Patty's Pinot Closet Newsletter

Volume 4, Issue 2
July, 2006
Circulation 11,894 Wineries, Retailers, and Wine Lovers


Cote d'Or, Burgundy, France
pat@pinotnoirs.com
www.pinotnoirs.com



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Patty's Pinot Closet publishes this newsletter on the enjoyment and appreciation of Pinot Noir. We welcome you to enjoy the newsletters and to share them with others. This, my fifteenth newsletter, covers Burgundy, France.

HP iPAQ showing Wine Notes

"Wine Notes"
Wine Evaluation Software

Developed exclusively for me by the Groundspace Corporation to evaluate wines quickly, accurately and with more detail than using a mere pencil. Wine Notes allows a user to evaluate wines using the 100-point scale. Easy to use with touch & tap operation. You can always have it with you because it runs on a Pocket PC. Available now at www.pocketwinenotes.com

Côte d’Or, Burgundy

To me, the villages surrounded by walled vineyards with names like La Tache and Romanée Conti represent Burgundy. Their steeples and roofs with their colorful tiles paint memories in my mind. The small cafes where you can get a coffee or lunch at an outside table. At that outside table you watch others go by while you search for the perfect Pinot Noir.

As you drive through the villages with names like Gevrey-Chambertin and Vosne-Romanée many of the wineries are open for tasting (degustation) in the morning or the afternoon (never between noon and 2:30 as this is lunch time). Many of the very good wineries open only by appointment so be sure to call. Ask for a tour of the caves if possible and see the barrels aging the Pinot Noir beneath the earth.

Burgundy Food & Accommodations

Food

Burgundy is renowned for having the best food in France. The á la bourguignonne method of cooking started here. The method consists of braising meat, game, fish or poultry in a red wine sauce with a garnish of mushrooms and small onions. They also cook Eggs in Red Wine Sauce which they call Les œufs en meurette. Chestnuts, truffles, and mushrooms are used abundantly in Burgundy.

Terrine de Cannard Cassis
Terrine de Cannrd Cassis

Jean-Anthelme Brillat-Savarin was born in Belley (near Lyon) in 1755. His work entitled "La Physiologie du Goût" (The Physiology of Taste) has been republished over and over. It is both a book on gastronomy and a treatise on the art of good living, dotted with numerous anecdotes written in a witty style.

The most prevalent flavor in Burgundy besides Pinot Noir seems to be Cassis or black currant. You see it everywhere. You’ll find it in cough drops, juice, candy, tarts, cakes, ices, ice creams, cookies, pates, and mustard — to only name a few!

Aperitifs: The most famous aperitif in Burgundy is Kir which is Cassis added to white wine. They also serve Cassis with Champagne and call it a Kir Royal. They are now using Peach liquor in the same way. The other aperitif of Burgundy is Pastis — you see men at noon standing around a bar drinking their Pastis — a creamy licorice liquor served over ice in a tall thin glass.

Entrees: Cook almost anything in red wine with bacon, thyme, and lots of onions — it will be Burgundian and wonderful. Some of these famous dishes include Beef á la Bourguignonne, Coq au Vin , Escargot á la Bourguignonne, Rabbit á la Bourguignonne, and a Matelote á la Bourguignonne. They make the last entrée with small carp, pickerel, eel, or barbell in Burgundy. In California I use trout for this dish and it’s wonderful.

Other Burgundian specialities include Jambon Pierelle (ham with parsley), salads with gizzards, and frogs legs. The Burgundians really like their snails. From the classic Escargot á la Bourguignonne to Pizza with Snails. In fact, we stopped along the road at a vendor selling pizza from a catering van. One of his choices was Pizza with Escargot. In fact, you see pizza almost everywhere in Burgundy!

Fromage: Epoisses belongs to the washed rind family of cheeses. They turn and wash the rind with Marc de Bourgogne three times a week during its four week aging process. The Marc de Bourgogne (a spirit distilled from the residue of grapes) helps give Epoisses its unique complex flavor. I found a lovely Esposses from Burgundy at Whole Foods. At COSTCO you can find Delice de Bourgogne, a wonderful French triple crème cheese.

Dessert: Burgundian desserts include Pear Tarts, Apple tarts, Tart Cassis (tart with Black Currants), and of course the beautiful nougats produced in Burgundy. I’d pass by the shop windows in Beaune and absolutely drool over the beautiful types of nougats.

Bread: The French are famous for their French Bread and in France you don’t have to go to the bakery every day to buy bread. You simply hang you bread bag on the gate and someone drives by and drops in a loaf. The Burgundians are also famous for their Pain d'épices or “Gingerbread”. They flavor the gingerbread with aniseed, and spices such orange, lemon, or ginger and cinnamon. It can be eaten as a dessert, a snack or even as a sandwich filled with cheese or meat.


