A little deeper again; darker, almost brooding – it promises much. More velvet than silk, narrow entry but widens showing more power in the finish. And it’s a mineral finish. More reserved but more power than the Clos de la Cave.
2008
2008 Chapuis Maurice Aloxe-Corton
2008 Chapuis Maurice Chorey-lès-Beaune
2008 Grivault Albert Meursault
2008 Clark David Côte de Nuits Villages
Medium-plus cherry-red colour. Like many of David’s wines the aromas have a dark undertow that has a hint of reduction at its core but there a musky padding to it that makes it quite compelling. Cool, this has just enough padding to cover the acidity – as it warms in the glass the balance is more generous. Very good width to not especially deep fruit, but there’s a hint of creaminess to add to the crunchy dark fruit and a lovely length. I like this very much, and whilst I might prefer to drink it before the fruit fades and the acidity becomes pronounced, it might still be interesting to save a bottle or two. Very nice indeed.
2008 Olivier Antoine et Rachel Santenay Les Temps de C(e)rises
Medium-plus, bright cherry red colour. The soft red fruit has width and impressive depth, a faint musty/stalky element to but it’s more complexity than a negative – it is anyway gone after 30 minutes of air. Full, bright, perhaps a hint petillant to start – I’ll let it settle for a while. Settle down it does; there is depth, impressive intensity and a clarity to the fruit that you don’t always find with Santenay. The acidity is just about covered, helped by quite some velvet texture, but still gives a lip-smacking effect – better than mouth puckering I suppose. I like this a lot for it’s ebullient ‘crunchy’ fruit, but when it loses some flesh it will be more challenging. Factor in a price of just over €10 and it is an absolute winner – bravo!
2008 Rateau Jean-Claude Beaune Clos des Mariages
2008 Rateau Jean-Claude Beaune Prévolles
2008 Buisson-Charles Pommard
Patrick was very happy with his 08 Pommard, it was a lot of work through the growing season but it avoided hail and in the end he used 20% whole clusters. This has depth and a little richness to the aromas. Fine structure and concentration – there is lots of flavour but delivered with balance and a little minerality. Also sold out – what a shame (for me).