Within two months we're going to visit the Côte d'Or again, staying for one week in the gîte of Thibault Liger-Belair in Messanges (Hautes Côtes de Nuits) - e.g. check 'gîte la Cabotte' in Google/Maps for an impression. Some appointments already are made, but there is some time left for one other visit. Anyone suggestions for a high quality small sized family Domaine which is not very well known? Remark - this year I’m celebrating the 25th anniversary visiting this lovely region...
Suggestions for Domaine visits?
(46 posts) (12 voices)
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Joachim
MemberMy steady suggestion is Mugneret-Giborug. I really love their wines, they are very friendly an open and its easy to make an appointment. Moreover, you can taste a great variety of vines there, from Fixin to several villages, from Vosne and NStG Premiers to differend Grand Crus like Clos Vougeot, Echezeaux, Grand Echezeaux and even Richebourg.
Michel Gros is interesting, too, as he has a lot of vintages in stock, last time I visited him (in 2010) I was able to purchase his Clos de Reas back till 2001.
Posted 6 years ago # -
Joachim
MemberUps, JT, you are absolutely right. I was referring to Mongeard-Mugneret. I'm confusing this two Domaines pretty often. Funny and akward situation, when the same thing happened at the Domaine MM. Madame was not amused when I asked for the CM Feusselottes, pretty embarassing.
Posted 6 years ago # -
Thanks so far - sometimes mixing up the domaines names is unavoidable...
Mongeard-Mugneret I know already, once recommended by Laurendce Fougeray. I loved their wines (esp. 2002 V.R. 1e Cru 'Les Suchots' and 2001 Vougeot 1e Cru) but not the tasting ambiance. We've still some Grand Echezeaux 2002 left...
Mugneret-Gibourg would be new to me but is: "they are very friendly an open and its easy to make an appointment" applicable to them or to M-M?
Michel Gros would also be new, however we have visited Jean Gros in the past.
So far appointments are made with: Digioia - Royer, Nadine et Rémi Marcillet (Sunday morning walk), Capitain – Gagnerot, Philippe Chavy, Pierre Thibert, Louis Chenu et Filles and Vincent & Sophie Morey.
Posted 6 years ago # -
Joachim
MemberI suspect that its pretty hard to get an appointment with Mugneret-Gibourg, since their wines were really hyped in the last years. Heard from a friend who visited the Grand Jours, that the 2010 Michel Gros wines are overextracted - so nothing for me.
I don't know how you tasted the M-M wines, I had a warm welcome and we drank in a big, bright tasting room with wheels and wine-sculptures on the wall, if I remember well. It was alright, but maybe a bit kitsch. Still, I loved the wines.
Posted 6 years ago # -
That's just my point – a tasting room with gold and kitsch – and so not my style. I like it far more when the grower takes you down to his tiny cellar between the barrels - however, their wines are delicious.
Anyone experience with one of the following Domaines?
Catherine et Dominique Derain, Jean Pascal & Fils, Bitouzet Prieur, Domaine des Croix, Domaine des Varoilles, Maurice Chapuis & Anne-Marie, Domaine Lejeune, Bruno Desaunnay, Patrice Rion, Jean-Pierre Truchetet, Pascal Chevigny.Posted 6 years ago # -
Michael Warner
MemberHi Jacob,
I visited Bruno Desaunay-Bissey last year. I liked the wines when I tasted there - quite a delicate, perfumed style. I bought a few of the 08 and 09 village Chambolles - and while they were good, they seemed in retrospect to lack a bit of depth that I thought was there when I tasted at the domaine.
I'm certainly interested in following up again.
Michael
Posted 6 years ago # -
'Yes' to Bitouzet-Prieur, where you will taste in the cellar amongst the barrels, and most likely hosted by the energetic and informative son,Francois Bitouzet, who speaks good English.
Full disclosure, I import B-P's wines into Hong Kong, but I don't expect many who've tasted their Volnays or Meursaults will dispute that these frequently represent excellent QPR. Arguably a domaine that is still on the upgrade.
Posted 6 years ago # -
Catherine et Dominique Derain, Jean Pascal & Fils, Bitouzet Prieur, Domaine des Croix, Domaine des Varoilles, Maurice Chapuis & Anne-Marie, Domaine Lejeune, Bruno Desaunnay, Patrice Rion, Jean-Pierre Truchetet, Pascal Chevigny.