Washing Epoisses Cheese with Marc

Les Tartes de Nougat

Bread Bag

Recipes

Coq au Vin recipe

Jambon Pierelle recipe

Trolut M....

Escargot in Red Wine

Restaurants

At lunch time we enjoyed numerous meals at the sidewalk cafes that abound in Burgundy. For the most part we never went wrong.

Chez Guy in Gevey-Chambertin. This sheek restaurant provided us with a wonderful lunch. www.hotel-bourgogne.com

Le Chassagne in Chassagne-Montrachet. Here Chef Stéphane Léger prepared a wonderful meal for us. They have a very good wine list of local wines. www.restaulechassagne.com

L’Auberge in Demigny. Here we enjoyed the wonderful food so much that we went back a second time. I especially liked the Frogs Legs. Place de l'Eglise, 71150 DEMIGNY. Phone 03-85-49-98-03 Fax : 03-85-49-98-70

Lameloise in Chagny-en-Bourgogne was amazing for the ambience, service and especially the food. They are a Michelin two star restaurant and in my mind the two stars should be three (the highest Michelin awards). www.lameloise.fr

Le Grenier a Sel in Chagny-en-Bourgogne. A Grille we enjoyed our first night in Burgundy. 4 Rue Marc Boillet. Phone: 03.85.87.09.10

Caves Madeleine

Olivier’s Table at Domaine Olivier Leflaive in Puligny-Montrachet. Open only for lunch, this lovely little restaurant offers Burgundy specialties and a chance to taste from among 15 different red and white crus.
www.olivier-leflaive.com

Caves Madeleine in Beaune was our favorite little restaurant. It’s very small, friendly and most everyone sits at one long table. The escargot was the best I’ve ever eaten and the Beef Bourguignon tasted exactly like Julia Child’s recipe in “Mastering the Art of French Cooking”. 8, Faubourg Madeleine, Beaune. Phone: 03.80.22.93.30 Email: cavesmadeleine@hotmail.com

Accommodations

Le Meix de Hospices in Demigny. This quiet little bed & breakfast provided us with a wonderful stay. http://perso.wanadoo.fr/demigny-chambres-hotes/meixuk/index-uk.htm

Le Montrachet in Puligny Montrachet. A very lovely hotel and restaurant. www.le-montrachet.com

Things To Do In Burgundy

We visited the Vancouver & Gulf Islands and the Okanagan Valley for wine tasting. Both of these areas offer, besides winery touring and tasting, vacation paradises. They don´t call it beautiful BC for nothing!


Chateau Gevrey-Chambertin

Beaune The center of the Cote d’Or, Beaune should be the place from which to focus your trip to Burgundy. Here you’ll stroll through shops, wine stores, restaurants and the Hotel-Dieu. We found the Domaine des Wins near the town center where we could sip a glass of wine while we used their hot spot to check our email — it became a daily ritual. From Beaune you travel North to the Cote de Nuits where the great Burgundies are found. Traveling South from Beaune you encounter the Cote de Beaune where you’ll find the great white wine such as the Meursaults and the Montrachets.

Hotel-Dieu in Beaune. For 520 years the sick were cared for at the Hotel-Dieu in the center of Beaune. This beautiful building encompasses fine architecture, ironwork, and amazing multi-colored glazed tiles on the roof. Inside you’ll see the Polyptych of the Last Judgement.

Chateau Gevrey-Chambertin. The Lords of Vergy erected this enchanting castle in the 10th century. The tour concludes with a taste of their Grand Crus in the wine cellar. You must request a tour the day before. Phone: 03 80 34 36 77.

Chateau de Pommard in Pommard. Maurice Giraud, owner and grower, is restoring this grand estate. The tour through the caves is amazing as you learn of it’s three centuries of history. www.chateaudepommard.com

Clos de Vougeot in Vougeot. Built in the 12th and 13th centuries, the Clos de Vougeot demonstrates some of the most interesting architecture and history of wine in the region. Here you’ll see the 12th century Grand Cellar containing four huge winepresses.



