Medium-plus colour, with flashes of purple. A super, super young nose of faint, creamy creme brulée over dark, almost jellied fruit – it’s rather exciting. In the mouth it’s superbly intense, balanced by gushing, but super acidity. The one down-side (for me) is that the dominant flavours are mainly dark, bitter-chocolate oak. Certainly plenty of power, and the lingering flavours end with fruit rather than oak, so I expect time will suck up most of the wood – if not all those toasted flavours – it might (one day) even taste like Beaune! I’m quite impressed by the gusto here and may add a couple to the cellar.
Beaune Les Grèves
2006 Boisset Jean-Claude Beaune Les Grèves
1977 Thomas-Moillard Beaune Les Grèves
2005 Thomas-Moillard Beaune Les Grèves
Following the vineyards sale, there is just over one hectare remaining. Soft and sweetish red and black notes on the nose. The palate is fresh and lithe with understated complexity – not the über concentration of many from this vintage, but it’s very tasty and I expect it will be a good value bottle.
1997 Lafarge Michel Beaune Les Grèves
2002 Tollot-Beaut Beaune Les Grèves
Deep cherry-red. The nose is quite super; a deep and forward mix of black and red cherry over subtly creamy oak. Depth, concentration and velvety texture, pushed by the mouthwatering acidity this is very long. There’s still a littly oaky bitterness on the finish, another 2-3 years and I think this will be absorbed. Despite the open nose there’s a real brooding sense of character to this wine. Top-notch Beaune that will amply repay cellar time.
2004 Potel Nicolas Beaune Les Grèves
2004 Boisset Jean-Claude Beaune Les Grèves
From 70 year-old vines that produced a mere 12hl/ha, put another way, only 3 barrels from 1 hectare! Very deep colour. The nose is perfumed, some herb notes and slowly gives up a little kir and tar. In the mouth there is volume and concentration, plenty of tannin – but velvet tannin. Again no spare padding. This is a very serious Beaune that will require lots of cellar time – fantastic quality.
1997 Jadot Louis Beaune Les Grèves
Wasn’t able to replace the Clos des Ursules in time – so here’s the stand-in. Not normally quite as good as the ‘Clos’, but let’s see. Deep ruby colour – looks pretty young. The nose starts quite closed, but there’s plenty of high toned cherry fruit in the mouth – excellent acidity too. The tannins are very smooth and drying. The finish is medium-plus length. With time a lightly cooked nose of strawberry, plum and cherry develops and the fruit profile seems to become more red – redcurrant and raspberry. Perfectly balanced to leave as long as you wish. Very good.