Burgundy Wines

wines

The 2009 Meursault is similarly rich and tropical, but also comes across as quite young next to the 2002, which is an ever-present reminder of how these wines can age. Although the 2009 is gorgeous, if I owned it, I would try to give it more time in bottle.Antonio Galloni | 92 AGThe 2009 Meursault Villages is drinking brilliantly, wafting from the glass with a beautiful nose of preserved citrus, crisp peach, nougat and honeysuckle. On the palate, it’s medium-bodied, layered and elegantly textural—glossier and more sweetly sun-kissed than the 2008 drank alongside it but bright and precise nonetheless, with beautiful energy and delineation on the finish. Given its profile, I suspect this was Coche’s bottling from Vireuils of Luchets rather than Narvaux, but he makes no indication on the label.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 91 RP(Domaine Jean-François Coche-Dury Meursault Villages White) A pretty, ripe and very Meursault nose of both white and yellow orchard fruit, hazelnut and a gentle touch of wood toast leads to delicious, round, concentrated and quite generous flavors that possess excellent depth and length, particularly for a villages level wine. (Drink starting 2016)Burghound | 90 BH

Produced from Méo’s 0.44ha parcel in Les Rouges du Bas. The vines are near the top of the slope not far from the outlet of the combe, thus a cool terroir. In 2009 it was enormously successful, ripening to perfection yet maintaining its freshness. The nose shows sweet black cherry and plum fruit with hints of exotic spices and a firmly saline minerality. The texture is less imposing than some years, with an almost sweet character on the palate but plenty of depth and length. Marvelously drinkable now. (Drink between 2021-2041)Decanter | 95 DECThe 2009 Echézeaux flows across the palate with layers of gracious, elegant fruit. It is a supremely silky wine with plenty of intensity but no heaviness whatsoever. This is classy and refined all the way. Méo’s parcel is in Le Rouge du Bas.Antonio Galloni | 92-95 AGThe 2009 Echezeaux flows across the palate with layers of gracious, elegant fruit. It is a supremely silky wine with plenty of intensity but no heaviness whatsoever. This is classy and refined all the way. Meo’s parcel is in Le Rouge du Bas. Anticipated maturity: 2019-2034.Jean-Nicolas Meo began harvesting on September 12. He did 17-18 days of cuvaison and did one racking before the wines were prepared for bottling. I was not able to taste a handful of wines that were racked just before my visit, including the Cros Parantoux. Meo is among the growers who believe the 2009s will age well on their depth of fruit.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 92-95 RPA highly-spiced nose of purple and cassis is sprinkled with warm earth and anise notes that leads to rich, intense and quite generous broad-shouldered flavors that brim with seemingly buckets of tannin-buffering dry extract that culminate in a palate staining and strikingly persistent finish. I very much like the balance and while this is certainly firm, it’s not hard or aggressive. (Drink starting 2021)Burghound | 92-94 BHThe 2009 Echézeaux is also a very pure and ripe example of the vintage. The bouquet is a deep and classy blend of black raspberries, black cherries, woodsmoke, duck, lovely minerality, dark chocolate and spicy new oak. On the palate the wine is deep, full-bodied, pure, minerally and nicely reserved, with fine focus and mid-palate depth, suave tannins and a long, tangy and chewy finish. This is really a very, very good vintage for the Echézeaux at this estate, and I would do everything in my power to give this seven or eight years in the cellar to allow its additional layers of complexity to emerge with further bottle age. Fine juice. (Drink between 2018-2040)John Gilman | 93 JG

