Medium ruby-red. The nose is just a little reduced, eventually a mix of sweet, slightly dark oak and understated redder notes. The palate is fresh and linear with well-covered tannins. The acidity is a little tart, but there is quite enough fruit and a nice creamy edge to the fruit and acid-driven finish. Fresh but fun – I enjoyed.
Beaune Les Teurons
1996 Château Chorey-les-Beaune - Germain Beaune Les Teurons
Medium-plus ruby-red colour. The nose is high-toned and wide with a pronounced meaty/savoury aspect – characterful but it didn’t work for me. The main impression from the palate is the acidity – forward but quite soft. The wine is certainly intense and long, but at this stage in its development the aroma and flavour profile don’t endear it to me – more of a spotty adolescent than mature interest. Previous bottles have been much nicer so I will give this the benefit of the doubt. Remaining bottles will not be touched in the next 3-4 years…
1999 Jadot Louis Beaune Les Teurons
Medium ruby-red. This is a wine that needs to be cooled – at room temperature the nose and palate are diffuse and disappointing, cooler and it tightens up, becoming (a little) more interesting. The (cool) nose is high-toned with a core of red fruit fruit and plenty of minerally earth. The palate is beautifully balanced with good acidity and almost good length. It is rather linear and despite its relative sophistication (cold) has less ‘oomph’ than most village wines. I’m still a little disappointed.
1996 Château Chorey-les-Beaune - Germain Beaune Les Teurons
Medium, medium-plus colour. The nose is fresh, slightly minty but just a little jammy – raspberry jam. On the palate there’s classic 96 fruit/acidity balance, in this case relatively sweet fruit. Not the depth or concentration of the Castagnier Clos Saint Denis that preceded it but the length is comparable. Anyway, this was a beauty.