Hmm, it’s a couple of weeks since I had a nice bottle, this really made up for it!
2005 Louis Jadot, Beaune 1er Clos des Ursules
Medium-plus ruby-red colour with some purple still at the rim. The nose starts robustly, full with dark fruit - similar to the 2005 Pierre Morey Bourgogne - but offering a purer darker core of fruit - time in the glass gives this a narrower, more blueberry impression. Though well balanced, the palate seems rather tight, though the extra mid-palate dimension and corresponding length is on a super level, it really does linger. A super bottle.
Rebuy - Yes

Our itinery took in a few days in Havana and a few days at the beach plus a 2-day unexpected 500km detour to the west to avoid the rage of hurricane Paloma. As an aside, Thomas Cook (Deutschland) decided to move us for safety’s sake, whereas Thomas Cook (UK) left all their UK customers in the hotel that was (in theory) in the path of Paloma…

A quick summary?

Well, there’s so much history associated with the place, and the architechture in Havana that’s still standing (nothing to do with Paloma!) is fantastic - but that’s a small proportion! The people are super - plenty of hustling but a simple no thanks brings an ‘okay, enjoy your day’ and off they trott. In the city you seem to be able to walk around wherever you like at whatever time you like - no worries. Oh, and the beaches are super!

Any complaints? Well the food tends to be quite bland despite the proximity of the sea, and service also tends to be amateuristic. Overall it was worth the trip.

It’s time for a break.

Back with updates from 20th November, and who knows - maybe the Autumn issue will also be out before the clock strikes December!

It would be hard to guess that this came from the same vineyard as the recent Faiveley Santenots. The Faiveley was more butch, and perhaps longer - an ‘hommage’ to the style of Lafon - but the width and complexity of fruit here seems more ‘Volnay’ though the oak needs to fade a little more. Today I’d drink the Faiveley, tomorrow the Rossignol, though at the weekend I’m not sure - choice is no bad thing!
2005 Nicolas Rossignol, Volnay 1er Santenots
Medium, medium-plus ruby-red colour with some purple still at the rim. The nose was overwhelmed by dark, slightly toasty oak for the first couple of minutes, wait and there’s a lovely width of beautiful fruit but it unfortunately still holds onto a slightly reductive-style oak base. Good intensity, and again the fruit is lovely, complex and occasionally shows a little creamy edge. Very well balanced but again with plenty of background reduction/oak - that said, it’s almost gone after about 90 minutes. This is lovely and if the oak fades further, it will be even better than that! For drinking now, open 2 hours before, or decant 20 minutes then pour.
Rebuy - Yes

After the Faiveley video, here’s one about Pierre Morey…

2003 Lignier-Michelot, Morey St.Denis Vieilles Vignes
Medium-plus colour. The nose is forward, maybe a hint porty and certainly very ripe but generally the fruit talks of pinot. Ripe, plenty of concentration and very well mannered tannin. The understated acidity provides good balance and just enough freshness. It’s riper than I prefer, but if the nose talks of pinot then fruit on the palate clearly says burgundy. A good effort.
Rebuy - Maybe

I don’t often buy wines from Maison Latour, and whilst I’ve had so-so bottles from them, it has more been due to lack of local availability than quality reasons. Now I’ve found a relatively close merchant, so two or three bottles might appear over the next days.
2005 Louis Latour, Gevrey-Chambertin
Medium-plus colour. The first sniff seems architypal Gevrey; dark fruit against an earthy, almost grainy nose. With open time it becomes higher toned with more red fruit, seems much softer if a little less interesting. Decent concentration and certainly it’s more red-fruited in the mouth. Good acidity and late appearing tannin with a little grain. Not the glossy fruit and concentration of many 2005 Gevreys, but at a decent price this is worth buying.
Rebuy - Maybe

2004 Lignier-Michelot, Chambolle-Musigny Les Gammaires
Medium, medium-plus cherry-red colour. The nose is understated but shows good depth and there’s no ‘2004 character’. In the mouth it’s serious, with good mid-palate dimension and a good persistence of ripe flavour. Very nice - I bought some more.
Rebuy - Yes

2006 F et D Clair, Santenay
Medium cherry-red colour. A very nice width of high-toned fruit on the nose, slowly it takes on a clear red berry complexion. Good depth and a furry texture on the palate. The acidity is nicely balanced and the medium-weight flavours last very well. A six-pack offered for 93 Swiss francs is a bit of a bargain for a wine with such personality.
Rebuy - Yes

I rarely see a Philippe Charlopin, so it was a surprise (for me) to see this on the shelf of a French supermarket. Very tasty wine.
2006 Philippe Charlopin, Gevrey-Chambertin
Medium-plus colour. Slightly murky nose with a little vanilla and a faint mushroom - slowly fills out with deep and impressive primary red/black fruit to compliment the vanilla and eventually a little brioche. Some fat and plenty of mid-palate dimension. Balanced and long. This was both friendly and at the same time not a hint facile - I liked it very much
Rebuy - Yes

Two weekends ago we visited friends who live in Zug. Just 20 minutes drive away is the (bottom of the) hill of Rigi which reaches almost 1,800 metres. It was a picture-postcard kind of weather, so I include for you my postcards…

Hmm, that’s a very similar label!

What I find more interesting is, that given the development of prices in the last two vintages, this 06 villages costs the same as the 04 ‘Lachaux’ Clos St.Denis of yesterday. There can be only one winner at the same price-point and despite the high quality of this wine, it comes a very clear second to the 2004…
2006 Robert Arnoux, Nuits St.Georges
Medium, medium-plus colour. High-toned, little obvious oak, clear, jellified red and black fruits. This has a lovely silky texture. Behind is understated acidity and a nice length. Far from the depth and complexity of the 2004 and just a hint less ripe. At a decent price it’s a nice buy and a very elegant version of Nuits.
Rebuy - Yes