Fine colour. Really quite closed on the nose: even more so than the Richebourg. Lovely perfumed cassis nose. A big, backward, quite tannic wine with excellent grip. More austere than the Richbourg. But it has even more depth and intensity. Very lovely.Decanter | 100 DEC(Domaine de la Romanée-Conti La Tâche Grand Cru Red) A discreet but incredibly complex nose features notes of spicy, pure and relatively high-toned fruit that is laced with plenty of rose petal and violet hints. There is excellent energy and freshness to the lacy and stunningly precise broad-scaled flavors that build in intensity from the densely concentrated mid-palate to the explosive and mouth coating finish that seemingly goes on without end. This is a big LT with ample muscle and very firm but not aggressive structure along with superb depth of underlying material and positively mind-blowing length. But the real genius of this wine is the Zen-like harmony and poise though note that it is very tightly wound and will need many years of cellaring before it will be completely ready. In a word, magnificent. (Drink starting 2034).Burghound | 98 BHThe 2009 La Tâche Grand Cru is still a decade away from the plenitude of maturity, but it’s already a head-turning wine, soaring from the glass with an extravagant bouquet of rose petal, Asian spices, grilled meats, rock salt, espresso roast, rich soil tones, plums and dark chocolate. On the palate, it’s full-bodied, ample and richly structured around fine-grained chalky tannins, with a deep and multidimensional core and succulent underlying acids, concluding with a long, fragrant finish. This is an utterly classic La Tâche that ranks among the vintage’s high points.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 98 RPThe 2009 La Tâche Grand Cru is the most ethereal of the three wines in this flight. Whole cluster influence is especially marked here. A whole range of spice, dried flower, mint and savory overtones infuse the 2009 with layers of nuance. Next to the other wines in this flight, La Tâche is ethereal and harder to fully capture with words, an attribute many, if not most, of the world’s greatest wines share.Vinous Media | 98 VMNoticeably oaky and darker than its siblings, evoking black cherry, licorice and spice. On the palate, there’s depth and concentration, with a menthol note that persists through the long finish. The mouthcoating tannins will require some time to integrate.--Non-blind 2009 DRC tasting (February 2012). Best from 2016 through 2042.Wine Spectator | 97 WS

The 2009 Latricieres-Chambertin is fresh, vibrant and impeccably harmonious. Dark cherries, crushed flowers, minerals and mint emerge from a beautifully articulated, mid-weight frame. All of the elements are very nicely balanced in this first-class, elegant Latricieres. The finish is long, refined and weightless. Anticipated maturity: 2019-2049.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 95+ RPLess saturated medium red than the Chapelle. Cool, vibrant aromas of blueberry, blackberry, boysenberry and menthol, with some red cherry emerging with air. Wonderfully silky on entry, then firm and insinuating in the mid-palate, with a seamless texture and perfumed high notes. The very long, aromatic finish really leaves the palate vibrating. A great Latricieres. Trapet suggests drinking this "now or in 60 years."Vinous Media | 95 VMA more deeply pitched yet still ultra-elegant nose that speaks of the almost pungent minerality that characterizes this outstanding wine from tip to tail. There is a purity and transparency that is beautiful to see as this is a textbook example of a fine Latricières, all wrapped in a dusty, linear and harmonious finish. This is unusually precise for the vintage and possesses excellent potential but note that this restrained example will likely not reveal all of its potential for at least a decade and more probably two.Burghound | 95 BHThe 2009 Latricières from Jean-Louis Trapet is an excellent example of the vintage, with the wine seeming likely to blossom a bit ahead of the 2009 Chapelle in the Trapet cellars. The bouquet wafts from the glass in a ripe and very pure blend of black cherries, sweet dark berries, woodsmoke, grilled meats, dark soil tones and the first hint of Latricières signature of cigar. On the palate the wine is pure, full-bodied and blossoming nicely already, with a deep and sappy core, excellent soil signature, suave, buried tannins and a long, plush and complex finish. The generosity of the 2009 vintage dovetails beautifully with the more restrained personality of Latricières and the combination of the two has produced a stellar bottle in the making chez Trapet. (Drink between 2021 - 2075)John Gilman | 94+ JG