Pinot Noir Wine Events

International Wine Festivals

  • 29 January – 1 February 2007 –– Pinot Noir 2007, Wellington, New Zealand. A four-day festival with Pinot Noirs from around the world. Only held every three years — a very special event. www.pinotnoir2007.co.nz
  • 9-10 February 2007 –– MPVA Pinot Noir Celebration 2007, Mornington Peninsula, Victoria, Australia. mpva.com.au

US Wine Festivals

  • 28–30 July 2006 –– 20th Annual International Pinot Noir Celebration (IPNC), McMinnville, OR www.ipnc.org
  • 28–29 October 2006 ~ Pinot Festival "Pinot on the River", Russian River Valley, Sonoma County, CA www.pinotfestival.com
  • 11-12 November, 2006—¡Salud! Oregon’s Pinot Noir Auction, Oregon’s top Pinot Noir producers unite to provide much-needed healthcare outreach and services to seasonal vineyard workers and their families. This two-day event is a rare opportunity to preview the 2005 vintage, bid on unique Pinot Noirs created especially for ¡Salud!, and other exciting auction lots. www.saludauction.org
  • November 2006 –– Pinot Days Festival, Seattle, WA www.pinotdays.com
  • 2-3 March 2007 –– World of Pinot Noir, The Cliffs Resort, Shell Beach, CA, www.worldofpinotnoir.com
  • March 2007 –– Passionate About Pinot Noir Summit, California Culinary Academy, San Francisco, CA www.affairsofthevine.com/pn_summit_2005.html
  • 24-25 March 2007 –– 3rd Annual Pinot Paradise, Santa Cruz Mountains, www.scmwa.com
  • 28 April 2007 –– 3rd Annual Pinnacles Wine Festival, Inn at the Pinnacles, Soledad, CA www.innatthepinnacles.com
  • April 2007 –– Pinot Days Festival, New York, New York www.pinotdays.com
  • 18-20 May 2007 Anderson Valley Pinot Noir Festival. Events for wine lovers and professionals alike. Symposium, visits to vineyards and wineries, grand tasting, winemaker dinners. Some of America's most outstanding Pinot Noir vineyards in one of our most beautiful wine regions. Anderson Valley - Philo, California. Fee: Call for information Time: Call for information Phone Number: 707 895-9463 www.avwines.com
  • June 2007 –– 3rd Annual Pinot Days Festival, Fort Mason, San Francisco, CA www.pinotdays.com

Click Here for a complete list of Pinot Wine Festivals. If you have a Pinot festival you would like to add send a note to jud@pinotnoirs.com


Burgundy Pinot Noirs

The French love and understand “Terrior”. They believe their terrior to be the best in the world for growing Pinot Noir. One has to admit, they do have centuries of experience in working with their terrior and producing legendary wines.

Burgundy Wine Regions

BC´s largest and oldest wine-growing region. Situated just north of the US-Canada border and 100 miles East of Vancouver. This area experiences a hot, dry climate with low humidity and little rainfall. It contains Canada´s only desert as well as snow-capped mountains, sandy beaches and mountain-fed lakes. Sounds like California, doesn´t it?

The most famous Pinot Noirs come from the Côte d’Or. Evidence exists of wine growing in this region back to the 2nd century AD, however, it’s believed they’ve been growing grapes and producing wine much longer.


Southern Côte d’Or

Northern Côte d’Or

 

Between 1880 and 1890, phylloxera arrived in Burgundy. They pulled up all the vines and replanted on American rootstock. The last diseased vineyard to be pulled up was the Romanée-Conti, in 1944.

Burgundy, known to the French as Bourgogne, produces wine mostly from Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. In the Fall a carpet of gold covers the Côte d’Or hills or hills of gold — possibly the source of it’s name. There’s also the price they get for their wines — possibly another source of it’s name. Six magnums of 1985 Romanée-Conti fetched US$170,375 at Christie's on 2 March in New York. That equals US$14,198 per regular-size bottle.

At the top of the Côte d’Or you will find the city of Dijon, famous for it’s mustard. In the center of the Côte d’Or you’ll find the city of Beaune, the famous wine town where you’ll find the Hospices de Beaune and many wine growers and vintners.

The Côte de Beaune grows predominately Chardonnay and produces the luscious white Burgundies they are known for. Here you’ll find the towns such as Puligny-Montrachet, Meursault, and Chassagne-Montrachet all making the famous white burgundies. Here you’ll find the famous wine houses of Domaine Ramonet and Domaine Leflaive.

The Côte de Nuits predominately grows Pinot Noir and produces the legendary red Burgundies. Here you’ll find the towns of Nuit-St-George, Vosne-Romanée, and Gevrey-Chambertin. Located in and around those towns you’ll find famous wine houses such as Domaine de la Romanée-Conti, Domaine Georges Roumier/Domaine Christophe Roumier, and Domaine LeRoy.

Also in Burgundy are the Côte Chalonnaise and Mâconnaise in the Saône-et-Loire. I’ll save these two for later.

The Côte d’Or or Hills of Gold
The Côte d’Or or Hills of Gold

 

The People of Burgundy

In Burgundy, they divide wineries and the land between the children when an owner dies resulting in many small plots of grapes. The Louis Gros family chart depicts a good example of how this happens. Consequently many women find themselves inheriting wineries from their families.

