Vosne-Romanée

2003 Clos Frantin Vosne-Romanée

By on February 28, 2005 #asides

A later harvest for this wine – another 10 days after the ban des vendanges to allow the phenolics to ripen. Medium, medium-plus cherry red. The nose is sweet and starts a little heavy, slowly becomes a little higher toned over vanilla notes. The palate is fat, ripe and sweet, just a little purer cherry fruit at the back of the palate that follows into the vanilla driven finish. Tannins and acidity are conspicuous by their absence – actually everyone loved this, but I suspect it will be at it’s apogee over the next 5 or 6 years, rather than 15-16, not too much obvious ‘Vosne character’ either at this pre-release stage.

2002 Clos Frantin Vosne-Romanée

By on February 28, 2005 #asides

Medium cherry-red. The nose takes a little while to lose a dense woody note, but once gone there’s a slightly heavy and quite ripe morello cherry, becomes purer still and higher-toned with time. The palate is medium density and also needs a few minutes to iron-out the oak, but it’s well balanced and shows good length. The style is of a light to middle-weight with an extra, slightly vanilla tinged dimension on the finish. Like the nose there’s an ever improving impression to this wine, particularly the finish and the nose – I’d give this at least 3 or 4 years before returning – should be more than worthwhile.

2002 Chevigny Pascal Vosne-Romanée

By on February 28, 2005 #asides

Medium-plus cherry-red colour. The nose is a little yeasty at first and fresh-baked bread, then slowly starts to give up fresh black cherry and even a blue tinge to the fruit, just a little licorice and bacon too. The palate is mouthfilling with good acidity, medium-plus furry tannins and a spicy black fruit aspect. This wine manages to show both authority and drinkability in one very young package. No really overt oak character and at €17 from the Giant-Casino supermarket this is a bargain – I bought a few more.

1998 Arnoux Robert Vosne-Romanée

By on October 31, 2004 #asides

Given the block-buster reputation of this domaine’s V-R Suchots I was mildly surprised by this village wine. Medium but young colour. The wine really sings on the nose with beautiful red-cherry pie and a very interesting but slightly tighter depth. The palate is sweet, medium bodied and very elegant. Good acidity pushes the finish longer and longer. The tannins are there and in the slightly dry ’98 vernacular, well behaved but perhaps begging a little more fruit concentration. Elegant to start with, but the tannin does start to get in the way without food, very good with though.

1996 Engel René Vosne-Romanée

By on October 31, 2004 #asides

Medium red, with quite a dense core. The nose is sweetly red and faintly spicy. The palate is very fresh with a super core of fruit – but you need to wait a while in the glass – it’s not so obvious at first. The longer it’s in the glass the better it gets – one to wait another 3 or 4 years for.

1998 Gros Frère & Soeur Vosne-Romanée

By on June 30, 2004 #asides

Good deep colour, still shaded to cherry red. The nose is deep, black and spicy – just a little high tone akin to a redcurrant and raspberry mix, becomes quite blackberry then more raisined. The palate has plenty of drying tannin – slightly astringent at the end and a black aspect to fruit here too. Good length and acidity. This wine is super, but very, very young – I’d go for this ahead of the Grivot.

1998 Engel René Vosne-Romanée

By on June 30, 2004 #asides

Medium-plus cherry red, no sign of ruby yet. The nose starts with a burst of well toasted oak – lasts only a minute or two – replaced by red pinot fruits against a background of sweet Vosne spice and faint tobacco. Concentrated fruit, red & black, mouthwatering acidity and forward, slightly grainy tannin. Tannins are much less drying than either of the following Vosnes. This will start to drink well earlier than many – but still wait another 3 years.

1993 Mugneret-Gibourg Georges Vosne-Romanée

By on February 29, 2004 #asides

I don’t know, maybe it was the 4 days of furniture moving, or then again perhaps it was the two weeks of shiraz, malbec and merlot etc., but boy did this wine sing. Straight from the cellar (14°C), A lovely medium blood-red colour – just fading a little to the rim. The nose has spicy tertiary notes that surround a centre of currant, coffee, tobacco and high toned fruits. In the mouth there’s perfect harmony – lingering acidity and only just fading drying tannins. The fruit has a compelling raspberry/strawberry complexion. Not very fat, but oh so fresh – really lovely – a village wine that transcends its appelation and the notion of numerical scores. I’d say this is only just entering its drinking window – with at least 10 years ahead to keep enjoying.

1996 Engel René Vosne-Romanée

By on February 29, 2004 #asides

Medium ruby colour fading very little to the rim. The nose is pure, characteristic Vosne, starting with a touch of undergrowth, deep spicy notes, a touch of black fruit and slowly developing, eventually dominating, raspberry. The palate is very fresh from the forward acidity, showing reasonably concentrated red cherry fruit – still quite primary. The tannins finish with a little unintrusive grain and the finish is almost good. Without showing real fat, the wine is still mouthfilling and obviously some way from maturity. I’ll try the next in another couple of years – good wine.

Burgundy Report

Translate »

You are using an outdated browser. Please update your browser to view this website correctly: https://browsehappy.com/;