A strong wine from ‘dee-joy-er roy-er’…

2010 Digioia-Royer, Chambolle-Musigny
Deep colour. The nose starts with a little cola from the CO₂, but as it fades dark fruit comes to the fore with a delightful aroma of black cherries and violets too. Despite the nose cleaning-up, the palate needs longer for the rasp of gas to leave. Dark flavours that hint towards reduction – though it’s far from obvious – with an extra depth of fruit flavour in the mid-palate, just accented with a little cream – seemingly from fruit not barrel, plenty of extract in the finish too. That said there’s a espresso-like bitterness in the finish, perhaps a hint of salt too – it is very well-judged oak after-all! An hour after opening, this is really very fine! Day two it’s a stream-lined, silky beauty – yum!
Rebuy – Yes

2010 Buisson-Charles, Bourgogne Pinot Noir
Medium, medium-plus colour. The nose is quite dark red cherry with perhaps a raspberry acompanyment too. A ripe entry with more succulent sweet fruit than you have right to expect in all but the warmest vintages. Succulent is the perfect word, I think. Like the nose, the fruit is a deep red cherry with a furry, slightly grainy hook of tannin. Outstanding Bourgogne.
Rebuy – Yes

The Poulleau from a couple of days ago was really good, but how good? Let’s contrast it to the wine of Thomas Bouley…

2010 Jean-Marc, Volnay Vieilles Vignes
Deeper colour than the Poulleau. The nose is a little spritzy/cola – CO₂. I give the bottle a few shakes to release the gas and leave it to rest for an hour. The fragrance improves to a deep, dark cherry-skin but never the cliché of floral delicacy that the Poulleau offers. Here is depth, density and concentration wrapped up in a super-smooth, beautifully mouth-watering package – just very lovely – though shaded to the dark-red/black spectrum versus the pure red of the Poulleau. Just very fine wine.
Rebuy – Yes

Overall, I prefered the aromatics and colour of the Poulleau wine, but here Thomas has delivered far better balance and concentration – same label, very different styles – but styles of wine rather than barrel etcetera!

My first Poulleau – the label is a little for your Grandmother, but she will surely enjoy the contents!

2010 Poulleau Père et Fils, Volnay Vieilles Vignes
Bright, medium, medium-plus colour. High tones, with a growing floral note – quite nice. This is quite fine; lovely acidity and tannin with a little drag but little grain – the fruit is red shaded and grows in intensity through the mid-palate – give it time, and there’s a clear strawberry note. Good finishing flavour with a well of acidity, and decent focus too – a good Volnay.
Rebuy – Yes

There is a frisson of excitement when you see the yellow wax top – silly I know! This wine was cheaper (in a great restaurant) than I could buy it retail in Switzerland – clearly I had no choice…

2010 François Raveneau, Chablis Valmur
Medium lemon yellow colour. The nose pulls you in with fine minerals, a little lemon fruit, green herb and the impression of a waxy silkiness. In the mouth this is super-smooth, with a very fine, though not amazing, intensity. The flavour is long, majoring on mineral elements rather than fruit – as you would hope – and holds beautifully. The acidity, despite the wine’s intensity, is just a hint understated – though far from lacking. Just a super-competent wine, rather than the epiphany that prices suggest/promise…
Rebuy – Yes