Medium, medium-plus colour. The nose begins with deep but narrow aromas with a little mint-leaf and occasional but very pretty flowers and cream. There seems not too much tightening of flavour yet – there’s still a little rasp of tannin and a reasonable width of flavour too. Good acidity, which helps further expand the flavours in the mid-palate, which also shows a nice floral aspect. A more than adequate wine for the label!
2006
2006 Mischief and Mayhem Puligny-Montrachet
Golden colour. The nose has more than a little butterscotch and a core of floral aromas – eventually an appealing, if slightly disconcerting balsamic note that reminds me more of a red wine. The has a whack of quite powerful flavour, waxy silkiness and sufficient (plenty in a 2006 context) acidity for good balance. The finishing flavour is long with a hint of mineral, but also a trace of oxidation. Fully enjoyed, that oxidative note certainly not spoiling things but it would remind me to finish these up and replace with a younger vintage.
2006 Monnot Xavier Pommard Les Vignots
Medium-plus colour, still with purple highlights. The nose is reasonably forward but a bit burly and bulky with hints of cola, only after the bottle has been opened a couple of hours do you start to get some clear, clean and quite pretty fruit notes but it’s only from the last drops in the glass. Like the nose, this a broad-shouldered wine and it wears it’s tannin without a hint of reserve – but the tannin is ripe and not too grippy. There’s a nice breath of fresh acidity and a reasonable length, but I’m missing some excitement – not sure if it’s this wine or also a bit of 2006 thing – will have to check on some.
2006 Mischief and Mayhem Vosne-Romanée
A beautiful aroma rises from the glass; there is a little spice but it bubbles below with red berries and violets – lovely. The palate is becoming tight, but it retains just enough generosity that there is balance. It’s a little mineral in the long finish. Very good, but either just sniff or be prepared to wait a few years.
2006 Boisset Jean-Claude Morey St.Denis Monts Luisants Blanc
Pale yellow. The nose has hints of vanilla and botrytis – neither over-powering but it doesn’t give the impression that the wine will be a whirlwind of energy. As a complete contrast the acidity and, hence, the overall impression this wine delivers is quite ’2008′; fresh, some minerality but also still a depth of rich, faintly vanilla-inflected flavour. This is a very, very successful wine for the vintage – it’s so good in-fact, I could even be tempted to buy more, even though there was only one barrel! Yum!
2006 Bize Simon Savigny-lès-Beaune Blanc
2006 Fichet Jean-Philippe Meursault
2006 Billard Gabriel Pommard Les Vaumuriens
2006 Tardy Jean Fixin La Place
Medium colour. High tones, slightly volatile, a hint of leaf and beef broth, eventually a blue-skinned fruit comes through – actually, nicer than the description may sound. Also a high-toned fruit impression in the mouth. There is a little fat but it quickly falls to the background as the slightly astringent tannin covers it. Good acidity and medium length, nice flavours. Not much density. The initial slight volatility makes me think to drink young, but the tannin needs one or two years to melt a little. Day two this seemed better. Despite the astringency, this is far from a traditional ‘rustic’ Fixin. It’s well made yet quite expensive for a ‘villages’, or at least one that could offer a little more density…