I’m currently straining at the bit for ‘vendanges info’ as I won’t be in the Côtes until next Monday – to distract myself this weekend, not only a few hours walking in the ‘hills’ but a trio of nice wines too: Starting with Daniel Rion’s 1995 Vosne 1er les Beaux Monts. It’s not that long since I gave a note on that one – so I won’t repeat myself – but again it was a good wine. Then a pair of Île de Vergelesses – both were on great form. I can see me collecting a few other labels from this vineyard over the next months…

2009 Chandon de Briailles, Pernand-Vergelesses 1er Ile des Vergelesses
Medium, medium-plus colour. The nose gives a simply wonderful impression – a large bowl of dark-skinned, perfectly ripe cherries. In the mouth there is real concentration, understated tannin which may be suave but is also powerful. The acidity is enough, if undemonstrative, yet effortlessly delivers the mid-palate’s depth of flavour. Understated yet impressive length – rather like the wine itself…
Rebuy – Yes

2008 Dubreuil-Fontaine, Pernand-Vergelesses 1er Ile des Vergelesses
Medium, medium-plus colour. There’s a hint of musk with dark red fruit – not so much vanilla as last time. Finely muscled and intense, borne on the lovely (when balanced) acidity of the vintage. The mid-palate fruit also showcases that musky character – but in a very, very nice way. Super finishing flavours – this remains a hit and is still very, very drinkable.
Rebuy – Yes

What a coincidence – I find one of these in the cellar but don’t have my camera to hand, so look if I’ve a photo from a previous T-B Lavières – lo and behold, almost exactly one year ago, the same wine! Maybe I should start to ‘research’ before I pop the cork! Oh well! As a footnote, this is now a little narrower and sleeker, I was also too late to buy some magnums…

2008 Tollot-Beaut, Savigny-lès-Beaune 1er Les Lavières
Deep, dark, squeeky-clean fruit with just a little vanilla to add weight. There is still plenty of comfy texture, dovetailed to fine acid-borne intensity – the last note remains a hint of vanilla-infused rock – the tannin is still completely submerged in its fine-ness. I think it’s lost just a little fat in the last year, but it remains very drinkable – very!
Rebuy – Yes

2008 Comtes Lafon, Monthélie 1er Les Duresses
There’s a bit of texture from some dissolved CO₂ – I make a quick impression of a racing driver, there’s a ‘phut’ from the end of the bottle (as I remove my finger), and we can carry on. Medium, medium-plus colour. The nose has a little of that stewed 2008 cabbage impression but’s completely dispersed by a quick swirl – revealed is a dark cherry fruit surrounded with a biscuity note. In the mouth this just lovely – nicely intense dark fruit with a beautiful acid lift in the mid-palate, only just ripe – picked à point! With the lift of acidity, there’s also a flash of frank red fruit. Decent texture with a little furry tannin, finishing with a lovely fresh flavour. Finished rather quickly, it has to be said…
Rebuy – Yes

Second bottle of this yesterday evening – just lovely…