(Domaine Marquis d’Angerville Volnay "Caillerets" 1er 1er Cru Red) This is also quite ripe with liqueur-like aromas of raspberry, cassis and plum that cannot hide the almost aggressive wet stone nuances that carry over to the detailed, mouth coating and intense flavors that possess impeccable balance and outstanding length on the gorgeously complex and seriously long finish. This is terrific and absolutely worth your consideration. (Drink starting 2017)Burghound | 93 BHThe estate’s 2009 Volnay Les Caillerets is one of the more focused, vibrant wines in this lineup. Dark red fruit, mint and spices are some of the nuances that emerge in the glass. The Caillerets impresses for its drive and sheer energy, both qualities that should allow it to age gracefully for a number of years. D’Angerville’s 0.5 hectare plot is at the top of the vineyard. Anticipated maturity: 2019-2039.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 93 RPThe 2009 Volnay Caillerets is one of the subtler polished wines in this lineup. A model of weightless elegance, it presents hints of rose petals, sweet red cherries, licorice and minerals, all wrapped up in a sensual package that is impossible to resist. The wine’s understated finesse and inner sense of energy are both remarkable.Vinous Media | 93 VM

(Domaine Marquis d’Angerville Volnay "Frémiets" 1er 1er Cru Red) Here the nose is appreciably fresher and also displays notes of red currant though the minerality now extends to the aromas and in hallmark Frémiets style, also suffuses the rich, supple and refined middle weight flavors blessed with ample amounts of dry extract that buffer the moderately firm tannins on the impressively long finish. The minerality is so strong that there is a Chablis-like saline character. A classy effort of finesse. (Drink starting 2016)Burghound | 91-93 BHThe 2009 Volnay Fremiet is beautifully pointed. Sweet dark cherries, plums, violets, graphite and licorice are woven together in an articulate, chiseled Volnay that impresses for its energy, delineation and sheer underlying structure. All the elements are in the right place. This is a terrific showing from d’Angerville and one of the few 2009s that actually needs time to come together.Vinous Media | 92 VM

(Ruchottes-Chambertin- Domaine Georges Mugneret-Gibourg) Both the Ruchottes and the Clos Vougeot are two of my wines of the vintage in 2009. The spectacular Ruchottes soars from the glass in a brilliantly complex mélange of red and black cherries, blood orange, raw cocoa, a touch of grilled meat, woodsmoke, magically complex soil tones, violets and spicy new wood. On the palate the wine is deep, full-bodied, pure and rock solid at the core, with laser-like focus, stunning purity, ripe tannins and profound length and grip on the seamless and utterly refined finish. I am probably underrating this wine this year! (Drink between 2020-2070)John Gilman | 96+ JGThe 2009 Ruchottes-Chambertin was 100% de-stemmed. It has a gorgeous bouquet with vivid scents of plush red cherry fruit, cassis, violets and a hint of vanilla remaining from some new oak to be subsumed. The palate is medium-bodied with an elegant, precise opening. It is embroidered with a perfect thread of acidity and gains momentum towards the finish that feels plush and sensual (not a million miles away from the 1999 stylistically). It needs three or four more years in bottle but there is great potential here. Tasted at the Ruchottes-Chambertin vertical in London.Vinous Media | 95 VM(Domaines Georges Mugneret-Gibourg Ruchottes-Chambertin Grand Cru Red) Not surprisingly, this is quite similar to the young vines cuvée though here the fruit is both fresher and a bit riper before merging into supple and intensely mineral-driven extract-rich flavors that possess excellent length on the palate staining finish. This serious and brooding effort is the epitome of power without weight and a wine that should improve for up to 15 years.Burghound | 94 BHThe 2009 Ruchottes-Chambertin is gorgeous today. It boasts considerable aromatic complexity and plenty of nuance in a sensual style that captures the essence of the vintage. The 2009 shows a little more depth and richness than the 2010 but still has plenty of site specific character. Finessed, silky tannins frame the exceptional finish. Today the Ruchottes give the immediate pleasure that is the hallmark of this vintage. I loved it. Anticipated maturity: 2017-2029.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 93 RP