I managed a few. There is a chance that you may taste in a tasting room at Patrice Rion's (I once did) and also Varoilles, but the rest were all en cave.
Best!
Posted 6 years ago # -
Just buy a computer with Internet access and a browser, type http://www.google.com and than "Domaine Fourrier" and be astonished...
Fourrier Jean-Claude
7 Route de Dijon
21220 Gevrey-Chambertin
France
Telephone: 03 80 34 33 99Posted 5 years ago # -
Alansch
MemberHello,
I will be in Bourgogne on January with my wife for 5 days and we are looking for nice Domaine to visit.
We are not very experts (but we love it) on wine and don´t want to spend thousands of euros on a bottle.
We would like to visit nice places, with good wines but a bit of a turistic appeal, interesting, friendly and easy.
Could you suggest some places to visit, please?Posted 5 years ago # -
Yesss! Tomorrow we go, with a total of 5 friends, leaving at 5:30 and our first visit around 14:00 h will be the Domaine of Pierre Amiot (Morey). Then we will visit Anne & Hervé Segaut (Chambolle), Maison Parigot - Crémants and Domaine du Prieuré (Savigny). We will stay at Le Maison de Lucien (Tailly, between Beaune and Meursault).
Friday we will visit JanotsBos (Dutch, so that's easy) and Bouzereau - Gruère in Meursault and after a fine lunch in the village Denis Boussey and Florent Garaudet (Monthélie) Henri Latour & Fils (Auxey) and pick up some wines at Domaine Rollin Père & Fils (and surely will taste some Corton Charlemagne).
Saterday morning Miolane (open doors....) and Jean-Claude Bachelet & Fils (Saint Aubin) will close the line up for the week-end, but who knows, if on Saturday afternoon we get bored ;-)
We will cook for ourselfs some nice diners and drink some bottles we bought or get as a present by the fire place. I am surely looking forward to yet another great weekend in the Côtes and at this moment I am too exited to sleep - hope I will catch a few hours before the 8 - 9 hour drive.
Posted 5 years ago # -
I'm back and still alive...
Off cause I will share some experiences, but will cut them up in parts.
Part 1 – Thursday afternoon:
Besides the tastings at Pierre Amiot & Fils (Morey), Anne & Hervé Sigaut (Chambolle) and Domaine du Prieuré / Jean-Michel Maurice (Savigny) we picked up some bottles prepared in advance of Domaine Lucien Jacob (Échevronne - still Savigny 2005 red available…) and Parigot & Richard (l’Or de Parigot is the perfect gift for any wine lover) without tasting. The bottle of Crémant Blanc Cuvée Prestige 2009 (once chosen as best none Champaign bubble available in the Netherlands) was a nice present and a good start of the evening after we unpacked in “La Maison de Lucien” a very luxury gîte for 6 persons.At Amiot (Jean-Louis, well known by us) we tasted 2010 and 2009 from Village up to Grand Cru level. These wines are delicate, friendly with a seductive aroma – on the pallet maybe a little light, but as well young as aged (> 10y) always very pleasant to drink and isn’t that where it is all about in a Burgundy wine?
The tasting at Sigaut (our first time) was a quick one, the 2010 Chambolle Musigny village and both Premier Cru’s were excellent, the Morey 1er Cru not as good as the Amiot ones.
At du Prieuré (son Stephan Maurice who speaks English) we picked-up some Aligoté 2011 (surely one of the finest we’ve ever tasted) and from the reds - mainly Savigny from different vineyards but also Aloxe, Beaune, Pommard and Volnay - we selected 2009 Savigny vieilles vignes plus ‘Les Grands Picotins’ and the 1er Cru ‘Les Lavières’ 2010 which really was a bargain for 12 euro (e.g. 91 points from Burghound Alan Meadows).
Maybe not the best wines to find in the region, but pricing is very modest indeed.Wines of the day:
Amiot – Clos de la Roche 2010 and Sigaut – Chambolle 1e Cru Les Sentiers 2010.Posted 5 years ago # -
Part 2 - Friday morning:
After a good breakfast and under a clear blue sky we went to Meursault to visit JanotsBos, a relatively young Domaine with Frenchman Thierry Janots (winemaker of Comtes Lafon) and Dutchman Richard Bos (former café holder) who let us taste a Bourgogne Pinot Noir and six whites. They don’t own any vineyards but buy the grapes and make the wines like Bourgogne Chardonnay, Pernand, Saint Aubin 1er Cru, Meursault and Chassagne plus a red Volnay (not tasted but get as a present afterwards). These are very good wines with lots of fruit, excellent structure and very good terroir expression. Advantage was that we could do everything in our native language and so we could go deep into details.
