Yesterday I attended a Burgundy tasting in NYC. I had the opportunity to taste some absolutely amazing Burgundies and was pleasantly surprised by the overall quality of the wines, especially the whites. The 2003 and 2004 wines that I tasted were overall very satisfying and delicious. I suggest that if you have not had an opportunity to try this vintage that you go out and grab a few bottles for the weekend.
Here is a very brief rundown on several of the best that I tasted along with their respective suggested MSRP.
Gevry-Chambertin 1ER Cru – Lavaux Saint Jacques Vielles Vignes 2004. Best in show so to speak. This wine is produced by a small winemaker named Pierre Naigron who tasted five spectacular wines, this being the best of the lot.
It was very fruit forward with a nose that literally jumped out of the glass. Rose petals and ripe, bing cherries were prevalent as soon as I raised the glass. A very well balanced, well rounded effort that has lots of muscle but shows finesse and should drink well for 3-5 years. MSRP – TBD
Tastevin, Inc – a start-up importer of fine French and Italian wines tasted six wines but three stood out more so than the others. The Montagny, 1ER Cru Les Coeres 2004 was a wonderful, forward, balanced wine. It showed a refreshing fresh zing accompanied by a very long finish. It had the prefect touch of acidity that rounded out a very well balance white wine. MSRP $27.00
Corton, Grand Cru 2002 Burgundy. Simply spectacular. As with the Montagny, this wine was well balanced with a full cherry forward flavor that devoured your entire mouth. Excellent demonstration of terrior as well as a good display of tannins and extraction. MSRP $67.00
The third winner by this newcomer was their Chablis, 1ER Cru Cote de Lechet 2003 – a very good replacement for your typical California Chardonnay but without all of the typical butter that is so common is these wines. And at $22 MSRP, this is wine that can be served weekly that will not break your budget. It was a medium bodied, lemony wine with a short finish that would perfect with grilled chicken of a medium flesh fish such as halibut or sea bass.
Some other very good wines were:
Bourgogne Pinot Noir 2003 – Imported by Henriot Savigney Les Beaune, 1ER Cru 2005 – Imported by Celler Door Selections Mercurey, 1ER Cru Champs Martin Domaine Adelie Bichot 2002 – MSRP $33 – Imported by Eagle Eye Importer
Posts: 202 | Location: NYC | Registered: August 27, 2005
I love red Burgundy. Especially like the ones that have the terrior in them, like a Musigny or Chambolle-Musigny. The real fruit forward international style is not my favorite. Its good, but not what I buy Burgundy for.
