation, Rebuy - Yes |
By billn on March 27, 2012
The Bouton 09 St.Aubins became the cuvée maison chez Nanson last year – let’s see how some 10s stack up… 2010 Gilles Bouton, St.Aubin 1er Murgers les Dents du Chien Pale colour. High-toned, fresh, crisp with a fain creamy depth to some herby fruit – rather engaging. Fresh, but not overly so. A decently silky texture and a very nice intensity in the mid palate. Slightly green-tinged fruit in the finish. Tip-top wine for the price. Rebuy – Yes
Posted in Degustation, Rebuy - Yes |
By billn on March 26, 2012
So, back from the Grands Jours de Bourgogne – a week+ of non-stop tasting opportunities – actually far too many to even ‘do’ 50% of what was available, Chablis to Maçon. I actually joined only for the last half, but still there are almost three hundred notes to write up, ignoring the many ‘social’ bottles that were tested without recourse to my notebook. Just to give you a flavour for now…
Posted in Degustation, Travel Pics |
By billn on March 14, 2012
Last time out this wasn’t so bad. This time, if anything, it’s even nicer, losing any overt oxidative notes! There was a satisfying release of air around the cork as I began to slide it out – positive pressure behind the cork – impressive for one so young(!) In the glass, at first, there was the smell of coffee and chocolate to offset the usual funk of a newly opened old-timer, slowly it became more about leather and soil. Super-silky, linear and mineral with a very sneaky length indeed – yum! It was at least an hour before I, once more, had the glycerol impression from the lst bottle… Rebuy – No Chance!
Posted in Degustation, Rebuy - No Chance! |
By billn on March 13, 2012
I looked very carefully, and I could see not obvious use of modern stamping to print the vintage on the rubble that some might call a cork – from that I assume that this is no fake. 1969 Pierre Bourée, Nuits St.Georges Medium colour. To start with there is no aroma at all, very slowly there is hint of beef broth and a more impressive and sweeter acid cherry. Very silky. You have the taste impression that somewhere there there lies a hint of oxidation but it’s buried under a sweet red note and never becomes more than a suggestion. Pretty with a fine, if understated acidity. Very stable in the glass, and with a lovely core of fruit. My run of excellent 69s continues… [....]
Posted in Degustation, Rebuy - No Chance! |
By billn on March 9, 2012
2000 des Chézeaux, Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Lavaux St.Jacques Medium colour. The nose is a symphony; there’s still a pure red fruit note towards the top of the range, but there’s a musky undergrowth that cushions it, lovely depth too – you could just sit and sniff this – which is just fine! Actually the palate’s not that bad either, but the nose gives you the impression that there should be more. It’s still pretty good with a (more) linear (than you expect) but still slightly cushioned impression, decent acidity and still just a hint of astringency on the back of your tongue. The fruit has a little sweetness to it, but not in the rather warm, typical 2000 vernacular. Understated, slighly mineral flavours linger in the [....]
Posted in Degustation, Rebuy - Yes |
By billn on March 8, 2012
A good contact tells me that this was only the second vintage for Cyprien Arlaud – well he didn’t do badly then did he(?) 1999 Arlaud, Chambolle-Musigny Rather deeply coloured, and it still looks quite young. The nose is deep and a little meaty, yet is classically (some might say clichéd) Chambolle-Musigny with its very pretty floral top notes – the bass notes are perhaps meatier than your average Chambolle but that’s probably the slow march to maturity. Round, clearly with plenty of extract and a lovely diminuendo into the mouth-watering finish. The tannins give a little astringency if you keep the wine in your mouth, but if you ‘just drink’, the word that comes into my mind is ‘luxurious’. Young but very drinkable. I [....]
Posted in Degustation, Rebuy - Yes |
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