Rather than (as intended) smoking my keyboard with prose for next weekend’s scheduled Autumn issue of the Burgundy Report, I seem to have spent a whole day trying to catch up on what’s gone on over the last 3 weeks. First I particularly like the post on the Berry Bros weblog that commemorates their 1909 price-list whilst launching the 2009 version.
I didn’t check the 2009 numbers, but I assume they’re higher! Interesting that (below) Romanée-Conti is not so expensive relative to the other (latent) grand crus – I wonder if they still have some of that Chambertain, Clos St.Jacques in the cellar – it’s not impossible – as it sounds rather interesting… berry bros and rudd 1909 burgundy pricelist
So what else have I spotted(?) Well there’s a nice piece on the 2008 vintage from David Clark here. Note that his perspective is one of a ‘central Côte de Nuits’ producer so as valuable a data-point as it is, it’s only a small part of the 2008 story – I’ll expand next weekend in the new issue.
So what else do we have? Well, amongst others, I’m sure you will need a wine investment strategy! – though I’m not sure it’s appropriate for the scented ‘Bitch Goddess Of Grapes‘, despite good performance in New Zealand, particularly as fine wine prices hit new lows – perhaps the Leroy ‘brand‘ is an antidote(?) but I doubt it given the offer on 1993 Leroys that hit my inbox last week! Clearly wine karma needs improving for most if not all people!
While I was away there was the Hospices de Beaune auction. That was bad timing on my part as I was in possession of two lovely invitations to visit and taste old wines – you can’t win them all I suppose. Anthony Hanson’s description of the wines as coming from a ‘Burgundy lover’s vintage’ – well he would wouldn’t he(?) – didn’t help very much, despite them being very pretty wines, but Maison Albert Bichot certainly put their money where their mouth is, and didn’t Albéric look dapper!
It was nice to see someone talking about real Beaujolais whilst I was away – not just once, but twice – so far I’ve avoided the marketing efforts of the ‘nouveau-ers’. Even more surprising is the public discovery of two new regions in burgundy – the Mâconnais and Chalonaise!
Clos de Vougeot 2006 75cl 295.00
Echezeaux 2006 75cl 295.00
Grands Echezeaux 2006 75cl 295.00
It’s confirmed that the world has indeed gone mad, I’m only surprised in 2 areas; 1) that the prices are lower than the Comte Georges de Vogüé wines, and 2) that the Grands Echezeaux is not showing a premium over the Echezeaux – maybe the quality differential is missing? I have not ordered any for ‘testing’.
GRANDS CRUS – DOMAINE
CHABLIS Valmur 75cl 79.00
CHABLIS Bougros Côtes de Bouquerots 75cl 79.00
CHABLIS Les Preuses 75cl 79.00
CHABLIS Les Clos 75cl 89.50
Interesting not only that the top wines are about 80% more expensive than the 2002 vintage, but also that the Le Clos is now being described as ‘rare’. Do they mean undercooked? – I have the feeling you can find it anywhere, perhaps allocations are down…
VINS BLANCS
PERNAND VERGELESSES Clos Croix de Pierre 75cl 36.00 SFr
CORTON CHARLEMAGNE 75cl 138.00
CHEVALIER-MONTRACHET Les Demoiselles 75cl 345.00
VINS ROUGES
GEVREY-CHAMBERTIN Les Cazetiers 75cl 69.50
GEVREY-CHAMBERTIN Le Clos St-Jacques 75cl 119.00
NUITS-SAINT-GEORGES Aux Boudots 75cl 79.50
VOSNE-ROMANEE Les Beaux-Monts 75cl 89.50
VOSNE-ROMANEE Les Petits Monts 75cl 95.00
VOSNE-ROMANEE Les Suchots 75cl 95.00
CHAMBOLLE-MUSIGNY Les Fuées 75cl 75.00
CHAMBOLLE-MUSIGNY Les Baudes 75cl 79.50
CHAMBOLLE-MUSIGNY Les Amoureuses 75cl 199.50
CLOS DE VOUGEOT 75cl 119.50
ECHEZEAUX 75cl 148.00
CLOS DE LA ROCHE 75cl 125.00
CLOS SAINT DENIS 75cl 178.00
CHAMBERTIN Clos de Bèze 75cl 246.00
BONNES-MARES 75cl 198.00
That’s the first time I ever saw an offer for the Demoiselles, I shan’t be biting though. Overall I find the prices comme-ci comme-ça, if not completely outrageous, but they are not where I need to energise me to use my plastic: I still have this ‘old-fashioned’ notion that good 1ers should cost 40-60 SFr, and decent GC’s more like 70-120 SFr, hence, I’ll keep buying older vintages where still available, like here, or here!
Amidst all the general hype, BdM has kept prices rather steady over the last year or three. About 20% more expensive than lesser know producers, but equally about 20% cheaper than the likes of Henri Boillot. At release I would say that HB does manage to get more into the bottle, but also for me the jury is out on their longevity given ‘issues‘ with my former ‘beau’, the 2001 Henri Boillot.
I think these prices are not bad at all….
Also in today, a new post from Jasper Morris to read…
Rather than (as intended) smoking my keyboard with prose for next weekend’s scheduled Autumn issue of the Burgundy Report, I seem to have spent a whole day trying to catch up on what’s gone on over the last 3 weeks. First I particularly like the post on the 
While I was away there was the