Archive for the ‘Burgundy’ Category

Dupont-Tisserandot Corton-Rognet Grand Cru 2006

Tuesday, May 11th, 2010

Would you believe this is my first bottle of wine in 2 months? Hmmmm, I thought not. Well many bottles have passed under the bridge of vineosity – perhaps I should do a quick summary. Anyhoo, this was one of the better ones. A bright nose, lifted but without any volatility; lively dark fruits with some earth and a touch of wood spice. The palate is youthful, bright fruits with good concentration, cherries and some cranberries, and just a touch of sap. With time, it became a bit fickle, morphing between young fruitiness and a lightly tannic persona. Eventually showed some minerally dryness on the finish. Regardless, maintained its tidy corners over 4 hours. RRP around $175 I think. Lots of value here for a red Burgundy – yeah I know Burgundy is over-priced, but don’t come complaining to me! Best between 2014 and 2021 I think, but is okay now if you’re impatient. Sealed under cork. Ballpark is 91-93 points.

Dupont-Tisserandot Ladoix 2007

Saturday, March 13th, 2010

Dupont-Tisserandot Ladoix 2007

The appellation of Ladoix takes its name from the village of Ladoix-Serrigny, and being situated near the hill of Corton, is neighbours the Corton and Aloxe-Corton appellations. There are some 1er cru Ladoix vineyards, but for the most part these are Villages wines. Like this one. A clear medium red in colour. Red berries and spice, underlying earthiness and a touch of elegance. Nice weight on the palate, cranberry and cherry fruits that brightened over time, with hints of spice, earth and leather. On the lighter side of medium bodied. Sealed under cork. 13% abv. RRP is around $35 I think, so a good value Burgundy if that’s what you’re after. Drink 2012-2016. 86 points.

Domaine Humbert Frères Fixin 2007

Tuesday, January 5th, 2010

Domaine Humbert Frères Fixin 2007

I had to get the camera out for this wine because I couldn’t find any decent pictures on the net. Any tips to take a better bottle shot would be appreciated. Sweetly perfumed, with cherry, raspberry, earth and a touch of oak spice: all soft and delicate. The palate is clear and clean: linear fruits, cherries and raspberries, with some spice. Supple with good persistence and no hard tannins. Quite a lovely wine, with the perfume being the highlight for me.

Rated : 87 Points
Tasted : Jan10
Alcohol : 13%
Price : $80
Closure : Cork
Drink : 2012-2017
Source : Eurocentric Wine

Hubert Lignier Gevrey-Chambertin 2000

Friday, December 11th, 2009

Hubert Lignier Gevrey-Chambertin 2000

I recently read a profile of Domaine Lucie et Auguste Lignier on the Burgundy Report. Here’s a link. Anyway, it got me thinking about some Hubert Lignier wines I purchased several years ago, and that perhaps it was time to try them. And I’m glad I did, because though this one was enjoyable, it is certainly at its peak, or perhaps a little past it. A light red. Bold aromas, glossy cherries, earth and some spice. On the lighter side of medium bodied, rounded flavours with red cherries, brown spices and dried meats. Not terribly complex, but has some poise. Has some acid on the finish. Very nice with a potato and ham frittata. Drink now.

Rated : 86 Points
Tasted : Dec09
Alcohol : 13%
Price : $75
Closure : Cork
Drink : 2009-2010
Source : Cellar

Louis Jadot Vosne-Romanée “Les Suchots” 1er cru 2001

Wednesday, December 9th, 2009

Louis Jadot Vosne-Romanée Les Suchots 1er cru 2001

I had a couple of decent glasses of this one on the weekend. It is now three years since I last tried it, and it is developing nicely; still a few years off its peak, but getting there. A lifted nose, with spice, black fruits, red cherries, a touch of brown sugar and caramel oak (but less and more integrated than last time). The palate was nicely poised, black cherries and raspberries combining with some spices, dried meat and minerally dryness. Medium weight and balanced with good length; a lovely wine.

Rated : 91 Points
Tasted : Nov09
Alcohol : 13.5%
Price : $130
Closure : Cork
Drink : 2011 – 2015
Source : Cellar

Domaine A.-F. Gros Bourgogne Hautes-Côtes de Nuits 2002

Sunday, November 22nd, 2009

Domaine A.-F. Gros Bourgogne Hautes-Côtes De Nuits 2002

I bought a few bottles of this a few years ago, trying to find a good value Bourgogne, which should be easier in years like 2002. I think I paid $35, and in hindsight I am not unhappy with the return on investment. Some browning near the rim. Cherries, brown earth, stalk, musky minerals with a touch of dried ginger and brown sugar. The palate was initially a little unfriendly, but opened up nicely to show sweet fruits, glacé cherries, stalk, pepper, minerals and a touch of sap on the finish. Pleasantly weighted but not terribly complex. Drink over the short term.

