By billn on October 28, 2006

1995 Dujac, Clos de la Roche (From Magnum) Medium, medium-plus ruby-red, and a little brighter than the 75cl bottle that I last opened. The nose takes time to get into it’s stride; starting with faint smoke and a slightly estery width, but there is an ever-sweetening and intensifying core of red fruit that eventually becomes more floral – though it’s a heavy rather than refined scent – impressive and moreish all the same. The slowly intensifying fruit on the nose is mirrored by the taste, always building in the mouth, just a transient petillance too. Good acidity and dry but not blocky tannin and long with a dark-fruit aspect to the finish. The stems don’t seem to engender the fresh purity of some wines, but [....]
Posted in Degustation, Rebuy - Yes (2006) |
By billn on October 28, 2006
The first from a magnum dinner – it will take me a few days to get them all to you… 2001 Ambroise, Bourgogne Blanc Medium yellow. The nose is quite reticent; sweet and creamy with well-absorbed wood and an almost sherbet top note. The palate is reminiscent of a 2004 with tight acidity that’s hardly covered by the extract. The finish is a little rough, but given that I don’t have an idea of the price I would say (overall) not bad, maybe even almost good if it’s cheap enough! Rebuy – Maybe 1997 Hospices de Beaune, Meursault 1er Cru Charmes Cuvée Albert Grivault (From magnum, Maison Ambroise) Golden colour. The nose starts in a relatively forward and creamy way with a little oak-toast in [....]
Posted in Degustation, Rebuy - Maybe (2006), Rebuy - Yes (2006) |
By billn on October 25, 2006

Despite an occasional whiff of something more like cork taint – though never on the palate – this wine is that very rare thing; a perfectly stunning example of a cheap burgundy – and to die for… 1999 Francois Gay, Ladoix Deep ruby red. The nose first shows toasty, spicy oak, straight high tones and occasional glimpses a lovely penetrating red raspberry/redcurrant fruit. In the mouth this is fresh, with black edged ripe fruit, quite linear all the way into the finish accompanied by a slightly astringent, grainy tannin. Excellent. Rebuy – Yes – in quantity, though unlikely to find…
Posted in Degustation, Rebuy - Yes (2006) |
By billn on October 24, 2006

2004 Fontaine-Gagnard, Chassagne-Montrachet 1er La Romanée Medium-yellow. Initially, wide but not deep aromatics that hint towards melon rather than the citrus paradigm of 2004; with time, higher tones start to predominate, perhaps with a hint of smoke and citrus! If the nose doesn’t leave you thinking of 2004 the taste does; classical acid-driven citrus notes that run perfectly into a finish that’s just a little more savoury. Versus the best 1er Cru’s of 04 this doesn’t have that painful, moreish intensity, yet it’s very tasty and enjoyable; I’d still be happy to drink this anytime. Rebuy- Yes
Posted in Degustation, Rebuy - Yes (2006) |
By billn on October 16, 2006

2002 Tollot-Beaut, Beaune Greves Deep cherry-red. The nose is quite super; a deep and forward mix of black and red cherry over subtly creamy oak. Depth, concentration and velvety texture, pushed by the mouthwatering acidity this is very long. There’s still a littly oaky bitterness on the finish, another 2-3 years and I think this will be absorbed. Despite the open nose there’s a real brooding sense of character to this wine. Top-notch Beaune that will amply repay cellar time. Rebuy – Yes This bottle really improved my mood after the two corked bottles. Also we had a ‘Truffière’ Corton-Charlemagne. I’m still not sure of the provenance of this label, I think it might be a second label of Vincent Girardin(?) 2003 Le Truffière, Corton-Charlemagne [....]
Posted in Degustation, Rebuy - No (2006), Rebuy - Yes (2006) |
By billn on October 12, 2006

The last Gevrey of the week is the deepest coloured, most juvenile and perhaps most concentrated; it also came from a producer that I don’t think I’ve tried before – Thierry Mortet is the younder brother of the late Denis Mortet and also based in Gevrey-Chambertin. His range when I last saw them listed is quite small, only 4 cuvées. Some of his bother’s skill is surely evident in this wine. 2001 Thierry Mortet, Gevrey-Chambertin Medium-plus red, still with a strong cherry-red hue. The nose starts quite masculine with a strong Gevrey-earth character supporting a melange of red and black berry fruit, slowly this becomes softer and a little higher toned if not better focused. The palate is full and concentrated and obviously started life [....]
Posted in Degustation, Rebuy - Yes (2006) |
By billn on October 10, 2006