Almost two hours later we arrived at Bouzereau - Gruère & Filles, run by two of Huberts’ five daughters, Marie Laure and Marie Anne. We visit this Domaine regularly and go especially for the whites, originating from: Saint Aubin, Meursault, Chassagne and Puligny. The style is comparable to the wines of JanotsBos, also with good terroir expression, although a little less concentrated but also at a lower price. Best wines in our opinion: Saint Aubin 1er Cru Le Charmois 2010 and 2009, Puligny Montrachet 2009, Meursault - Charmes 1er Cru 2009 and of the reds the Corton Bressandes is always a very good example, especially in good vintages as 2005 and 2009. As agreed we could take some cases of Chassagne Montrachet 1er Cru Les Chaumeés 2007 for the original price...
Leaving the cellar it just had started to rain. We had a fine lunch in Hotel du Centre.
Posted 5 years ago # -
Excellent Jacob - looking forward to part 3 already!
Posted 5 years ago # -
Part 3 - Friday afternoon
After lunch we went to Monthélie, just a stone’s throw away and first visited Denis Boussey the second year. This time we couldn’t get excited about the reds '09 and '10 (total of 7 tasted - we bought a mix 2008 from Auxey, Monthelie, Volnay, Aloxe and Pommard last year which are already finished…) but the whites were very attractive. The 2010 Chardonnay and Savigny were still a little closed, but very refreshing with a good acidic back bone. The 2009 Monthélie and Meursault vieilles vignes were excellent, full bodied, round and powerful and luckily not (I don’t know the exact translation, but we would call it) ponderous like so many others from this vintage. With mainly 2009 whites (also some cases with half bottles) we took off to Florent Garaudet.
We are considering this youngster as our son as his mentally is just the same as ours. Started on its own in 2008 (we guess at 21 years of age) with only 2 ha (now 3 ha) still helping dad Paul, Florent makes some whites and reds we count upon the best we have in our cellar. We know him since his first vintage (receiving ‘Facture 2’). His whites, Chardonnay and Monthélie (’11 from tank) again are great examples and his Meurault (sold out) and Puligny (’09 and ’10 matured in 400 l barrels) are exactly what you may expect of those villages (I’ve read somewhere Coche Dury style). His Monthélie rouge 2009 smells spicy and gives forest and red fruit in the nose and on the palette, is mouth filling with excellent tannin structure and great fruit finish. His 1er Cru Les Riottes is even better but his so called ‘baby’ Le Mons Hélios (sunny mountain, the Roman name for Monthélie) is Grand Cru level. He only produces 300 bottles - 10 hl/ha from over 60 years old vines on a very special secret vineyard. He uses Bordeaux barrels (225 instead of 228 litres) made from the very best oak and we are the lucky ones who have this wine (several percentages of world’s total production) in our cellar. Last May we bought another 6 bottles 2008 in wooden case, scheduling one bottle each year, but we had to confess the year has changed into months, as the case is already empty…
We ended our little tour in Auxey Duresses where we visited Henri Latour & Fils as we do almost every year since 1987 - it was a jubilee. When François was away (fair) Sylvain helped us, but every time we are there his parents come down into the cellar to take a look and have a chat. They surely are the nicest people we know in the Côte and it turned out to be that Henri’s birthday is on the same date as mine… We tasted whites (Saint Romain '11, Auxey '10 and '09 and Meursault '09) and reds (Hautes Cotes de Beaune '10, Auxey vieilles vignes '09 and '08 and 1st Cru La Chapelle '06 and Les Grands Champs '07) which we consider to be the wines with the best price to quality ratio of the whole region. The Auxey Duresses vielles vignes 2005 was our best re-selling wine last October. Bottles of all wines were ordered, in 0.75 and 0.375 cl beyond a great order of Auxey blanc 2010 and this reminds me that I have to take a reservation for the Hautes Cotes ’10.