In my mind, the most famous woman of wine is Lalou Bize-Leroy. In 1974 she became co-owner and co-manager of Domaine de la Romanée-Conti (DRC) when her father Henri Leroy passed away. She continued in this capacity until 1991 when the Board of Directors (including her sister) ousted her from her position. But, she landed on her feet with amazing pizzazz and she now owns and manages Domaine Leroy which many feel has surpassed DRC. http://www.domaineleroy.com

In 1988, at 25 years old, Anne Gros inherited Domaine Anne Gros from her father, François Gros. She recently built a beautiful new winery in Vosne-Romanée. http://www.anne-gros.com/

Alexandrine Roy of Domaine Marc Roy

Alexandrine Roy recently completed her studies in enology at the famous wine school in Beaune. After a training period in Australia, she joined her father Marc Roy in the family winery — Domaine Marc Roy in Gevrey-Chambertin. This lovely young woman is totally immersed in her families winery. She works in the vineyards, she helps make the wine, and she goes out and markets the wine.

Some of the young men inheriting wineries and grapes have also done very well.

Christophe Roumier is the great-grandson of Georges Roumier who settled in Chambolle Musigny in 1924 and took over the winery his wife had inherited. In 1983, Christophe began became partners with his father, Jean-Marie in running Domaine Georges Roumier. Today Christophe also bottles under the name Domaine Christophe Roumier.
http://www.roumier.com/index.htm

The great-grandsons of Claude Ramonet, Noël and Jean-Claude Ramonet, now have responsibility for Domaine Ramonet located in Chassagne-Montrachet in the Cote de Beaune. They learned their wine making skills “on the job” and are earning the respect of the wine drinking world.

Pat and Nicolas Rossignol looking in the top of the fermentor at Domaine Rossignol-Trapet in Gevrey-Chambertin

Nicolas and David Rossignol are the great-grandsons of Louis Trapet of Domaine Louis Trapet in Gevrey-Chambertin. With their father Jacques Rossignol, they formed Domaine Rossignol-Trapet in Gevrey-Chambertin in 1990.http://www.rossignol-trapet.com.

I found several exceptions to the stories above about young people inheriting wineries from their parents. I especially liked the stories about Alex Gambal and Véronique Drouhin-Boss.

Alex Gambal
Alex Gambal

Alex Gambal did not inherit a winery and grapes from his parents. Instead, this young man, born in Washington DC, moved his young family to Beaune in 1993 to learn the Burgundy wine business. He studied wine at the school in Beaune, learned to speak French, and worked for a negotiate — all at the same time. In 1997 he created a négociant-éleveur business. In 2005 he bought a beautiful old building in the center of Beaune for his winery. He is turning it into a state-of-the art gravity fed winery with beautiful old caves below. http://www.alexgambal.com

Robert and Françoise Drouhin have taken a different approach to the inheriting schemes of Burgundy. Their four children (and Joseph Drouhin’s great-grandchildren), Philippe, Véronique, Laurent and Frédéric each have a unique responsibility in their wine business. Philippe Drouhin has responsibility for the vineyards in Burgundy and in Oregon. Laurent Drouhin is the Sales Manager for the US market. Frédéric is the President and Chief Executive Officer for Joseph Drouhin. Véronique Drouhin-Boss is the winemaker for Joseph Drouhin. She has an enology degree from the University of Dijon. She made her first vintage at Domaine Drouhin in Dundee, Oregon in 1988. http://www.drouhin.com/
http://www.domainedrouhin.com/home.cfm

 

 

 

 

The Red Burgundies

Four grades of appellation exist in Burgundy. In 1936-7 the French created the “Grand Crus”. Grand Crus account for 33 appellations and 2% of total production.

The Côte de Nuits Grand Crus are:

Gevrey-Chambertin:

Mazis-Chambertin
Ruchottes-Chambertin
Chambertin Clos-de-Bèze
Chapelle-Chambertin
Griotte-Chambertin
Charmes-Chambertin
Le Chambertin
Latricières-Chambertin

Morey-St-Denis:

Clos de la Roche
Clos St-Denis
Clos des Lambrays
Clos de Tart
Bonnes Mares (some)

Chambolle-Musigny

Bonnes Mares (most)
Le Musigny (some white wine too)

Vougeot

Clos de Vougeot

Romanée-Conti Vineyard
Romanée-Conti Vineyard

Flagey-Échezeaux

Grands Échezeaux
Échezeaux

Vosne-Romanée

Richebourg
Romanée-St-Vivant
Romanée-Conti
La Romanée
La Grande Rue
La Tâche

The Côte de Beaune Grand Crus are:
(all for white wine unless otherwise stated)

