1996 Guy Castagnier, Clos de Vougeot
Hmm – starts a little disappointing – particularly after a stellar last bottle and a similarly brilliant 97 Clos de la Roche during harvest. The nose is sullen and hints at brett. The flavours are not terrible, but not special either. Day two this has way too much brett and is cloudy. Not really drinkable – yet – it was great in the sauce for my sausages!
Rebuy – No

1999 Fourrier, Gevrey-Chambertin Vieilles-Vignes
The cork is soaked beyond right through – a problem with many pre-2002 Fourriers – but the wine seems to have survived; it starts a little stinky/reduced but shaking to reduce the amount of gas (yes, it’s still in there!) improves things very quickly. Now fresh aromas, developed, faintly of leaves though not much fruit. In the mouth, narrow but beautifully mouth-watering flavour that shows an ever-growing width and really pretty layers of flavour – very good texture too. Just one more of these waits in the cellar, but currently this wine is drinking beautifully.
Rebuy – Yes

2012 Alex Gambal, Meursault Clos du Cromin
This wine has always had ample width and weight – almost old-style Meursault from both the aromas and impression across the tongue – but there’s really plenty of energy to keep pace. That said, it’s a bottle that I prefer to drink a glass of, before moving onto a red – it stays open 3 days, and it’s just as good at the end as the start. Good wine.
Rebuy – Yes

2010 Domaine Ramonet, Bourgogne Pinot Noir
Oh how pleased I am! I bought both the 2009 and 2010 on release. The 09 was lovely but the 10 was hard and a bit acidic. about 3 years down the line and this has really settled into it’s stride. The aromas are precise, fresh and inviting, and in the mouth it’s still fresh but now mouth-wateringly-so and very tasty too. Indeed Yum!
Rebuy – Yes

Okay, I realise that was just a bit clickbaity, but I really did open one – if only the Bourgogne Rouge – fortunately it was drinking very well indeed 😉

Since Allen Meadows scored this domaine’s 2005s, they basically departed the world’s list of ‘available’ wines – at least for mere mortal pricing. My recent cellar move was allowed me discover lots of interesting bottles, so here was the tester.

2005 Ponsot, Bourgogne Cuvée du Pinson
According to the label there were just 1704 bottles of this domaine wine produced, (plus magnum+jeroboams? – probably not…) and it reached a mere 12.6% alcohol – according to the label anyway. The temperature ‘spot’ on my label remains pristine and white – though don’t take that as a guarantee of anything in particular as the earlier implementations are notoriously unreliable.
A good, not too young colour that you can easily see through – no opaque monster. Hmm – nice – the nose is clearly ripe but also freshly direct like fresh cranberry juice. In the mouth too, this is certainly not in the top league of powerful, extracted 2005 bourgognes, rather it is a wine of nice intensity, really excellent balance and an uncommonly silky texture. Very yum drinking now, and really no rush at all to consume. Excellent Bourgogne if not a ‘special’ wine in the context of the vintage!
Rebuy – Yes (if ever seen)