49° aux soleil

10.6.2007billn

vosne combe brulees in june 2007
Looking down the hill over Vosne-Romanée La Combe Brûlée – it may be only 31°C in the shade, but at 3:00pm the thermometer in the direct sun registered 49°C. By 4:15pm the sky was full of thunder and lightening and the rain came – life was much improved at the tasting I attended – 24°C was enough for everyone! The winemakers have already pencilled-in late August for harvesting this year, but much can happen before that.

I think I’m a slow taster – there was at least 100 wines, but I only managed write something for 77 of them – I needed food after 2 of three tables – coming back ‘refreshed’ someone had drunk all the Richebourg and Musigny – c’est la vie! Anyway I add three notes for you, a white, a Côte de Beaune and a Côte de Nuits:
1997 Domaine Olivier Merlin, Macon la Roche Vineuse Vieilles Vignestry to find this wine...
(Magnum) Pale yellow. The nose is slightly yeasty but fresh enough behind. Ripe palate with unassuming acidity. Tasty with some depth too. The finish lingers well enough. This is nice wine.
Rebuy – Yes
1997 Domaine du Clos Salomon, Givrey 1er Clos Salomontry to find this wine...
(Magnum) Medium ruby-red. High-toned nose that is ripe though with a trace of ‘funk’. Plenty of strawberry depth on the palate. Long, nicely integrated acidity and still some drying acidity on the finish.
Rebuy – Maybe
1997 Domaine de l’Arlot, Nuits St.Georges 1er Clos des Fôrets St.Georgestry to find this wine...
Sweet, smoky stems on the nose. Plenty of high-toned fruit in the mouth couples with equally density of fine tannins. Long and interesting, this is pleasant, balanced and showing very young
Rebuy – Maybe

Agree? Disagree? Anything you'd like to add?

There are 5 responses to “49° aux soleil”

  1. Alvin Seah11th June 2007 at 3:34 amPermalinkReply

    Good grief. This sounds more like the weather in the Dubai than Burgundy. Hope it will not be a repeat of 2003.

  2. bill nanson11th June 2007 at 6:40 amPermalinkReply

    Hi Alvin,
    Whilst we’re so far from the vendanges there’s no worry. The grapes are tiny and the vines are benfiting from the weather. Problems in 2003 were often from vines that shut down in (shade) temperatures above 38°C providing questionable maturity at harvest – that and constant hot temperatures. I for one believe you need both the hot and the cool to get the broad complexity of pinot and there was very little cool in 2003, that’s certainly what did for the whites.

    Today is overcast, and at 8:30am a mere 17° – no worries yet!
    Cheers

  3. Alvin Seah11th June 2007 at 10:33 amPermalinkReply

    Thanks for the update! You’re an excellent source of information. I was there 2 weeks ago and it was smeltering and I thought it was supposed to be spring. The vignerons were telling me about the rapid advancement of the vines and the early expected harvest. Praying for good weather and no hail please!

  4. bill nanson11th June 2007 at 10:36 amPermalinkReply

    Hi Alvin
    Actually as I left this morning it was absolutely pouring with rain. Witnessed the comical temporary closure of the RN74 as a family of ducks decided to cross!
    Cheers

  5. Paul Verdich11th June 2007 at 11:30 pmPermalinkReply

    great photo over VR La Combe Brulee. For us down in oz who don’t get over to burgundy that often or if at all, these photos provide great reference points to understanding of the geography of the CdN and CdB. Thanks again Bill much appreciated!!

    Cheers

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