Rated : 87 Points
Tasted : Nov09
Alcohol : 12.5%
Price : $35
Closure : Cork
Drink : 2009-2012
Source : Cellar
Website : A.-F. Gros

Stephane Aladame Montagny 1er cru 2007

Thursday, November 12th, 2009

Stephane Aladame Montagny 1er cru 2007

From the Côte Chalonnaise, which lies south of the Côte d’Or, and though considered part of Burgundy, it does not contain any Grand Cru vineyards. I suppose this makes it a poorer cousin, but it can be keenly priced and for those not obsessed with having “Meursault”, “Puligny” or “Chassagne” on the label, can provide a rewarding experience.

Anyways, on to the wine, which is a cracker. Strongly aromatic, with lemon and white peach, vanilla and cream and a touch of nuttiness. The palate showed grapefruit, lemon, spice and cream. There is a lot of sweet fruit running through the mid-palate, but this is balanced by a fine line of acid and a drying mineral edge. Focused, with great length, and positively gnawish. For a French White Burgundy retailing at $50 or thereabouts, it offers tremendous value and excellent quality.

Rated : 90 Points
Tasted : Nov09
Alcohol : 13%
Price : $50
Closure : Cork
Drink : 2009-2015
Source : Eurocentric Wine
Website : Stephane Aladame

Domaine A. et P. De Villaine Mercurey Les Montets 2007

Thursday, November 12th, 2009

Domaine A. et P. De Villaine Mercurey Les Montets 2007

Yes, the “A” in the wine name does stand for Aubert, the same Aubert de Villaine who is the co-owner and the co-director of the Domaine de la Romanee-Conti. Based in the Côte Chalonnaise in Bouzeron, they produce several red and white wines from this region.

A light and clear red in colour. A delicate nose; lightly spiced and lifted red fruits, minerals, animalé, with a touch of clean earth. The fruits are in the red cherry spectrum with perhaps some softly pressed strawberries. The palate is pleasant, gentle red fruits with a fair vein of rich minerals cutting through them; a bit austere and underweight without food, but has purity and some charm. Now even though it is from what might be considered a lesser appelation, it certainly improved with time in the glass and especially overnight, and according to their website and the wisdom of Allen Meadows, it is a wine that should be able to take some medium term cellaring. So leave it alone!

Rated : 87+ Points
Tasted : Nov09
Alcohol : 12.5%
Price : $55
Closure : Cork
Drink : 2013+
Source : WineStar
Website : Domaine de Villaine

Dupont-Tisserandot Nuits-St.-Georges 2006

Tuesday, September 15th, 2009

Dupont-Tisserandot Nuits-St.-Georges 2006 Les Topons

This is a village wine from a lieu dit called “Les Topons”, but is not labelled as such. And I am told that it is a “Vieilles Vignes” as well, but this fact has also been neglected. Nevermind, because it is stuff on the inside of the bottle that matters and this was really a surprise. Quite a dark red in colour for a village wine, and showed aromas of dark cherries, minerals, hard fruits with notes of earth and charcoal. The palate is full (well, full for a relatively inexpensive Burgundy), with morello cherries and a touch of plumminess, spice and an undercurrant of minerality. The tannins are good, and the finish is dry. None of the hardness you might expect to see in a NSG. Solid value too. Needs a couple of years to settle. Only a few dozen remain.

Rated : 88 Points
Tasted : Sep09
Alcohol : 13.5%
Price : $91.95
Closure : Cork
Drink : 2011-2016
Source : Eurocentric Wine
Website : Dupont-Tisserandot

Domaine Ramonet Chassagne-Montrachet “Clos de la Boudriotte” 1er cru 2002

Sunday, July 19th, 2009

Domaine Ramonet Chassagne-Montrachet Boudriotte 1er cru 2002

A long cork, but completely soaked through and some evidence of leakage. Was tasted next to the William Downie Yarra Valley Pinot Noir 2008, which made for an interesting comparison. Anyhoo, the Ramonet (who is a producer better known for its white Burgundy) showed pink florals, quite pretty, with raspberries, cherries, minerals, new leather and dry spices. On the palate, tasty and tangy red cherries, leather and a touch of acetone. The finish is cleansing. Nicely balanced, but perhaps a bit rustic. Good length and it certainly filled out with time. Still young; needs more time – decant if you are impatient.

Rated : 89 Points
Tasted : Jul09
Alcohol : 13.5%
Price : $70
Closure : Cork
Drink : 2012+
Source : Cellar