Aloxe-Corton

Le Corton (almost all red)

Ladoix-Serrigny

Corton-Charlemagne

Puligny-Montrachet

Chevalier-Montrachet
Bienvenues-Bâtard-Montrachet

Chassagne- Montrachet

Le Montrachet
Bâtard-Montrachet

Chassagne- Montrachet

Criots-Bâtard-Montrachet

Premiers Crus or 1st Cru. In 1943 the French created the “Premier Crus”. These plots of land are particularly recognized for their unique characteristics and consistent quality. The Premiers Crus account for 570 appellations (AOCs) and 10% of total production.

Local appellations. Local appellations or Village appellations take the name of the village where they are produced. For example, Gevrey-Chambertin or Pommard. They account for 44 AOCs and 35% of total production.

Regional appellations. This category includes appellations that can be harvested all over the winegrowing territory of Burgundy. The indication that a wine belongs to this category is the word Bourgogne (Burgundy) appearing in the name. Examples are: Bourgogne Aligote, Cremant de Bourgogne, Bourgogne Hautes-Cotes de Beaune, and Bourgogne Chitry. Regional appellations account for 23 AOCs and 53% of total production.

Wines

Most of the Pinot Noirs I tasted in these areas were full-bodied with aromas of cherries, plums, and raspberries.

Patty's Pinot Closet lists all the wines reviewed in current and past newsletters. We've included a price taken from the winery website or other retail sources if possible. They are included for relative comparison only, your price may be different. All prices in this newsletter are in US.

Pinot NoirYearPriceRankDescription
Domaine Rossignol-Trapet
FR, Bourgogne, Gevry-Chambertin
Latricieres-Chambertin
2002   95 Black cherry color with a medium intensity. Aromas of earthy forest floor and black cherries. Velvety black cherry tastes. Very long finish.
Maison Camille Giroud
FR, Bourgogne, Vosne-Romanée
 
2002   95 Black cherry color with a medium intensity. Earthy black cherry aromas. Very long finish.
Domaine Marc Roy
FR, Bourgogne, Gevry-Chambertin
"Clos Prieur"
2003   95 Medium intensity with a black cherry color. Earthy black currant and forest floor aromas. Velvety flavors of black currants, chocolate and violets. Very long finish.
Domaine Marc Roy
FR, Bourgogne, Gevry-Chambertin
Vielles Vignes
2001 42.00 95 Old vines used for this wine produce a medium intensity wine with a black cherry color. Complex aromas of earthy black currants, black cherries, violets and spice. Tastes of velvety blackberries. Very long finish.
Domaine Fougeray de Beauclair
FR, Bourgogne, Bonnes Mares
Grand Cru
2001 160.00 94 Medium intensity with a black cherry color. Aromas of earthy black cherries.
Domaine Rossignol-Trapet
FR, Bourgogne, Gevry-Chambertin
petite chapelle, 1st cru
2002   93 Medium intensity with a black cherry color. Aromas of complex earthy forest floor and black cherries. Tastes of velvety black cherries with hints of smoke. Very long finish.
Domaine Rossignol-Trapet
FR, Bourgogne, Gevry-Chambertin
 
2004   93 Dense black cherry color. Tastes of velvety plums. Very long finish.
Domaine Patrice Rion
FR, Bourgogne
 
2001   93 Floral and fruit aromas. Silky tastes of red fruit.
Domaine LeRoy
FR, Bourgogne, Volnay-Champans
 
1998 80.00 93 Dense wine with a black cherry color. Aromas of chocolate and blueberries. Velvety dark fruit flavors with hints of smoke and oak.
Domaine Pierre Naigeon
FR, Bourgogne, Bonnes Mares
Grand Cru
2002 115.00 93 Medium intensity with aromas of black currants. Very complex and well-balanced. Lovely wine.
Domaine Roux Père & Fils
FR, Bourgogne, Gevrey-Chambertin
 
2003 25.00 93 Brilliant dark color with aromas of black cherries and vanilla. Complex and well-balanced.
Domaine Herezstyn
FR, Bourgogne, Gevrey-Chambertin
"Vieilles Vignes"
2001 40.00 92 Dense bodied wine with aromas of cherries. Velvety in the mouth with a long finish.
Domaine Anne-Marie Gille
US Distributor: Transat Trade, Guy Azera,
FR, Bourgogne, Vosne-Romanée
 
2002 35.00 92 Cherry color with aromas of black currant and blackberries. Good body, flavor and velvety texture.
Domaine Dujac
FR, Bourgogne, Clos de la Roche
Grand Cru
2000 140.00 92 Medium ruby with Black Currant and earthy bouquets. Well-balanced velvety in mouth with a medium length aftertaste.
Domaine D'Ardhuy
FR, Bourgogne
 
