Pierre Vincent at Domaine Leflaive.

Tasting 2016s this morning, there was this chance to see what a whole hectare of Montrachet delivered in 2016 – due of-course to the frost of 27 April. Six producers assembled all their grapes from 1 hectare of vines so there was enough to vinify. Here, in the second part of elevage, they are packed into two stainless-steel tanks that total 530 litres – 5 hectolitres per hectare – so half a litre per square metre. From the 2017 vintage, Leflaive alone have almost the same volume of wine, packed into in a single bespoke barrel.

Notes in the October Burgundy Report, but the tanks of Montrachet weren’t being opened – Pierre would have needed six signatures 🙂

2015 François Mikulski, Meursault 1er Caillerets
A deep and, of course, young colour. The nose is of simmering blueberry – it’s certainly enticing! The palate starts slow and narrow, getting wider and wider, slowly wider. A little fine-grained tannin and flavour leaching from your gums. There is so much more about this wine than the easy, accessible, delicious flavour – beautiful mid-palate structure and definition – but for today the flavour is very much enough…
Rebuy – Yes

2015 François Mikulski, Meursault 1er Poruzots
Wide and fresh nose, faintly toasty, more faintly and classically ginger-spiced. Nice volume on the mouth, just a little structure followed by a good burst of fresh complexity with mixed citrus before the finish. The finish has sweetness and a good weight. A fine drink with lots to enjoy, just a twist more energy would have made it even greater!
Rebuy – Yes

For anyone who follows the tastings – or rather the successful wines – of the Tastevinage, the results of last Friday’s tastings are now available online.

You can find them here.

2002 Louis Jadot, Vosne-Romanée 1er Les Petits Monts
Hmm – great aromatic volume here – obviously Vosne-spiced too. Supple concentration in the mouth, still a little tannic texture – good volume too – not pinched by any age or any tightness. Nicely finishing if now showing a more modest width. Tasty, moreish wine – Yum! Jacques Lardière once told me that he thought Petits Monts a ‘second division’ Vosne 1er – regardless – he did a great job here!
Rebuy – Yes

2000 de la Vougeraie, Clos de Vougeot
Medium-plus colour, with certainly some maturity of colour. The nose starts with a deep and earthy oak impression – this could have been reduction but it it was stable – it has the slightest cigarette ash impression – just falling short of too much though. It’s rather a complex and sweet nose for all that. Very nice volume in the mouth without any overt fat – this is structural and alive, lovely waves of acid-led flavour with still just a hint of finishing bitters. There is enough sweetness here to counter the acidity and leave something that is super-tasty – almost completely delicious. I’m torn between admiring and enjoying this wine – it’s a super 2000 and not fully mature. Easy to enjoy…
Rebuy – Yes