After this we went to Rollin Pere & Fils (Pernand) to pick-up the cases of Corton Charlemagne 2010 we had reserved in May and as Remi was a little in hurry we tasted only the whites, all 2011: Hautes Cotes de Beaune, Pernand, Pernand Les Cloux and 1st Cru Sous Frétille ending with the Corton Charlemagne. The reds of ’10 and older we knew already from former visits. We were glad we ordered Auxey blanc ’10 at Latour because the Pernand 2011 has less to offer as we are used to - this has to be the vintage influence, where Pernand Vergelesses 2006, 2008 and 2010 were our best re-selling whites.
Wines of the day:
JanotsBos - Chassagne Montrachet 1er Cru Grande Montagne 2009
Florent Garaudet - Monthélie Le Mons Hélios 2011 form tank
Bouzereau-Gruère & Filles - Corton Bressandes 2009 from bottlebill nanson said:
Excellent Jacob - looking forward to part 3 already!Thanks Bill, I'm glad you appreciate.
Posted 5 years ago # -
Jacob,
Thanks a million for taking time to write this up. Tantalizing!
Some great insights here, as I have never heard of a number of these producers before.
Posted 5 years ago # -
Will, you're welcome. In the 25 years we are visiting the Bourgogne we always are looking for small family domains with reasonably priced wines and yes, we have found a few…
Part 4 – Saturday morning.
Although in the beginning we just were making an appointment it turned out to be “open doors” at Patrick Miolane (Saint Aubin) a new Domaine for us. Again some sunshine which always is better for tasting wines, because it already makes you feel good. It was crowded with cars and people (of which several ladies were carrying an odour of perfume) - not our ball game… We first shake hands with the eccentric horsetail wearing Patrick and daughter Barbara which showed us the cellar. So come on, let’s taste some wines. These were: a good Aligoté 2011, a below average Saint Aubin 2008, a closed and very straight Chassagne 2009, a Puligny 2010 with the smell and taste of vinegar(?) so lets go… but we stayed and luckily some better wines were coming up. The St Aubin 1er Cru Sur le Sentier du Clou 2009 without barrel maturing was fresh, fruity, soft and round, the 1er Cru Le Charmois 2011 (new purchase) had a excellent nose with fruit and some wood, was wide on the palette, refined and creamy – unfortunately the price was 50% higher than the others. The 1er Cru Les Champlots was very pleasant, smooth and round with a lingering finish. The 1er Cru Les Perrières 2010 was fruity, creamy (some caramel) soft and very enjoyable. Maybe the hand of Barbara was more noticeable in the latter wines.
Up to the reds, Pinot noir 2007 and Pinot noir Cuvée Barbara 2008. They had stayed in barrel for 3 years (36 months) and therefore were lacking fruit, thin on the palette and giving a dry mouth in the finish. When the Chassagne 2008 was not much better we decide to quit – these were not of the style we’re looking for. After some curiosities (white Saint Aubin 1984 – smelling old but not oxidized and white Chassagne 1993 which was better and tasted still fresh) we ordered some bottles of the last two whites. We will taste this blind next to equal classified ones and see where they end…On to the final visit, Jean-Claude (superstar) Bachelet and his sons. A 2010 Pinot noir bursting out of the glass with small red fruits, juicy and still a little tight - but what a difference with earlier that morning. Also the Saint Aubin 1er cru v.v and Derrière la Tour were very good (where I preferred the 15% cheaper v.v.) and the Chassagne village and 1er Cru La Boudriotte were excellent as usual and that all below 20 euro.
The whites, from Chardonnay, St. Aubin 1er Cru Frionnes, Champlots and Remilly were all mouth watering, pure, classic Burgundy whites with juice, fruit, minerals and a little fat and each appellation with their own characteristics. Chassagne 1e Cru Les Macherelles was good, very fined but the La Boudriotte always beats the rest, maybe even the more expensive Puligny 1er cru Sous le Puits, by showing all a good white needs. The Bienvenues Bâtard Montrachet Grand Cru however stands alone and far above, should be tasted in silence and with great attention. Unbelievable and a shame only one barrel is made of it…In earlier years (we started here in 1993) there were only eight cuvées but of several vintages and we visited twice a year. Nowadays they have split all the 1er Cru’s up to their ‘lieu dits’ and present one vintage. Almost every bottle produced (bottled just before the harvest two years after) is gone within three months here. Because quality has improved? We don’t think so – it’s because Jean Baptise et Benôit make very good PR and were lucky that when they started from 2003 on, their BBM 2002 became ‘coup the coeur’ in the Guide Hachette.
