Kicking off 2023 with a Burgundy theme. I think we rather missed the depth of DavidM & Paul’s cellars here. I was surprised at so much white wine, but that might reflect prices for decent red burgs. And Chablis seems a lot more reliable than whites from further south.
- 2021 Domaine Nathalie et Gilles Fevre Chablis - France, Burgundy, Chablis
{screwcap, 12.5%} [Sian] Bright clean nose. Clean pineapple fruit. Touch of oak? Also a minerally note. Palate emphasises the tropical fruit aspect, but then gets flinty (not sulphurous) and freshly acidic. Dry, light-bodied, medium length citrus-tinged finish. - 2020 Moreau-Naudet & Fils Chablis 1er Cru Les Forêts - France, Burgundy, Chablis, Chablis 1er Cru
{13%} [Geoffrey] Light stone fruit on the nose, youthful and restrained without being too austere. Palate of salt and stone, grapefruit, and some skin-like tannin texture that made me wonder if there was a little oak here too. Dry, medium weight, medium acid, near medium-length finish. Pretty good. - 2016 Jean-Marc Brocard Chablis 1er Cru Butteaux - France, Burgundy, Chablis, Chablis 1er Cru
{cork, 13%} [Aaron] Some age apparent here, with a honey note to the nose. It’s kind of waxy, with a buttery richness, or at least plenty of malo character. Still with vivid, balanced acidity. Even palate, structure-dominated finish, which is to say the lack of overt fruit flavour isn’t really missed. - 2020 Domaine Rémi Jobard Bourgogne Blanc - France, Burgundy, Bourgogne Blanc
{cork, 13%} [Gordon] Youthful and clean. Melon-tinged fruit. Medium weight, more textural and steely than the nose promised. Faintest seasoning of oak, perhaps. Dry, medium weight, medium long finish. Good stuff, despite the humble appellation. No rush to drink. - 2019 Bouchard Père et Fils Chardonnay Bourgogne Blanc La Vignée - France, Burgundy, Bourgogne Blanc
{screwcap, 12.5%} [Glenn] Some sandalwood oak, more noticeable after the previous leaner Chablis’. Ripe chardonnay fruits – melon, peach – on the edge of a bit anonymous, but it’s pretty solid otherwise. Some mango, butter, malo character. Medium weight and acidity. - 2018 Domaine Vincent & Jean-Pierre Charton Mercurey Vieilles Vignes - France, Burgundy, Côte Chalonnaise, Mercurey
{13%} [Stephen] A little bit of development here, with stewy ripe forest floor/compost type aromas and flavours. More piquant on the palate, with bright cherry flavours, light oak. Light-bodied, short/medium finish. Refreshing style. - 2009 Camille Giroud Savigny-lès-Beaune 1er Cru Les Peuillets - France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Savigny-lès-Beaune 1er Cru
{cork, 13.5%} [Aaron] Quite aged. Semi-sweet composty nose. Aged palate too, dry and soft; quite low-key overall. Old red fruit; not hugely complex, light/medium in weight, medium length finish. Kick back and enjoy. - 2015 Nicolas Rossignol Savigny-lès-Beaune 1er Cru Les Fourneaux - France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Savigny-lès-Beaune 1er Cru
[DavidH] Developing nose of roses, blue fruit, oak seasoning. Proper chalky tannin on the palate, always with that seductive blue tinge to the flavours. Medium body, well-structured, medium length finish. Me like! - 2019 Domaine des Perdrix Vosne-Romanée - France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Vosne-Romanée
{cork, 14%} [Gordon] Youthful, big, juicy, jubey, black-fruited wine. Blackberry on the palate, with sweet roses. Gentle but rich oak. Medium-plus in weight, medium/high acid and medium/high chalky tannins too. Even palate, medium length finish. Not subtle, but lush and lovely and sweetly-finishing. A burg for shiraz-lovers. - 2014 Domaine Dominique Mugneret Vosne-Romanée Alliance des Terroirs - France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Vosne-Romanée
{diam10, 12.5%} [Graeme] Dense blackberry and strawberry aromas. Spicy oak. A touch musty. Seemingly more developed on the palate, with little primary fruit left. There’s more a dusty maturity to the medium weight but patchily-finishing palate. Almost convincing! Ready to drink. - 2013 Schild Estate Sémillon Late Harvest - Australia, South Australia, Barossa
{375ml, screwcap, 12.5%} Solid gold colour. Mature nose of rich honey, marzipan, vanilla. Palate is medium/dry, still rich but with a varietal hint of grassiness under the honey and marzipan flavours. No botrytis. Nicely balanced around ‘medium’ for structural elements, but definitely a drink now proposition for best effect.