How good is Chevillon?

[maureen_nelson]

Just finished my last 96 LSG a few months ago. An excellent wine, but be aware it takes at least an hour of air to begin to open up. One other note in searching for older vintages, if I remember Chevillon had significant cork issues with an uncomfortable number of corked wines somewhere in the earlier 1990’s. I’m thinking it was 93 or maybe 95, or both, but I don’t remember exactly. I would do your research on that issue before committing on wines from that era. I think the 96’s and after were OK. If anyone else knows the details, please chime in.

1993

[john_stimson]

That’s what I remember as well, and 95.

[Nowell_Karten]

I’ve only had one '93 Les Cailles, but it was delicious (and not corked.)

[Marcu_Stanley]

Certainly when I want to introduce someone to what Burgundy is all about I choose Chevillon. When I want someone to call a 1er Cru a Grand Cru in a blind tasting I choose Chevillon. Indeed when I’m thirsty I’ll often choose a Chevillon !

This right here is the single most convincing positive review of a wine I have ever read. You can tell it’s a heartfelt testimonial from a true wine fanatic. Think about how much more this says than some fruit basket note with a bunch of gushing adjectives that make no sense!

Chevillon should put it on their web site

[Marcu_Stanley]

+1 on this. Faiveley, Grivot, others I can think of. I like it, honestly, and it’s led me to favor post-2008 wines. Been wondering whether there would be traditionalist complaints like we heard in Bordeaux. But to me Burgundy has managed this transition to modern consumer tastes better than Bordeaux, in a way it has moved in the direction of being more refined rather than just “bigger”.

my feeling on this, and anyone feel free to correct me, and of course there will be exceptions to this is that a large group of producers in Bordeaux made a purposeful change for the pupose of making an impact the style of their wines and were hit by global warming at the same time. Burgundy, on the other hand, I think by and large has made a purposeful change towards better farming and was hit by global warming at the same time. global warming is obviously complicated but I do think it gives us some more accessible fruit, plus helps burgundy ripen their grapes every year. but I think while burgundy and Bordeaux both have made changes, the purpose of those changes was different. thats where the backlash has come I think. to me, its also a more subtle change that (I think) will play with the end result in the aging of wines much better

Really interesting discussion of changes in Burgundy styles on the first page here, I think it deserves its own thread and I may start one.

I think the Burgundy and Bordeaux cases are rather different because Burgundy did not have a “parkerization” stage of extreme increases in extraction and ripeness to accommodate Parkers weakness for super-sized wines, however they apparently did still shift winemaking significantly to meet consumer demand for earlier drinking wine.

[Mattstolz]

Definitely have had some really good Chevillon, including this 09’ Vaucrains, it showed great 5 years ago too, could imagine it being better now.

Their mid to high end 1ers are where it’s at, as I don’t get the sense their Bourgogne or villages are truly special. Have not heard anyone wax poetic about their Bousselots or Roncieres but correct me if I’m wrong. In addition to those mentioned, the Perrieres is really nice.

I’m curious if this is the general feeling of everyone else as well? is this one of the cases where its not worth buying the Bourgogne or villages to get a good feel for the producer? or does Chevillon make really good quality bourgognes when compared to other bourgognes they just are outshone by really fantastic vaucrains?

[Marshall_Manning]

I’m curious if this is the general feeling of everyone else as well? is this one of the cases where its not worth buying the Bourgogne or villages to get a good feel for the producer? or does Chevillon make really good quality bourgognes when compared to other bourgognes they just are outshone by really fantastic vaucrains?

I really like the Bourgognes, or at least the ones I’ve tried, but those are older ('12 and earlier). I don’t think they are the value they once were, but you can say that about most Burgs these days. I’ve had some nice bottles of the NSG VV bottling, but at that point you might as well ante up the extra $$ for one of the crus.

[Marshall_Manning]

Look what you made me do with all of this Chevillon talk !

[Stuart_BeauneHead_Niemtzow]

Just finished my last 96 LSG a few months ago. An excellent wine, but be aware it takes at least an hour of air to begin to open up. One other note in searching for older vintages, if I remember Chevillon had significant cork issues with an uncomfortable number of corked wines somewhere in the earlier 1990’s. I’m thinking it was 93 or maybe 95, or both, but I don’t remember exactly. I would do your research on that issue before committing on wines from that era. I think the 96’s and after were OK. If anyone else knows the details, please chime in.

1993

They weren’t the only ones in Nuits with cork problems in that vintage; Daniel Rion also had them esp in their VR Beaumonts. Not all bottles are affected.

There was a generational changeover with the 2000 vintage at Chevillon (and Patrice Rion left Daniel Rion to form his own estate). Robert Chevillon’s sons: Denis and Betrand took over and their father retired. The boys had no reverance for their father’s methods, surprisingly. When I asked Bertrand…he said something like “Everyone gets a turn; now it’s ours”. Very sentimental. I haven’t noticed a huge change with the 2001s and 2002s I’ve tasted, though. All great Nuits…then and earlier.

[Andrew_K]

No experience with Chevillon previously, but coincidently I just saw some Chevillon pop up from one of my small brokers. 2005 Bourg for $35. And 3 different 2002 1er Crus in the $1xx range. Seems very reasonable. Hoping I got my order in time because I’m looking forward to seeing what the fuss is about!

[alan_weinberg]

2008 Cailles was solid last night, good but not special. Suddenly about the 2 hour mark it exploded with ripe dark cherry fruit and texture, totally different and excellent.

[Pat_Martin]

2008 Cailles was solid last night, good but not special. Suddenly about the 2 hour mark it exploded with ripe dark cherry fruit and texture, totally different and excellent.

Gilman is proven correct!

[maureen_nelson]

2008 Cailles was solid last night, good but not special. Suddenly about the 2 hour mark it exploded with ripe dark cherry fruit and texture, totally different and excellent.

Gilman is proven correct!

Just what I was thinking!

[alan_weinberg]

2008 Cailles was solid last night, good but not special. Suddenly about the 2 hour mark it exploded with ripe dark cherry fruit and texture, totally different and excellent.

Gilman is proven correct!

Just what I was thinking!

tell me—what did he say?

[Shan_A]

tell me—what did he say?

Gilman's new issue - essay on serving wine

[Stuart_BeauneHead_Niemtzow]

FWIW, a lineup I had ready for a tasting at my home on March 23. They are patiently still patiently awaiting the brave new world.

Anyone hazard a guess about the cabinet the lineup in on? (I know; pretty esoteric; from my grandparents; late '40s’early '50s)

[Jayson_Cohen]

IMG_4529.JPGIMG_4531.JPG

FWIW, a lineup I had ready for a tasting at my home on March 23. They are patiently still patiently awaiting the brave new world.

Anyone hazard a guess about the cabinet the lineup in on? (I know; pretty esoteric; from my grandparents; late '40s’early '50s)

Do you mean that it’s a TV cabinet?

[alan_weinberg]

I was thinking radio cabinet.

[YLee]

Whiskey/liquor/alcohol cabinet

[Jayson_Cohen]

I was thinking radio cabinet.

That would be a good call too. My grandfather had a similar looking floor cabinet he used for his TV. I didn’t see it until the 70s, but I think it was from the late 40s/early 50s, and it’s possible it had been previously used for radio.