The 2006’s of Mischief & Mayhem

Update 28.9.2011(8.9.2008)billn

Another small visit to the Aloxe-Corton home of Mischief and Mayhem. I seem to be becoming a regular buyer of wines here as the quality remains formidable for the price. It is now the 4th year of operation and I was able to taste (and buy) some of these, their ‘core range’ from the 2006 vintage.

When I tasted in May 2008, all of their 2006’s were bottled.

2006 Mischief and Mayhem, Meursaulttry to find this wine...
From three parcels that average to 45 year-old vines, bottled in December. Medium-pale yellow. This has width and freshness, plus a subtle pear fruit on the nose. Very good acidity that shows a citrus ‘zing’ and length. Good weight in the mid-palate. A good villages.

2006 Mischief and Mayhem, Puligny-Montrachettry to find this wine...
Bottled in February. Medium-pale yellow. A little more depth and a creamy note on the nose. Again a good acid profile and a lovely burst of interest in the mid-palate. The lenght is savoury then without warning there is a creamy burst of flavour that is reminiscent of a fine 1er cru. This is a very fine villages that performs well above the label – it also gives no hint to it’s 14%.

2006 Mischief and Mayhem, Puligny-Montrachet 1er Les Cailleretstry to find this wine...
The nose has less overt width, rather a really dense core of fruit – eventually becomes a little more expressive with a faint brioche note. Clearly more concentration despite lower (13.5%) alcohol. Smooth texture and much more minerality than the villages. The length again is quite savoury and mineral. Super balance. Only ‘very fine’ versus the 2005’s ‘outstanding’, though the value clearly remains.

2006 Mischief and Mayhem, Meursault 1er Genevrièrestry to find this wine...
Medium-pale yellow. Aromatic width with a lovely sweet brioche and faint citrus notes. This fills your mouth with wide citrussy acidity and a super length. Lithe rather than fat and very moreish!

2006 Mischief and Mayhem, Nuits St.Georgestry to find this wine...
Bottled in March, this is almost an equal mix of wine from the north and south of the appellation. Medium colour. Mineral-edged cherry fruit and some floral, violet notes. Well-balanced acidity and tannin melds with good fruit. There is a little tannin clinging to the side of your mouth, but it’s supple and ripe. Just a suggestion of coffee on the finish. This is a good villages.

2006 Mischief and Mayhem, Chambolle-Musignytry to find this wine...
A blend of two sites, one of 25 year-old vines planted near the road, the other of 60 year-old vines. The nose starts rather mineral with hints of cedar and dark fruit – you really need to spend a little time with the glass for it to open up with fruit, floral and even chocolate hints. This is very sophisticated in the mouth, showing very fine tannins and a perfect freshness. A good burst of fruit that’s rather classy and concentrated on the mid-palate. The finish lingers, then a little like the villages Puligny provides a creamy reprise. It needs a couple of years in the cellar, but it will better an ‘average’ 1er cru.

2006 Mischief and Mayhem, Vosne-Romanéetry to find this wine...
Faint spiced bread overlays a denser undercurrent of fresh plummy fruit, that slowly transforms into cherry and even redcurrant notes. Good ripenes and slightly grainy tannin. There is a strong and wide impression in the mouth that pushes unchanged into the finish. This would also benefit from a year in the cellar, but is already quite drinkable and very tasty.

Agree? Disagree? Anything you'd like to add?

There is one response to “The 2006’s of Mischief & Mayhem”

  1. Peter Brown23rd September 2008 at 10:18 amPermalinkReply

    I see these notes are extensively quoted by Armit in their e-mail extolling the virtues of Mischief and Mayhem. But £343 for a 6 bottle case of the PM Caillerets seems steep to me.

    • bill nanson23rd September 2008 at 12:15 pmPermalinkReply

      @Peter Brown – Hi Peter.
      Interesting that they didn’t ask if it was okay to use my comments! I would say 2 things:

      1. Firstly, below £60 is not that bad by UK pricing standards for the appellation, and versus the quality (was it 2006 or 2005?) of what’s in the bottle, the 2005 is certainly worth it, the 2006 I would flip a coin – it’s very close for yes/no.
      2. If you wanted to buy more than 6, you would probably spend the same amount of money if you decided to make your own driving tour of the Côtes and buy direct from their shop – If you didn’t buy anything else 😉 – but it would certainly be more fun.

      Just because they are a new name doesn’t necessarily mean the wines are not worth the cash.
      Cheers, Bill
      [edit] PS Having seen the email, I’ve no problem with them using my notes as they are fully attributed.

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