Comments on: Some 2008 red Burgundy recommendations

By: David Strange

David Strange — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 16:14:48 +0000

There were only really three whites at the Howard Ripley tasting that did it for me. Roulot’s Bourgogne Blanc was, as ever, quite the stunner; a total bargain for a wine which will provide so much pleasure. The Louis Michel Chablis 1er Vaillons was also a bargain. At that price I found it to be impressively expressive and charming. Alain Chavy’s Puligny 1er Clavoillons had real complexity and a good minerality which tickled my fancy. I thought that for a Puligny 1er of that quality you would be churlish to think the price was anything other than keen. I do feel that these are not really wines for keeping, but enjoying when they are young and expressive.

By: James

James — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 06:10:26 +0000

I went to the HHC tasting on Monday. Again, a number of the wines were cask samples at awkward stages of their development and somewhat difficult to gauge. The 2 Mugneret-Gibourg reds (Vosne village and a Nuits 1er Cru) were very pretty with lovely texture; in white, the Sauzet wines, which in my limited experience have sometimes lacked character, were very charming and the Chablis (Dampt and Christian Moreau) suggested this could be a delicious year there.

By: David Strange

David Strange — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 11:02:30 +0000

Sulphur was indeed making the F&P difficult to taste as was the case with some other wines. I wonder how many people can see past that; it would be a real shame if opinions about a producer or vintage were set in stone after tasting wines in this quaquaversal state.

I do worry about the Lambrays wines, far to reminiscent of Kisu’s litter tray after I’ve been locked up in the loony bin for too long. As I mentioned, I think the Lambrays wines are now a bit too expensive, even direct, for us to consider buying a case. However, I have such happy memories of drinking lovely Lambrays I might buy myself an experimental bottle of the 2008 when it makes it into Caveau des Vigneronnes.

Peter, pleased you also liked the Hudelot’s. Great value, eh? Thanks for filling in the l’Arlot gap. I am quite happy to be buying Mugnier’s Marechale every year. Yes, that Roulot Bourgogne Blanc was a super wine at a very pleasing price-point; a baby Meursault and very Roulot in style. I like Roulot a lot.

By: Peter S

Peter S — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 10:48:34 +0000

I was there earlier on David – sorry to have missed you both ! The bottle of Dujac F&P that I tried was really good – showed very good density and class for a village wine – and I am sure it will turn out well as Jeremy says

Agree on the Hudelots – they showed well from top to bottom, I even preferred their village Vosne to the M-G (albeit in a lighter, purer, style). The Arlot wines were good but very atypical in colour and density – they were really deep compared not just to what they normally are, but even next to Fourrier ! Sebastian ascribed this to substantial destemming this year, because the young vine stems were affected by rot. The Foret was really very good, though ultimately I preferred Mugnier’s Marechale for its elegance.

I also thought that the Clavelier wines showed well (especially the Brulees) and the Roulot BB has tremendous class for its price.

Finally I can confirm you didn’t miss out – there was no Bachelet on tasting.

By: Jeremy

Jeremy — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 09:51:28 +0000

Cat’s piss is indicative of reduction. Not necessarily permanent, but understandably alarming.

The F&P wine is a final bottling, but very recent and probably high in SO2, like many of the wines no doubt. Makes them seem a little drier and less fruit driven than they will be later in life.