Plenty of new reading on my desk…
Here’s a wine that I bought for a song at auction – hopefully it’s drinkable as there are 11 more in the cellar! I have a number of younger vintages (05, 07 and 09 – I must like ‘odd’ vintages!) all of which seem to me a bit more stylish than this, though I don’t know if that is down to the winemaking, the vintage or subsequent storage of the ’95.
1995 Daniel Rion, Vosne-Romanée 1er Beaux-Monts
Medium-plus colour. The nose here is of just faintly roasted, spice-edged deep red fruit – not roasted enough to be off-putting but enough to be slightly sub-optimal for me – but it’s wide and involving and rather forward too. In the mouth this has a concentrated, velvet texture that if you really roll the wine around in your mouth becomes slowly a little astringent – but that’s your choice! Full flavoured with plenty of intensity and a very good underlying acidity – there’s almost a hint of almond flavour in the finish, bitter chocolate too, which is probably barrel-derived – but eventually majors of a mouth-watering mineral note. Highly drinkable despite a nose that punches you, rather than seduces you.
Rebuy – Maybe
There are 4 responses to “daniel rion 1995 vosne 1er beaux-monts”
Hi Bill,
a comment regarding the picture in this post.
Have you read Benjamin Lewin’s book? Is it recommended?
There’s lots of literature on Burgundy these days and it’s sort of confusing to be a consumer trying to figure out which books to read (worth reading). Especially when you’re trying to understand the different cru’s and producers better.
Is Jasper Morris’ book called “Inside Burgundy” better? Or should I wait for your publication published through Fine Wine Magazine? The last question probably have an obivous answer, but can you tell me about the differencies between these books?
Thanks!
Hi Kjetil
Lewin’s book is excellent – but only about 25% related to Burgundy – I’ll be offering a detailed review in my next Burgundy-Report in about 3 weeks. I’ve just got the last chapter to read now.
As for the other two books you mention, each has a different main focus; one is about the land with some grower information, the other focuses on many great domaines, offers suggestions about their most impressive wines (and no, not just grand crus!) and how you might get the best out of those bottles.
One of them, due to its weight, is also significantly better at holding doors open – it just depends what you are looking for 🙂
Interesting note on the Rion, thanks Bill.
I’ve been keeping two bottles of the 93 Daniel Rion Vosne Beaux-Monts for ages, thinking that as 93 they would repay ageing. Reading between the lines of your note I reckon I’ll keep them a while longer yet.
I’m not wholly convinced some 95’s aren’t still closed, or yet to reach a suitable drinking window, & certainly am thinking that of Mugnier’s Chambolle Amoureuses which has frustrated me several times, and for now I’ve given up on i.e to leave as long as temptation allows. I went through a case of Chandon de Briailles 95 Pernand PC Ile des Vergelesses over 2/3 years, finishing a couple of years back, and thought at the time it was very poor in terms of ‘giving’. Am now convinced it was closed and I wasted it – rather annoying. Hey ho.
I recently scored a bottle of Rion’s ’93 villages Chambolle (Beaux Bruns) on the cheap (really cheap) from a local wine shop. It had plenty of structure and life to it, and it was lovely. Completely unrelated to the Beaux-Monts, but I’d guess, Mark, you’ve got time to sit back and wait on those two ladies. What torture!
Thanks Rick, glad you enjoyed the Chambolle & at a good price too is always ‘useful’ :-). Sitting back on the Vosne’s is the intention and fairly easily done as they are out of sight hence I tend to keep forgetting they are there. Am calm, no torture, as have a few other wines to drink – generally younger though I’ll admit. With Bill as a ‘bad influence’ I’m delighting in a few ‘lesser’ 2008’s at the moment – ’tis tough keeping my mitts off all those.