burgundy tasting
March 31, 2006
This was a daunting task to try to obtain all the wines in this tasting within a very tight budget.
But when we got everything opened, the wines were so nice, showed so well, I was really
pleased with the great quality-price-ratios for the usually expensive Burgundies (not that these
were cheap!) All delivered great character typical of their respective appellations. I have a
soft spot for Burgundies, and these wines reaffirmed my love of this region. A personal review
of the wines follows below:
But when we got everything opened, the wines were so nice, showed so well, I was really
pleased with the great quality-price-ratios for the usually expensive Burgundies (not that these
were cheap!) All delivered great character typical of their respective appellations. I have a
soft spot for Burgundies, and these wines reaffirmed my love of this region. A personal review
of the wines follows below:
Marc Colin, Puligny-Montrachet "Le Trezin" 2003: Steely, minerally, pit fruit, concentrated elegance, white
floral notes, focused and great character. Very excellent. $38 / 90+
Francois Mikulski, Meursault, "Charmes" 1er Cru 2002:Lots of fruit aroma, light nutty notes, hint of honey?
Rounder in mouth than Colin's Trezin; Long finish. Good, a bit minerally character though for a big
Meursault. $55 / 90
Jean-Michel Gaunoux, Meursault (Rouge), "Les Criots" 2002: Light ruby red; bright cherry, raspberry; hint
light earth, tiny hint of cinnamon; Tart cherry-berry mouth, light, silky, low tannins, hi acidity, no oak; fresh,
bright, clean. $28 / 87
Nicolas Potel, Beaune, "Clos des Vignes Franches" 1er Cru 2002: More "classic" light style Burg; very subtle
tea nuances; riper berry; a little more weight than meursault rouge, and hint more tannins. Good, but still
very light. $30 / 87+
Raymond Launay, Pommard, 2002: Darker purple; Earthy, light cinnamon/cardamon/orange peel, slight
muskiness; Round, soft and easy in mouth; medium tannins, low acidity, very soft and nice finish. Good, sort
of masculine., but young, soft, and classic. $35 / 89
Bouchard Pere et Fils, Nuits-St.-Georges, "Clos St. Marc" 1er Cru 2002: Beautiful complex notes of old soft
leather, hint cloves, perfumey, baking spice, great complex nose; Well balanced mouth, good tannins,
balanced acidity, mouth mirrors nose; Very fragrant, nice balance, medium light body, but delicious. One of
the favorites of the night. $40 / 90+
Camille Giroud, Vosne Romanee, 2002: Bright, clear red -purple; Light, but conc. fruit notes--wild forest
berry/cherry or even hint of "fraise du bois" sweetness; Beautiful wild berry mouth, pure, nice acidty, but
lower tannins, subtle, but refined; Nice structure--bright forest berry character. $43 / 90
Hudelot-Noellat, Vougeot, "Les Petits Vougeot" 1er Cru 1996: Beautiful amber-rust color; Soft musky
cologne, hint sweet raspberry; no real "old" notes; slight dried leaf old notes in mouth, perfectly integrated
w/soft but rich tannins, some cherry in there. In great shape, plenty of structure, well-integrated
tannins/acidity, nice forest character, could last another 2-3 yrs? $38 / 90
Frederic Magnien, Gevrey-Chambertin, "Perrieres" 1er Cru 2002: Med. dark red-purple; Rich perfume
scents of ripe fruit and spice gently mixed--complex! Fuller, soft mouth-filling body w/great acidity; flavorful,
rich , complex. Musky incense-clove-Dr. Pepper-fruit-cinnamon, etc.! Fantastic stuff. $44 / 92
Domaine des Lambrays, Morey-St.-Denis, "Clos Des Labrays" Grand Cru 2001: Slightly more ruby, lighter
concentrated color than Perrieres; Hint zesty grape, pruneau (distilled plum spirit), cherry, black cherry,
complex light spice/incense--a bit subtle; Rich, super silky mouth! hint of a sweet sensation on the palate,
some cherry, very soft tannins, beautiful and long finish. Seamless, but needs time? Nose was a bit too
subtle? $75 / 91+
floral notes, focused and great character. Very excellent. $38 / 90+
Francois Mikulski, Meursault, "Charmes" 1er Cru 2002:Lots of fruit aroma, light nutty notes, hint of honey?
Rounder in mouth than Colin's Trezin; Long finish. Good, a bit minerally character though for a big
Meursault. $55 / 90
Jean-Michel Gaunoux, Meursault (Rouge), "Les Criots" 2002: Light ruby red; bright cherry, raspberry; hint
light earth, tiny hint of cinnamon; Tart cherry-berry mouth, light, silky, low tannins, hi acidity, no oak; fresh,
bright, clean. $28 / 87
Nicolas Potel, Beaune, "Clos des Vignes Franches" 1er Cru 2002: More "classic" light style Burg; very subtle
tea nuances; riper berry; a little more weight than meursault rouge, and hint more tannins. Good, but still
very light. $30 / 87+
Raymond Launay, Pommard, 2002: Darker purple; Earthy, light cinnamon/cardamon/orange peel, slight
muskiness; Round, soft and easy in mouth; medium tannins, low acidity, very soft and nice finish. Good, sort
of masculine., but young, soft, and classic. $35 / 89
Bouchard Pere et Fils, Nuits-St.-Georges, "Clos St. Marc" 1er Cru 2002: Beautiful complex notes of old soft
leather, hint cloves, perfumey, baking spice, great complex nose; Well balanced mouth, good tannins,
balanced acidity, mouth mirrors nose; Very fragrant, nice balance, medium light body, but delicious. One of
the favorites of the night. $40 / 90+
Camille Giroud, Vosne Romanee, 2002: Bright, clear red -purple; Light, but conc. fruit notes--wild forest
berry/cherry or even hint of "fraise du bois" sweetness; Beautiful wild berry mouth, pure, nice acidty, but
lower tannins, subtle, but refined; Nice structure--bright forest berry character. $43 / 90
Hudelot-Noellat, Vougeot, "Les Petits Vougeot" 1er Cru 1996: Beautiful amber-rust color; Soft musky
cologne, hint sweet raspberry; no real "old" notes; slight dried leaf old notes in mouth, perfectly integrated
w/soft but rich tannins, some cherry in there. In great shape, plenty of structure, well-integrated
tannins/acidity, nice forest character, could last another 2-3 yrs? $38 / 90
Frederic Magnien, Gevrey-Chambertin, "Perrieres" 1er Cru 2002: Med. dark red-purple; Rich perfume
scents of ripe fruit and spice gently mixed--complex! Fuller, soft mouth-filling body w/great acidity; flavorful,
rich , complex. Musky incense-clove-Dr. Pepper-fruit-cinnamon, etc.! Fantastic stuff. $44 / 92
Domaine des Lambrays, Morey-St.-Denis, "Clos Des Labrays" Grand Cru 2001: Slightly more ruby, lighter
concentrated color than Perrieres; Hint zesty grape, pruneau (distilled plum spirit), cherry, black cherry,
complex light spice/incense--a bit subtle; Rich, super silky mouth! hint of a sweet sensation on the palate,
some cherry, very soft tannins, beautiful and long finish. Seamless, but needs time? Nose was a bit too
subtle? $75 / 91+