2004 Philippe Colin, Chassagne-Montrachet Les VergersMedium-pale lemon yellow. There’s a well-integrated nose of toasted bread and rich fruit. Very forward acidity is the initial impression. The acidity is very smooth and very mineral in aspect, initially rather dominating the linear fruit, but there’s no missing that sneaky and very creamy length. Once my palate adjusted (I don’t think the wine materially changed) I was able to see the extra kick of citrus edged fruit in the mid-palate and appreciate the super purity. Drink this today direct from the fridge or with a buttery sauced dish, alternatively store away for 5 years before revisiting. On day two there’s quite a honied aspect to this wine, and less intensity to the acidity. I preferred day 1. Rebuy [....]
Posted in Degustation, Rebuy - Yes (2006) |
By billn on October 9, 2006

2001 Denis Bachelet, Gevrey-Chambertin Vieilles Vignes Medium-plus ruby red, but still hinting at cherry-red at the rim. A really impressive nose that starts a little reduced – but only for a minute or two – then red fruit, edged with mint, becoming ever-more intense and deep – wow! Fresh presentation, very understated tannin, equally understated in the finish despite being long-lasting. This is not a fat wine, rather a wonderfully detailed one. Rebuy – Yes This is superb quality for a villages and with respect to its appellation impressed me even more than the Bachelet Gevrey 1er of last week – it’s as good as Rousseau’s 2001 and even better value at a mere 39 S.Fr vs Rousseau’s 49 S.Fr – if you can still [....]
Posted in Degustation, Rebuy - Yes (2006) |
By billn on October 8, 2006

2004 Louis Carillon, Puligny-Montrachet Pale yellow. The nose launches forward with ripe, citrus edged fruit before settling into a more brioche dominated lime fruit. The palate retains the citrus edge to its sweet fruit, though the key attribute is the mouthwatering acidity. This wine exemplifies perfectly the vintage – lovely aromatics and fresh presentation – yet it also shows the achilles heel, just not quite enough density at the villages level for enjoying on its own – perfect with food though! One glass was left overnight in the open bottle in the refridgerator, it was as fresh as the night before. Rebuy – Yes 2004 Albert Bichot, Savigny-Lès-Beaune Medium-plus cherry-red colour. The nose starts with a herby, minty element before high-toned raspberry fruit starts to [....]
Posted in Degustation, Rebuy - Yes (2006) |
By billn on October 3, 2006

Overnight what’s the change in these two Clos St.Jacques?? Fourrier has less oak on the nose and also the palate – it’s like a veil has been lifted a little. The nose is now a little more floral with a savoury aspect replacing the juvenile oak. I would say that this is now on the same level as the Jadot. Jadot has had very little change – it remains a pure wine that seems like a coiled spring. Wonderful precision too. Without 3 hours in decanter I would choose this any day over the Fourrier – but in 5 years who knows(?) For the record, neither wine has any bitterness on day 2. As a counterpoint: 2001 Bachelet, Gevrey-Chambertin Les Corbeaux Vieilles Vignes Medium-plus cherry-red. [....]
Posted in Degustation, Rebuy - Yes (2006) |
By billn on October 2, 2006

The first two wines were drunk last week with the legendary Vinotas in Beaune: 2000 Bernard Morey, Chassagne-Montrachet Les Embrazées Pale gold. The nose starts with plenty of brioche, slowly tightening and hardening and showing a little honey. The palate has some minerality and nice acidity, the finish is also not bad, but I’m missing both depth and concentration. It’s quite a linear presentation and this bottle would not convince me to repurchase. Rebuy – no 2002 Bruno Clair, Gevrey-Chambertin Clos St.Jacques In hindsight it was more of a mistake not to ask for larger glasses in the restaurant than to delay the request for a decanter – this wine was a missed opportunity. Over about 90 minutes the wine never opened out on the [....]
Posted in Degustation, Rebuy - Maybe (2006), Rebuy - Yes (2006) |