2003 20.00 92 Black cherry color with a medium intensity. Medium finish.
Domaine Roux Père & Fils
FR, Bourgogne, Pommard
 
2003 22.00 92 Deep dense color with aromas of black currants. Well-balanced with good flavor and body.
Maison Louis Jadot
US Distributor: Kobrand, Delphine Boutier,
FR, Bourgogne, Nuits-St-George
Villages
2001 34.00 92 Aromas of black cherries with notes of spice and earth. Good tannin - should age well.
Domaine Bouchard Père & Fils
FR, Bourgogne, Beaune
1st Cru "Du Château" Rouge
2002 30.00 91 A medium intensity wine with a ruby color. Aromas of figs and spices. Velvety on the palate.
Maison Alex Gambal
FR, Bourgogne
 
2003   91 Bright black cherry color with a medium intensity. Aromas of black currants. Medium finish.
Domaine Pierre Naigeon
FR, Bourgogne, Vosne-Romanée
"Pre de la Folie"
2004 58.00 91 Black cherry color with aromas of black currant and blackberries. Velvety taste and long finish.
Domaine Michel Gros
FR, Bourgogne, Nuits-St-George
Les Chaliots
2002 54.00 91 Aromas of cranberry and cherry. Well-balanced with cherry and blueberry tastes. Long finish.
Domaine de l'Arlot
FR, Bourgogne
Clos des Forets St Georges
1999 29.00 91 Dense ruby-garnet colored wine. Complex aromas encompassing earthy gamey black currants. Tastes of dark velvety fruit. Medium finish. Should age a long time.
Domaine du Comte Armand
FR, Bourgogne, Pommard
Clos des Epeneaux
2001 137.00 91 Full-bodied wine with aromas of black currants and blackberries. Lots of tannin - should last.
Domaine Edmund Cornu et Fils
FR, Bourgogne
 
2003   91 Medium intensity wine with a black cherry color. Aromas of Black currant and Asian spice. Medium finish.
Domaine Rossignol-Trapet
FR, Bourgogne, Gevry-Chambertin
 
2002   90 Medium intensity with a black cherry color. Aromas of earthy black cherries and violets. Tastes of velvety black cherries and hints of smoke. Very long finish.
Maison Alex Gambal
FR, Bourgogne, Chamboille-Musigny
Le Foncheres
2003   90 Black cherry color with a medium intensity. Aromas of toasty black cherries. Tastes of velvety red fruit. Medium finish.
Maison Alex Gambal
FR, Bourgogne, Cote de Beaune
 
2003   90 Black cherry color with a medium intensity. Aromas of blueberries, black cherries and violets. Tastes of red fruit. Medium finish.
Domaine Chofflet-Valdenaire
US Distributor Adventures in Wine
FR, Bourgogne, Givry
1st Cru, Clos de Choue
2001 19.00 90 Light intensity with a cherry color. Aromas of strawberries and raspberries. Earthy red fruit and Asian spice flavors.
Domaine Pierre Naigeon
FR, Bourgogne, Gevrey-Chambertin
"Combe de Lavaux, Vieilles Vignes"
2004 47.00 90 Black currant in color with aromas of cherries, raspberries and hints of vanilla and licorice. Well blanaced and a lovely finish.
Domaine Michel Gros
FR, Bourgogne, Nuits-St-George
1st Cru
1998 61.00 90 Aromas of cherry and red currant. Silky well-balanced wine. Medium finish.
Maison Louis Latour
US Distributor: Louis Latour Inc, Chris Stambaugh,
FR, Bourgogne, Volnay
1st Cru "En Chevrets"
2002 40.00 90 Ruby color with earthy cherry aromas. Well balanced spicy red fruit flavors.
Maison Jean-Philippe Marchand
FR, Bourgogne, Gevrey-Chambertin
"Clos Prieur"
2003 34.00 90 Dense color with aromas of cherries and licorice. Well balanced with a velvety mouthfeel. Nice aftertaste.
Domaine Daniel Rion et Fils
FR, Bourgogne, Vosne-Romanée
"Villages"
2003   90 Aromas of cherries and rose perfume. Well balanced earthy tastes.
Domaine Marc Roy
FR, Bourgogne, Gevry-Chambertin
"Clos Prieur"
2003   90 The grapes to produce this wine were grown near the grand cru in a chalk &limestone soil. This produced a medium intensity wine with a black cherry color. Aromas included black cherry and licorice and a hint of toastyness.
Christophe Violot-Guillemard
FR, Bourgogne, Beaune
Clos des Mouches, 1st Cru
2003 42.00 90 Dense black cherry color with earthy black currant aromas. Velvety earthy dark fruit tastes.
Domaine De L'Arlot
FR, Bourgogne, Nuits St Georges
1er Cru
2000 55.00 90 Medium density ruby color with black currant and earthy bouquet. High acid, but velvety after food. Medium aftertaste
Domaine Jean Grivot
FR, Bourgogne, Nuits-St-George
1st Cru Les Boudots
2002 60.00 90 Medium intensity with a black cherry color. Aromas of cherries.
Domaine Tollot-Beaut
FR, Bourgogne
Chorey-lès-Beaune
2002 25.00 90 Medium bodied wine with aromas of earthy black cherry. Flavors of cherry and black currant with a touch of anise and game. Velvety in the mouth with a medium finish.
"Domaine Pierre Morey US Distributor: Wilson Daniels, "
FR, Bourgogne, Monthielie
 
