TNs: Some red Burgs

Theme was QPR red Burgs 1er and above. More than half of us decided it would mean a Gevrey GC! All the wines were showing excellently and some belied preconceptions of the vintage / maker. Of course QPR is also dependent on time of purchase.

  • 2001 Faiveley Latricières-Chambertin - France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Latricières-Chambertin Grand Cru (16/9/2020)
    An old Faiveley that’s ready - no hard tannins! First time trying the old Faiveley and this was proper traditional stuff. Big muscular structure with a fiercely tannic grip. Earthiness that brings you back to the days of the quote ‘great Burgundy smells of shit’ (of course this wine didn’t). Does anyone make Burgs like this still?
  • 2004 Mongeard-Mugneret Nuits St. Georges 1er Cru Les Boudots - France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Nuits St. Georges 1er Cru (16/9/2020)
    No discernible greenness on pop and pour but some herbaceous notes appeared after a while. Another lighter wine that led people to guess Vosne or Volnay (me). The former was a good guess since this is a plot that is right on the border with Vosne.
  • 2009 Louis Jadot Griotte-Chambertin - France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Griotte-Chambertin Grand Cru (16/9/2020)
    Was opened a couple of hours before but wasn’t showing the ripe character of 09 until towards the end of the meal. Reticent, light-bodied and full of acid at the start, wouldn’t have guessed 09 or a Jadot. Towards the end it started to put on weight and show some cherry notes.
  • 2010 Joseph Drouhin Beaune 1er Cru Clos des Mouches Rouge - France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Beaune 1er Cru (16/9/2020)
    Very elegant sweet fruit that made everyone think it was a CdN. Light and ethereal on the palate, gorgeous red fruits. For me, there’s no reason to wait on these. Its subtlety and transparency was a good contrast to the Faiveley.
  • 2012 Domaine Drouhin-Laroze Latricières-Chambertin - France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Latricières-Chambertin Grand Cru (16/9/2020)
    Another lighter wine but the earthiness led us to think that we were still in Gevrey. Thought it was a 11 or 13 given the lighter vintage. Didn’t show any prominent oak despite it being a common criticism of their wines.
  • NV Laherte Frères Champagne Ultradition Brut - France, Champagne (16/9/2020)
    Very serious entry champagne. Big yeasty brioche on the nose, extremely full on the palate from the ripeness of the Meunier, high dosage and the ageing in oak.