‘Nomacorked’. This has a fresh but forward nose of dark red fruit with a mint-leaf impression too – quite like the Potel but with more depth and balance. The flavour is also quite forward and friendly, the acidity giving the impression of sweet and sour in combination with the fruit. In the mouth the impression is of roundness, and I have to say it’s rather delicious too. Far from the concentration of the Camille-Giroud or the Pataille, but more effortlessly drinkable today.
Bourgogne Pinot Noir
2009 Ramonet Noel Bourgogne Pinot Noir
2009 Mischief and Mayhem Bourgogne Pinot Noir
Bottled in July 2010, this wine is blend of grapes from Aloxe, Côte Chalonaise, Hautes Côtes de Nuits and Brochon. A bright and friendly red cherry nose jumps from the glass to greet you – it’s almost cordial. Uncommon weight and concentration for a Bourgogne, the ripe fruit is edged with a hint of tannin – all things you hardly find in a Bourgogne.
2010 Buisson-Charles Bourgogne Pinot Noir
2009 Buisson-Charles Bourgogne Pinot Noir
2009 Digioia-Royer Bourgogne Pinot Noir
2009 Mischief and Mayhem Bourgogne Pinot Noir
2007 Olivier Antoine et Rachel Bourgogne Pinot Noir
Medium colour. The nose has more than a hint of borderline ripe herb and slightly alcoholic top notes but there is red fruit too. On the tongue, the acidity is not too bright, though as the flavour drifts into the finish there is some lip-smacking tartness. The mid-palate flavour-dimension is actually quite nice and below the sour is just enough sweet. This isn’t a wine I’d recommend, but it is quite drinkable.
2005 Croix (des) Bourgogne Pinot Noir
Popped and poured. Still a relatively deep, purple-highlighted colour. The very faint background reduction mixes with a little oak and higher-toned alcoholic notes – that could be a little CO2 – let’s see. Slowly that slightly volatile element calms with, first, high-toned redcurrant then raspberry as the aromatic profile becomes more settled. Fine, soft tannin, slightly plush with a very silky texture. Really good pinot flavour and again an oaky impression plus a little creamy depth in the mid-palate. Really fills the mouth but with dimension rather and acid-driven expansion. Super. Wait a couple of hours and the oak/reduction is on a lower level and the nose is both deeper and darker. And the flavour, well it rather recedes – it’s still there and still interesting but you have to chew harder on the tannin to find it – still without the dimension of its early phase. Just very good young wine with a quality level bearing no resemblance to its label. Day 2?: The nose is now about blackberry/blackcurrant. The palate is a little unusual as it starts wide but narrows very quickly – the cream undertow is back and the fruit is darker than the first day, but it is almost cordial-like – far too easy to drink!