Tasted in Chassagne with Vincent, the 14 October 2015.
Domaine Vincent Dancer
23 Route de Santenay
21190 Chassagne-Montrachet
Tel: +33 3 80 21 94 48
www.vincentdancer.com
Vincent has run the family’s vines since 1995 – his first harvest in 1996 – his father had chosen a different career-path, away from their vines. Vincent’s production was destined for the négoce until 2002. In 2003 he bottled for himself – the production today is about 70-75 barrels. Everything here is bio…
Vincent on 2015s:
“I started harvesting at the end of August. The fermentations are now going, and we had very nice grapes. The quantity was a little low due to the lack of rain, but the actual grapes had a nice cleanliness and balance. I’m really satisfied with that which nature delivered,”
Vincent on 2014s:
2014s are still in elevage, on their lees in tank right now. Bottling will start early next year – the wines were racked in August. The wines have seemed discreet at the start, but are now opening with good fruit. There’s another 4-5 months of elevage and whilst there’s an obvious fruit now, I’m sure the elegance will come more to the fore.
Vincent on pricing:
Prices stay the same here, the same since 2012.
The wines…
2014 Bourgogne
From two parcels of vines; one in Meursault near the ‘hopital’ and the other in Puligny.
A hint of reduction. In the mouth this is forward, and full of energy. Today it’s just a hint tart but lets see.
2014 Chassagne-Montrachet
The wines are very cold despite the cellar warmth, but swirling coaxes a modest Chassagne nose from the glass. More weight, really good depth of flavour and an ebullient energy – yum! A good weight of texture here too.
2014 Meursault Le Corbin
From vines just under Santenots.
Small reduction. More complexity from the start, a little softer texture but no lack of acidity and energy here. Super intensity in the mid palate. Yum again!
From just under Tessons, older vines than the Corbin.
More Meursault aromatic here, with a faint ginger cake. But in the mouth this is also more direct and lithe, with lovely mouth-watering flavour that doesn’t attack with intensity – lovely…
From the highest plot of vines within Morgeot, planted in 1954. Vincent recovered these vines in 2000 and labelled with the lieu-dit Tête de Clos instead of Morgeot – the first to do so – others said ‘where’s that?’ Now it’s much better known.
A hint reductive on the nose, it’s deeper probably because of that. Beautiful silky texture with a salt-edged complexity – an understated but perfectly balanced wine and finely flavoured wine – bravo! Great wine
A hint reduced too, though the pretty aromas above are almost hinting more to Meursault – a little rounder and perhaps more fruit too. Bigger in the mouth, rounder but mouth-watering flavour and very silky texture – also a gorgeous wine with a hint more energy – there’s minerality too. Also great wine!
2014 Meursault 1er Perrières
Vincent has very good neighbours; his vines sit between those of Lafon and Roulot.
Sullen aromas slowly add width and silk, and very slowly a faint spice too. A leading edge of salt, followed by a slow-moving wave of silky mineral flavour over the palate. Here the flavour rests, rather primary over the tongue. But this really has a panoramic width in the finish. It’s quite hard to follow those two Chassagnes, but this is very primary and quite super, but certainly with less to see today…
2014 Chevalier-Montrachet
From 1952, these are the oldest vines of domaine – ‘good roots’ says Vincent!
Almost discreet, a round, silky nose of quite some depth, but no reduction. Entry is swift but then suddenly there is width – a wine that flows over the tongue and is very complex with good energy, yet, like the Perrières, is just a little reserved after those Chassagnes. Joyous finishing impression and it holds a super persistence of flavour.