Since mid-2005, Remoissenet have been under new ownership – it has to be all the better from a quality perspective as good premier crus from great vintages e.g. 1999 were at best dull and lifeless. What better way to start the assessment of the new regime than with their most basic product? The colour is medium cherry-red. The nose is rather good; fresh, ripe, slightly powdery red cherry – no confiture – some high tones and nice depth. The palate is rather fresh with plenty of mouthwatering acidity. The fruit is high-toned in the mouth and (for a 2005 at least) just a little tart. The relatively fine grained tannin is there if you search. Overall much fresher than many fruit-bomb 2005’s and if that’s your style, at this price it’s very much recommended.
2005
2005 Roulot Guy Bourgogne Rouge
Another 05 bourgogne that’s deeply coloured and quite purple. Close your eyes and the first sniffs could convince you that it’s white wine in your glass – lightly toasted bread and well mannered oak of some depth – you have to concentrate to spot the background black cherry. The palate is fresh, showing plenty of mouth-watering acidity, some astringent tannin and good length with a faint edge of bitterness. Lots of personality again and again recommended, but at €16.50 it certainly doesn’t show the value of the Lignier-Michelot – or if your prepared to wait, the Arlaud.
2005 Jadot Louis Bourgogne Chardonnay
2002 was fantastic and 2004 was very good, so I bought a six-pack of 2005 blind! The nose is pretty classic for this bottling with faintly oaky, sweet depth, pear fruit and some higher tones – eventually a little minerality too in this vintage. This has a slightly different stance to the plusher 2002, it’s very well balanced but throughout the mid-palate and into the finish it’s rather more mineral with slowly lingering acidity. Less facile than the very user friendly 2002, I think this will also be rather long lived. Excellent
2005 Roulot Guy Bourgogne Blanc
Plenty of toasty bread and brioche on the nose. The palate is very much about a savoury intensity wrapped with excellent acidity. There’s little here for instant gratification, rather a linear, mineral wine constructed for the longer term. I have no issue with the style and the quality is undeniable, but find it out of place in a bourgogne – even an expensive one such as this. Bourgogne’s should be fun, this will require a few years of slumber to provide that.
2005 Bichot Albert Bourgogne Pinot Noir Vieilles Vignes
Only made from grapes – no must or part-finished wine. Medium, medium-plus cherry red. High-toned, quite precise fruit on the nose – cherry compote. Lots of fresh fruit flavour here. The tannins have some grain and ‘grab’ your mouth with a little astringency – but they are quite ripe and playful. Whilst there is an almost Beaujolais aspect to the fruit, this is a great wine at its very low price point.
2005 Bouchard Père et Fils Bourgogne Rouge Les Coteaux des Moines
Made for the first time in 2003, this is a selection of the best purchased grapes which for the first time in 2005 will be sold outside of France. It’s a wide, soft and ripe nose. Equally soft on the palate but combining nice width and well balanced acidity. The finish has nice length with just a trace of young-oak bitterness, but this looks like it will be a super little wine. Approximately 1,000 cases made.