Domaine Fourrier Wine Tasting - Exceptional

We were delighted to have an opportunity to taste some great wines from Domaine Fourrier.

The wines tasted were in short, outstanding and remarkably approachable now considering these were 2010 and 2011 vintages. The vines are approximately 60 years old I was informed and the quality was very evident.

First was the Gevrey Chambertin 2010. This was ruby light red, very earthy and combines excellence in structure and balance and light and smooth finish with red fruit - superb.


Price versus quality 18/20. Overall 18/20.


Next was the Clos de Vougeot Grand Cru 2011 - great nose, wonderful structure and is approachable now. It is deep, full of vibrant red fruit, dense, smooth with a mid length finish. Price versus quality 17/20. Overall 17/20.

The Echezeaux Grand Cru 2011 was superb. Again deep red and black fruit, slight spice in the nose, powerful with mild oak. This has a very long finish and is going to do very well with time I am sure.

Price versus quality 17/20. Overall 18/20.

Domaine Faiveley Nuits St Georges 1er Cru Les Damodes 2007

Was very curious to try a wine picked up for a bargain at a leading wine store in Hong Kong. This was the Domaine Faiveley Nuits St Georges 1er Cru Les Damodes 2007. Overall impressions were positive.

The nose on this wine is exceptional. The mushroom, truffle and overall earthiness really stood out for me and was reminiscent of an aged Chambolle-Musigny or other wines from Nuits St Georges. Colour wise this is cloudy ruby red is how I would describe it. Slight smoky red fruit flavours greet you and on the finish a nice smooth finish though slightly short - the overall balance, elegance, and the lovely nose more than compensates. This from a lesser successful vintage for Burgundy Reds from 2007 as well is all the more impressive.

Price versus quality 18/20. Overall 18/20.

I suggest hunting this one down and getting a few bottles.

Leroy Bourgogne 1999

Leroy Bourgogne 1999 is a recently released wine from Maison Leroy. Price wise this on the surface looks like a good value wine with which to commence an exploration of this famous Burgundy winemaker's diverse range of wines.

The wine has a nice light scented rose smell to it and is elegant to taste being light, earthy with ripe red fruits and a lovely nose. Acidity is mild and the finish is smooth. In short a charming wine and worthy of purchase for this price regardless of it being a Leroy wine.

Price versus quality 17/20. Overall: 17/20,

Nicolas Potel Wine Dinner

It was a delight to attend a recent wine tasting featuring a number of wines from Nicolas Potel's Domaine de Bellene, Maison Roche de Bellene and from the treasure trove that is the Collection Bellenum. Maison Roche de Bellene is Potel's negociant business and the Collection Bellenum are collections of rare old Burgundy wines spanning six decades which he has acquired from various local sources in Burgundy. I was certainly eagerly awaiting this.



First up was a pleasant wine from Potel's own vineyards the Domaine de Bellene Savigny Les Beaune 2010. It was fresh, abundance of citrus with a smooth taste that was mild and easy to drink. It is elegant and offered at a great price. Price versus quality 18/20. Overall 17/20.

Second was the Maison Roche de Bellene Collection Bellenum Puligny Montrachet 1er Cru Les Combettes 1995. In short this was superb and those on our table were quite unanimous about our reaction on this wine - great wine, great price, a must. 1995 was a great vintage for Burgundy whites and it is apparent here. A beautiful nose gives way to a wine that is clearly at its finest and mature. Golden yellow with a honey nose, slightly sweet with its structure, minerality intact. A delight. Price versus quality 19/20. Overall 18/20.

Third was the Domaine de Bellene Savigny Les Beaune 1er Cru Les Haut Jarrons 2010. Decent wine, decent price, dark rosy red with a pleasant red fruit nose and nice finish. Its a good wine which will improve over medium term. Price versus quality 17/20. Overall 16/20.

Fourth was the Maison Roche de Bellene Chambolle Musigny 1er Cru Les Noirots. Still requires a few years yet before the classic nose of Chambolle Musigny comes to fruition. In the meantime what we have is good potential with slightly muted mushroom and truffle like aromas but a very satisfying finish. Keep an eye on this one. Price versus quality 17/20. Overall 17/20.

Fifth was the Maison Roche de Bellene Charmes Chambertin Grand Cru 2009. The perfumed nose on this was exceptional. Young and will improve. Based on this evidence a 18/20 on both counts though time will tell.

Back to the Collection Bellenum for the final two wines and first was the 1997 Clos de la Roche Grand Cru. I took one long breath and inhaled deeply. This is certainly a great wine. Red fruits are prominent - it was a little light on the palate and finish but the elegance is evident. Seemed slightly more closed than expected. Price versus quality 16/20. Overall 16/20.

The Collection Bellenum Latricieres Chambertin Grand Cru 1998 is another wine that fits the boat. Fine no doubt, a little closed off but class nevertheless same score.

Burgundy Wine Tasting - Various

We attended a highly enjoyable tasting of various white and red Burgundy wines recently.

Comments as follows:

2009 Meursault Poruzots 1er Cru Chateau de Puligny-Montrachet. Not too expressive yet rather closed - rather crunchy acidity. Not bad needs time. Price versus quality: 15/20. Overall 15/20.

2009 St Romain Chateau de Puligny Montrachet. Nice wine - decent nose of mild citrus like flavours. Price versus quality 16/20. Overall 16/20.

2009 Camille Giroud Meursault. This is impressive. A lasting nose of minerality and citrus is followed by smooth and long finish - the way I imagine good Meursault to be. Price versus quality 17/20. Overall 17/20.

2007 Echezeaux Grand Cru Domaine Jean Grivot. Famous wine maker, famous wine. Is this good? Lovely wet earth nose and classic minerality. Slightly un expressive. needs time. Difficult to judge this at this time.






Next was an impressive wine - the 2007 Vougeot Les Cras 1er Cru Domaine de la Vougeraie. Best nose of the night, this had intensity, smooth and approachable acidity all the way through. Recommended. Price versus quality 17/20. Overall 17/20.

 

 

Michelot-Buisson Meursault Charmes 1985 - Past It?

We tasted an old Meursault to assess whether Meursault wines of this type, one would normally expect to ordinarily be past its drinkability, would still be of an acceptable level to drink now.

This is the 1985 Meursault Charmes from Michelot Buisson.

First impressions were very positive - a pale but deep yellow colour was followed by a fresh nose that one would find in recent vintages of Meursault. In other words the nose was one of a young wine. On the palate again very smooth, tastes of young Meursault full of vibrant citrus and minerality. On the finish however the age became apparent - basically there is no acidity remaining and the taste is rather sour meaning this is clearly past it. Strong start but disappointing finish. Owing to the nature of this wine I won't be providing a score on this suffice to say the price this was acquired for was not worth bothering.