I felt fortunate at the time in managing to secure a mixed case from David from this, his last vintage – I think Berry Bros. bought-out just about his whole production! This is the first from that case, a mixed pack of 4 of these and 4 each of his Morey St.Denis and his Vosne-Romanée. There was one sacrifice that David had to make when selling his domaine to Yann Charlopin, it meant that the elevage for his 2012s needed to be a little shorter than for his other vintages…

2012 David Clark, Côte de Nuits Villages Vieilles-Vignes
Medium color. The nose of this 2012 CDN has pretty red fruits and even prettier floral notes. A sleek wine, rather than a big wine. It really has a floral perfume in the mouth too – with beautiful purity – though also lots of frank acidity. I like acidity and I like this wine very much, but I know plenty of people who would find this a little too much – though it’s not aggressive. The finish is still a little young – here the structure has to soften – hopefully that beautiful aroma and flavour won’t be sacrificed in the meantime. Yum!
Rebuy – Yes

I suppose that given the title, you might be forgiven for assuming that sub-title could be ‘A Las Vegas Wedding!’

Boringly, this is actually about wine, but certainly not about boring wines…

1959 Maison Roger Moreau, Gevrey-Chambertin “Clos Saint Jacques”
I bought a few of these at an auction in Switzerland – maybe 10 years-or-so ago. What can we make of the label? There’s no mention of 1er crus, and only ‘Gevrey-Chambertin Appellation Contrôlée’ though on separate lines. So it could easily be a villages Gevrey with a (not allowed) cuvée/brand name of CSJ – or it could actually be a Clos Saint Jacques – I will never know…
The nose starts with a note that makes me think ‘corked’ but it gets cleaner and cleaner, despite a little bloody iron and balsamic. With air the nose also offers flashes of beautiful florals – not enough for my taste – but sometimes – you never know what you’re going to get. The palate has weight, concentration and plenty of sweetness. It’s tasty enough, if never quite as nice as the (more and more) excellent nose – yet it’s a wine that’s very easy to take another glass – and I do! First question: Is it a real 1959? The weight and bulky sweetness, plus the lack of overt acidity are consistent with other wines from that vintage. Is it Clos Saint Jacques – well that’s anybody’s guess, but it’s holding up in excellent fashion – certainly more than you would expect from a villages wine – real or adulterated!

2015 Louis Jadot, Bourgogne Chardonnay
On 33% discount in my local co-op, so a logical choice at only 10.95 Swiss francs! DIAM sealed.
The first whiffs of aroma are classically, clichéd white burgundy; a toasty depth with a little side-plate of melted butter – time adding some weighty, ripe fruit – papya-style. Cold from the fridge this is both delicious and textured like silk. Some weight of modestly fat flavour but with fine balance – but only so long as keep it cool – not so much of a worry now we’re heading into the Autumn. Delicious wine for the price – really – bravo!
Rebuy – Yes
 

Another week/weekend of 1997 research for the forthcoming Burgundy Report – but I managed to slip in another bottle…

2011 Domaine Albert Joly, Puligny-Montrachet Les Tremblots
A little deeper colour than seems correct for such a (theoretically) youthful wine. Waxy lemon and a suggestion of caramel on the nose – but alive and attractive. Mouth-filling, fresh, mouth-watering too, plenty of density and but nothing hard or abrupt. Just a little caramel in the finish, like the nose. Tasty wine on which I wouldn’t take a chance by keeping longer – but it’s tasty enough today!
Rebuy – Maybe