It was a hard labour to get all the boxes from this domain into our cars.Wine of the day – Jean-Claude Bachelet et Fils - Bienvenues Bâtard Montrachet 2010
Besides the wines tasted in the cellar we were happy to get some gift bottles and bought some others to drink (no notes…) in the evening. From memory I was very impressed by the Sigaut 2010 Chambolle Musigny 1er Cru Les Sentiers, the JanotsBos 2009 Saint Aubin 1er Cru en Créots and Volnay (discovery of the weekend).
Very pleasantly drinkable were: Pierre Amiot & Fils 2010 Morey Saint Denis, du Prieuré 2009 Savigny les Beaune v.v., Henri Latour & Fils 2007 Auxey Duresses v.v and the Jean-Claude Bachelet & Fils 2005 Chassagne rouge and Bouzereau - Gruère & Filles 2010 Chassagne, Denis Boussey 2010 Monthélie and Jean-Claude Bachelet & Fils 2010 Saint Aubin 1er Cru Les Champlots.All in all this was another weekend to cherish and besides the memories some nice bottles (I bought a little more white than planned) have filled up the empty spaces in our cellar.
The end.
Posted 5 years ago # -
"It was a hard labour to get all the boxes from this domain into our cars." :-))
Lovely Jacob - thank-you!
Question regarding the superstar ;-)
I love their whites but I've sometimes found that the reds are showing a little too much oak - like the brioche and padding of a 'superstar white' but it doesn't seem to fit as well to red - I'm thinking mainly of young St.Aubin reds - do you have any views?Posted 5 years ago # -
Bill, I think it depends on the vintage as 2008 in red is a little difficult here and I don’t have much of it, so. Derrière la Tour mostly is a hit on our re-selling list, but from vintages like 2004 and 2009. For instance our choice for 2006 was the 1er Cru vieilles vignes and now again I appreciated this one more. For 2007 we selected Chassagne Montrachet vieilles vignes – here the 2005 gift bottle last weekend (o, how far away it sounds already…) has luxurious wood and ripe fruit on the nose, was round, juicy and full bodied. Maybe you should try again and than another vintage?
Posted 5 years ago # -
Saturday we're going for another journey to the Côte, just the two of us, staying in “Gite la Cabotte” from Thibault Liger - Belair and family in the small village of Messanges (Hautes Côtes de Nuits). We have scheduled our trip in advance, visiting known addresses but also four new ones. Although it looks a very busy trip, there will be lots of time to take some great walks especially in the Hautes Côtes and spend some time relaxing in the beautiful garden.
Appointments are made with: Rollin Père & Fils, Pierre Thibert, Lucien Jacob, David Duband, Cyrot - Buthiau, Henri Latour & Fils, Florent Garaudet, Francois Charles & Fils, Parigot Père & Fils, Maurice & Anne-Marie Chapuis, Machard de Gramont, Fougeray de Beauclair, Marc Gauffroy, JanotsBos and Chevillon - Chezeaux.
Hopefully I will have some time left to do some reporting on the tastings we will have like I did last autumn...
Posted 5 years ago # -
Mark,
Fougeray is a domain we visit regularly, Patrice Ollivier is a very nice chap speaking English – our visit is scheduled for next Wednesday. By chance we just opened a bottle of Marsannay Saint Jacques rouge 2004 which is very enjoyable. Matured (barnyard) but still having ripe fruit in aroma an on the pallet - very juicy and not with the typical 2004 “greenish” taste. They still do have some older vintages and so far we didn’t find a better Marsannay Rosé. Also the whites and reds are good, Fixin Clos Marion monopole is excellent in both colours. The Bonnes Mares Grand Cru we have bought in magnums in the vintages of birth of our grandsons.
JacobPosted 5 years ago # -
Lliwiau Llachar
MemberJacob
Thanks for the information on Fougeray. Interesting to know that they have some older vintages in stock; would be nice to stock up on some drinking now 2007s for example. I've only tried the red and white Marsannay's and have always been impressed with both of these particularly the white.
MarkPosted 5 years ago #
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