2003 33.00 89 Supple and delicate Pinot with clean aromas.
Domaine Heresztyn
FR, Bourgogne, Gevry-Chambertin
Clos Saint Denis
2003 116.00 89 Medium intensity cherry colored wine. Aromas of cherries, cranberries, and Asian spices. Tastes of cherries. Medium finish.
Domaine Bouchard Père & Fils
FR, Bourgogne
2003 17.00 89 Black cherry color with aromas of red fruit. Velvety in the mouth with a medium finish.
Chateau de Messey
FR, Bourgogne, Chassagen-Montrachet
"Les Morichots"
2003 33.00 89 Dense bodied wine with a deep garnet color. Aromas of cherries, berries, roses and vanilla. Velvety in the mouth.
Chateau de Messey
FR, Bourgogne, Santenay
1st Cru "Passetemps"
2002 36.00 89 Dense bodied wine with aromas of cherries, blueberries and vanilla. Well balanced.
Domaine Menand
FR, Bourgogne, Mercurey
"Les Vaux"
2003   89 Black cherry color with aromas of black currant, truffles and spice. Large tannins in the mouth.
Domaine Marc Roy
FR, Bourgogne
 
2000 10.00 89 Black cherry color with a light intensity. Aromas of earthy black cherries.Medium finish.
Domaine Parent
FR, Bourgogne, Beaune
1st Cru "Les Epenottes"
2002 45.00 89 Medium intensity with a cherry color. Aromas of cherries, roses, black tea and spice.
Domaine Comte Georges de Voguë
FR, Bourgogne, Musigny
 
2000 250.00 89 Medium ruby-garnet, femine flowery wine with a flightly sweet aftertaste.
Domaine du Chateau de Meursalt
FR, Bourgogne, Beaune
1st Cru "Cent Vignes"
2002 28.00 89 A medium intensity wine with a black-cherry color. Aromas of cherries and Forest floor. Good body with a velvety mouth feel. Medium finish.
Domaine Pavelot
FR, Bourgogne
Savigny-les-BeauneAux Gravains
2002 32.00 89 Medium intensity with a black cherry color. Black cherry aromas with velvety dark fruit tastes. Medium finish.
Domaine Pavelot
FR, Bourgogne, Gevry-Chambertin
 
2002   89 Black cherry color with a medium intensity. Aromas of earthy black cherries. Medium finish.
Domaine Michel Gros
FR, Bourgogne, Vosne-Romanée
1er Cru, "Aux Brulees"
1998 80.00 88 Medium density ruby-garnet color with black plum and mushroom bouquet. Slight rotten egg. Light in mouth. Unusual aftertaste
Maison Bertrand Ambroise
FR, Bourgogne
 
2003 16.00 88 Dense black cherry color with aromas of black currants. Medium finish.
Domaine Anne-Marie Gille
US Distributor: Transat Trade, Guy Azera,
FR, Bourgogne, Cote de Nuits
Villages
2000 18.00 88 Aromas of slight earthiness and cherries and raspberries.
Domaine Vincent Sauvestre
US Distributor: Latitude Wines, Karen McDonald Burkhart,
FR, Bourgogne, Pommard
"Clos de la Platière"
2002 28.00 88 Dense wine with aromas of cherries and violets. Velvety tannins.
Domaine Pierre Damoy
FR, Bourgogne, Chambertin
Clos de Beze
2000 80.00 88 Dense dark wine with aromas of blackberries.
Domaine Michel Gros
FR, Bourgogne, Vosne-Romanée
AC
2001   88 Medium intensity. Earthy aromas with a silky mouth feel.
Maison Louis Latour
US Distributor: Louis Latour Inc, Chris Stambaugh,
FR, Bourgogne, Beaune
Les Vignes Franches, lst Cru
2000   88 Bright, medium intensity ruby colored wine. Aromas of red fruit, smoke and spice. Well balanced with flavors of red fruit, oak and licorice.
Maison Louis Latour
US Distributor: Louis Latour Inc, Chris Stambaugh,
FR, Bourgogne, Marsanay
 
