1997

1997 Lafarge Michel Volnay 1er Cru

By on February 29, 2004 #asides

Medium cherry red, just starting to take on a more ruby colour. The nose is of bright red fruits – just a little primary and one-dimensional. The palate is fresh and clean with a quite lovely understated concentration coupled with discrete tannins. Just a little creamy edge to the finish. Showing in a young way and not a typical 1997 style. Very nice.

1997 Gros Michel Vosne-Romanée Clos des Réas

By on February 29, 2004 #asides

Medium, medium-plus cherry red with a little amber. The oak is barely detectable together with black and red fruit pies. Excellent fruit and depth with good acidity. Starting to drink now.

1997 Parent Corton

By on February 29, 2004 #asides

One of the rare white Corton’s i.e. one made on soil normally producing red wines. Still it’s the land that is classed as Grand Cru so this also carries that tag despite not being from the ‘Charlemagne’ area. The first bottle was quite interesting in a thin, mineral sort of way but betrayed a little taint and was absolutely not of Grand Cru quality. So bottle number two is golden in colour. The nose is deep and totally different to bottle number one, perhaps just the merest trace of oxidation – perhaps not it’s very faint – maybe it’s just the mix of nuts and faint cheese (better than it sounds) that seems to be there. The palate is very fat, perhaps needs just a lift more of acidity, but there’s interesting high toned fruit and is long too – though just a little bitterness and yes now I think there is some oxidation. Given the slight nutty oxidative note I’d say this wine is not for keeping. A very interesting wine, and in terms of density it’s worthy of Grand Cru status – but it’s a world away from the following wine.

1997 Clair Bruno Corton-Charlemagne

By on February 29, 2004 #asides

Compared to Bruno’s Marsannay the colour seems okay, a pale gold colour. The nose has lots of depth, a little more oak than is necessary, but the fruit has a creamy edge. With time the oak fades and the pineapple fruit comes more to the fore, a little caramel too. The fruit is concentrated, even intense. Good length, even a coconut element which makes for added interest. A very good wine then, though not quite to the level of Bonneau du Martray’s. Will obviously continue to improve.

1997 Bonneau du Martray Corton-Charlemagne

By on February 29, 2004 #asides

Paler gold. Nose starts very closed, gradually a lemony note comes through just hinting at something deeper, the lemon becomes more lime with time. No fireworks on the nose but there’s a blast on the palate, perfect acidity and a true multidimensional palate. Very long too. I’d say this is both excellent and very young. I just might look to top the cellar up with a few more of these!

1997 Varoilles Gevrey-Chambertin Clos des Varoilles

By on February 29, 2004 #asides

Medium ruby red shading to amber. Again the nose is a little muted, same high tones but a more roasted aspect to the fruit. Fat with almost good acidity and still a little tannin. The rôti note is more obvious still on the palate. The finish is deep and admirably long but my preference would be for the previous wines.

1997 Brocard Jean-Marc Chablis Le Clos

By on February 29, 2004 #asides

Paler yellow. Some oak notes and higher flowery tones. Compared to the previous wine, the palate here, is a little ‘thinner’ and ‘dirtier’ – hopefully the oak artifact will fade. Medium citrussy length. Could improve as the oak fades, but seems much less classy than the previous wine.

1997 Faiveley Joseph Gevrey-Chambertin Combe aux Moines

By on February 29, 2004 #asides

Medium-plus ruby red, still with a shade of cherry – not much fading. The nose shows sweet raspberry and red cherry pie – complex and enticing. The palate shows fresh acidity, like biting into fresh fruit – if only the tannins and finish were a match. Despite good length, they start a little bitter and astringent. Certainly improves (up to a point) with aeration and food and is quite drinkable – lovely fruit. Interesting – even nice – but not a ‘re-buy’.

1997 Maison Blanche Chablis Vaudesir

By on February 29, 2004 #asides

Yellow colour. Minerally, lemon nose. Much fatter than J-M Boillot’s Puligny, but less mineral than the nose suggested. The acidity is excellent and there’s a trace of nuttyness. Long but no complexity. I’d say that this is still very young. Very good today, could become excellent in time.

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