A Taste Of Burgundy – June 2017

Basic Facts for those of you who are new to the program: Every two months we select two Burgundies, one red and one white. We include write-ups detailing the background of the grower, the vineyard source, and the wine. Finally we knock a significant percentage off the prices of the wines, making the Sampler price $89.98. If you would like us to add you to the Sampler Club and receive the wines regularly, please notify us in the comments field, and we will charge your card accordingly. If you would like us to ship faster than the standard ground service, please specify this as well. 2015 Puligny-Montrachet Domaine Paul Pernot et ses Fils When asked about the 2015 vintage, Paul Pernot said, “It gave us a relatively easy growing season, which was a welcome relief after the last three years where things were constantly in doubt. Basically, the weather was hot in the spring, hot during the summer, and hot right up to the point the fruit was set to pick, and finally the temperatures broke. When it did, we began picking. The fruit was spotless with very good potential alcohols that averaged right around 13%. As to the wines, I would describe them as both very ripe and rich, yet they manage to remain well-balanced and refreshing. They should drink well early on and should very much please those consumers who enjoy young whites.” For his Puligny-Montrachet bottling, Pernot sources the fruit from four lieux-dit vineyards whose average age is 50 years. This 2015 is raring to go with its wide array of aromas: snappy apple, citrus blossom, and a hint of mint. The palate is round and rich, held together with buoyant acidity. It has a sneaky, long finish. Drink 2018-2026. 2014 Fixin-Hervelets 1er Cru Domaine Bart We featured the 2013 vintage of Martin Bart’s Fixin-Hervelets 1er Cru back in the October 2015 installment of our TOB. Due to popular demand, we now feature his 2014! Now run by nephew, Pierre, with Martin looking on, the Barts tend some 22 hectares of vines in the north of Côtes de Nuits. There are five 1er Cru vineyards in Fixin, three of which are monopoles. The other two are Les Arvelets and Les Hervelets. The fruit for this bottling comes from a 1.5ha parcel between the two. Fruit from Arvelets may be included in bottles labeled Hervelets, but not vice-versa. The two vineyards enjoy their perch on the gentle slope which sits just above the other 1er Cru vineyards. Apart from a mediocre summer, Pierre has said the growing season was relatively easy. Commenting on the ripeness and structure of his 2014’s, Pierre went on to say, ” there is a roundness, even tenderness to the textures which should make them approachable young.” Mineral notes abound in this refined, medium-bodied wine. Drink 2019-2030. – Peter Zavialoff

 

A TASTE OF BURGUNDY NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2009

A TASTE OF BURGUNDY SAMPLER $89.98

A great way to learn about Burgundy and its wines, and (even better) the perfect way to get a discount on two high quality bottles. Sign up now! Click here to receive the Taste of Burgundy Sampler automatically every other month.

Basic Facts for those of you who are new to the program: Every two months we select two Burgundies, one red and one white. We include write-ups detailing the background of the grower, the vineyard source, and the wine. Finally we knock a significant percentage off the prices of the wines, making the Sampler price $89.98. If you would like us to add you to the Sampler Club and receive the wines regularly, please specify “store pickup” or “ship it” in the comments field, and we will charge your card accordingly. If you would like us to ship faster than the standard ground service, please specify this as well. 2004 Pouilly Fuisse “Vieilles Vignes” – Domaine Cordier Christophe Cordier is one of the hottest winemakers in Burgundy. His bold winemaking style has produced Chardonnay that has been known to rival more famous white wines from the Côte du Beaune. His domaine is located right in the heart of Fuissé and he only uses fruit from the finest terroirs or sites. Christophe feels that his 2004’s reflect an excellent vintage. It was a big vintage with generous yields, though in some sites, yields were decreased by 50% through green harvesting. His vines were affected by millerandage, which is a condition that occurs due to cooler temperatures when the fruit is flowering, producing bunches containing uneven sized fruit. Christophe says that this gave the wine more concentration than you would initially think given the yields. This wine shows vanilla-like spice and has a round mouthfeel. This wine is drinking great now! 2006 Nuits St. Georges Premier Cru Aux Thorey – Domaine Chauvenet-Chopin This domaine was established when Hubert Chauvenet married Daniel Chopin’s (of highly esteemed Chopin-Groffier) daughter, and the families merged their holdings. In 1996, Chopin handed the reins over to his son-in-law, and Hubert has been tending the vines ever since. It is the village of Nuits-St.-Georges that gives its name to the Côte de Nuits. The village literally sits in a gap in the Côte, with vineyards spreading south toward the Côte de Beaune, and in the north towards Vosne Romanee. It is on this north slope where one finds the “Aux Thorey” premier cru vineyard. The wines have a reputation for being intense yet elegant. Notes of cherries, blackcurrants, and truffles are usually detectable in these fragrant wines. Chauvenet destems almost all of his fruit, and his use of new oak is limited, producing elegant, old school, Pinot Noir. It is drinkable now, but will gain in character with medium term cellaring. – Peter Zavialoff

A TASTE OF BURGUNDY SAMPLER

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