2003 18.00 88 Garnet color wine with earthy cherry aromas. Balanced fruit and earth flavors with a nice finish.
"Domaine Moillard "
US Distributor: USA Wine West, Brian Robson,
FR, Bourgogne
 
2002 25.00 88 Ruby color with aromas of blackberries and roses. Well balanced with a nice finish.
Domaine Parent
FR, Bourgogne, Monthielie
1st Cru "Les Champs Fuillots"
2003 33.00 88 Cherry color with aromas of Tobacco, spice and earth. Tastes of ripe spicy fruit.
Cave de Buxy
FR, Bourgogne
 
2004 17.00 88 Red fruit aromas with a slight bitterness.
Cellier des Ursulines
FR, Bourgogne, Corton
Les Renardes
1996   88 Medium intensity garnet colored wine with aromas of earthy cherries and mint. Tastes of dark fruit and spice. Medium finish.
Cellier des Ursulines
FR, Bourgogne, Corton-Bressandes
Grand Cru
1994   88 Medium intensity garnet colored wine with aromas of earthy floral and licorice. Tastes of spice and cranberries. Long finish.
Domaine Alain Burguet
FR, Bourgogne, Gevry-Chambertin
 
2002 75.00 88 Dense black cherry color with black cherry aromas. Medium finish.
Domaine de Courcel
FR, Bourgogne, Pommard
Les Rugiens Premier Cru
2002 74.00 88 Medium intensity cherry colored wine. Black currant aromas.
Domaine Charles Audoin
FR, Bourgogne, Marsannay
Les Longeroies
2002 28.00 87 Light intensity with a black cherry color. Medium finish.
Domaine Parent
FR, Bourgogne
"Sélection Ponome"
2003 20.00 87 Bright cherry color with aromas of cherries.
Domaine Guy Bocard
FR, Bourgogne, Auxey-Duresses
1st Cru
2002 25.00 86 Black cherry color with a medium intensity. Aromas of earthy cherries. Tastes of red fruit with a minerality mouthfeel. Medium finish.
Domaine LeRoy
FR, Bourgogne, Volnay
 
1998 55.00 86 Medium intensity with a black cherry color. Aromas of blueberries and roses. Velvety intense tannins
Nicolas Potel
FR, Bourgogne, Echezeaux
Grand Cru
2000 54.00 86 Dense black cherry wine. Plum aromas. Tastes of dark fruit with a medium finish.
Domaine Michel Gros
FR, Bourgogne, Vosne-Romanée
AC
2002 55.00 86 Medium intensity. Earthy aromas with a silky mouth feel.
Domaine Anne-Sophie Debavelaere
FR, Bourgogne
"Bas de Cortechat"
2002   86 Light bodied, bright wine with aromas of cherries and spices.
Domaine du Chateau de Gevrey-Chambertin
FR, Bourgogne, Gevrey-Chambertin
1st Cru, Lavaux St Jacques
2003   86 Black cherry color with a medium intensity. Aromas of earthy black currants. Velvety black fruit with a hint of black pepper. Medium finish.
Domaine LeRoy
FR, Bourgogne, Pommard
1st Cru
1998 73.00 85 Medium intensity with a black cherry color. Aromas of earthy blueberries. Medium finish.
Domaine Guy Chaumont
FR, Bourgogne, Saone-et-Loire department
Cote Chalonnaise
2002 16.00 85 A light density wine with aromas of chocolate.
Domaine Guillot-Broux
FR, Bourgogne
Mâcon-Cruzille "Beaumont"
2003 23.00 85 Aromas of spice and forest floor, leather and game.
Domaine Vincent Sauvestre
US Distributor: Latitude Wines, Karen McDonald Burkhart,
FR, Bourgogne
 
2002 15.00 85 Aromas of raspberries. Good body.
Domaine Michel Gros
FR, Bourgogne, Nuits-St-George
Les Chaliots
2001 35.00 85 Dark ruby color with aromas of cherry and licorice.
Bouchard Aîné & Fils
FR, Bourgogne
Cuvée Signature Fixin "La Maziere"
2003 14.33 85 Cherry, spicy, woody aromas. Well balanced with velvety tannins.
Maison Jean-Philippe Marchand
FR, Bourgogne
Hautes Cotes de Nuits
2002 15.00 85 Ruby color with red fruit aromas.


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