Not really a proper note, as I can’t remember the detail of this wine, drunk on Sunday, so I won’t cheat and make one up, but it was certainly a wine worthy of highlighting…

2007 Robert-Denogent, Macon-Solutré Clos des Bertillonnes
I enlisted my helpful neighbours with this one, simply because I’d be ashamed to drink a whole magnum on my own! This wine was from an auction purchase last year – 6 well-priced magnums – the first of which was a little disappointing, the second was brilliant and this was closer to the latter than the former, if not quite so fabulous. Certainly a little bottle variation then! I’d be the first to say that wines from the Macon very often seem fuller and riper to me, without necessarily becoming flabby; this wine doesn’t fall easily into that category (the vintage?) and I’d drink it any time for it’s nice line, lovely balance a concentrated young (still!) flavours.
Rebuy – Yes

The ardea plastic seals are still in attendance, but with a variation this year – the little black ring of yester-year is now a red ring! Oh, and I still find them a nightmare to remove: lever corkscrews can even chip the glass, such is the pressure required to get the ‘cork’ moving – reverting to a screwpull, the seal comes out halfway then just goes round and round! Then I really struggle to get it off the damn screwpull worm too – so, it seems that we (not the producers!) must we work harder to avoid cork issues…

2011 des Chézeaux, Chambolle-Musigny 1er Les Charmes
The first whiff has me smiling – yes! – very, very pretty red fruits and not a hint delicate – it really wants to show you everything. In the mouth this has a crystalline clarity – glacier-like? (that’s enough about mountains!) Compelling, beautifully flavoured, just downright great. Approaching the hour-mark (…yes, unbelievably, there is still some left!) and the nose is less fun; a low-level P note comes centre-stage and there’s a growing aniseed note too – a bit bizarre if you ask me. Next time I’ll drink it in an hour – it’s that good!
Rebuy – Yes

2006 Mischief & Mayhem, Puligny-Montrachet
Medium yellow. Here is a wine that is out of sorts, or compromised by the cork – it has a slightly odd nose, redolent of the cork itself, but not TCA, more a savoury note. The wine is drinkable but seems tired, the acidity is not its usual self either – just a bit of harshness creeping in there. Drinkable, but as noted, compromised.
Rebuy – No

2007 Mischief & Mayhem, Puligny-Montrachet 1er Les Caillerets
Medium lemon yellow. The nose is tight, faintly chalky and with a tight core of ripe yellow fruit. That could be a concise description of the flavour too; a rather tight, mineral wine but with very fine mid-palate intensity – I liked it! Certainly it was more open after a couple of hours, but this wine begs a much longer timescale in the cellar – I hope it can cope with journey…
Rebuy – Yes

Drunk before heading to the mountains: the first wine was to commiserate with the vignerons of Savigny – I saw pictures of Lavières vines that would deliver no harvest – hopefully some owners fared better…

The second bottle was one that started a little tight but really improved with time…

2006 Chenu Filles, Savigny-lès-Beaune 1er Les Lavières
Medium, bright colour. The nose mixes earth, red fruits and plenty of charm. Just a lovely balance in the mouth – reminds me of the clarity of many 2010s but in a medium-bodied, very elegant and well-polished package. Just a treat!
Rebuy – Yes

2010 Rebourgeon-Mure, Beaune
Much deeper coloured. The nose starts with depth but limited width – a couple of hours are needed for a cheeky, chirpy red fruit note. In the mouth it begins compact and tight – most reticent despite fine balance. Amazingly the second half of this, overnighted in the fridge, was just the most open and enjoyable wine – chalk and cheese – seemingly with more density and certainly more interest. Very nice indeed, and that’s before you spot the attractive price!
Rebuy – Yes

2010 Louis Max, Mercurey Les Caudroyes (Blanc)
A wine that instantly surprises me. The nose is fine, ripe enough but maybe just a hint saline too. In the mouth there’s a core of ripe fruit but it’s long and tight in shape rather than fat and round, the acidity is also a fine foil to good mid-palate intensity. Blind I would have no doubt in pronouncing this to be a good 2 year-old 1er Cru Chablis – I never said I was a great blind taster/guesser 😉 A wine enjoyed all the more for its excellent value.
Rebuy – Yes