(Nuits St. Georges “Chaignots”- Domaine Robert Chevillon et Fils) Not surprisingly, the 2009 Chevillon Chaignots is very sappy and generous on the nose, as it offers up scents of black cherries, cocoa, blood orange, vinesmoke, herb tones, a lovely base of soil and a fine framing of vanillin oak. On the palate the wine is decidedly more tight and serious than the nose suggests, with its full-bodied format tightly-knit with ripe tannins, good acids and really fine length and grip on the finish. This is rock solid at the core, and though it has a fair bit of tannin to resolve, the tannins are suave and beautifully-integrated into the body of the wine. A very, very fine vintage of Chaignots this year. (Drink between 2017-2040)John Gilman | 92 JG(Domaine Robert Chevillon Nuits St. Georges "Les Chaignots" 1er 1er Cru Red) This is a relatively fresh ’09 with an expressive nose that offers up notes of plum, cassis and very ripe black berry liqueur notes. The attractively textured and very rich flavors are supple, round and supported by relatively fine tannins and plenty of mouth coating dry extract. I like the balance and overall sense of harmony of this seductively textured example though it’s worth noting that some might find this to be just a little too ripe as there are hints of mocha on the finish. (Drink starting 2021)Burghound | 91 BH

The 2010 Romanée-St.-Vivant from Hudelot-Noëllat is properly more reserved than the Malconsorts, but in terms of complexity and purity, these two wines are cut very much from the same cloth in this vintage. The stunning nose soars from the glass in a beautiful blend of sappy red and black cherries, raspberries, a touch of blood orange, a great base of soil tones, a bit of duck and a judicious framing of vanillin oak. On the palate the wine is deep, full-bodied and very pure on the attack, with a sappy core, ripe tannins and a very, very long, reserved and transparent finish. This is pure magic. (Drink between 2022 - 2075)John Gilman | 96+ JGGood full red. Ineffable aromas and flavors of red berries, cocoa powder, smoked meat, faded rose and wild herbs, plus a whiff of game. Still a bit youthfully tough on the palate, but already communicates great grip and energy; comes across as deeper and more masculine than the 2011 version. Finishes surprisingly lush, with perfectly integrated tannins and outstanding subtle length.Vinous Media | 95+ VMThe 2010 Romanee St. Vivant comes across as rather shy. It shows lovely definition in its striking, well-delineated bouquet. There is an element of pure sensuality to the fruit that is very attractive. The RSV needs time to come out of its shell but is quite promising, even at this early stage. Anticipated maturity: 2020-2030.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 92-94 RPThe 2010 Romanée Saint-Vivant Grand Cru showed more evolved than I’d expect from a 2010, yet it was nevertheless beautiful, with a complex, layered, nuanced bouquet, medium-bodied richness, integrated tannins, and just a perfumed, forward, evolved style that was drinking incredibly well. Blind, I’d easily have guessed it was 10-15 years older. It’s a beautiful wine, although I’m not sure if this bottle is representative, so I’d recommend trying a bottle if you have a few cellared. Based off this showing, it should have no issues evolving for another decade, but I wouldn’t go much further.Jeb Dunnuck | 94 JDThis was also relatively reduced and impossible to evaluate. The utterly seductive medium weight flavors possess a silky mouth feel and superb balance which in much the same fashion as the Beaux Monts is enhanced by the very fine grained tannins before culminating in an explosive, focused and strikingly long finish. This highly-sophisticated effort seems quite supple as the firm tannins are hidden by the abundant sap but make no mistake, this will require plenty of cellar time before it’s completely ready. Despite all of the considerable potential this is displaying this level of reduction is cause for concern and while it may pass, that is an assumption.Burghound | 94 BH

(Domaine Arnoux-Lachaux Romanée St. Vivant Grand Cru Red) A notably floral character adds breadth to the highly spiced and exceptionally fresh nose of cool red currant and plum. The rich, refined and admirably pure middle weight flavors are supported and shaped by ultra-fine tannins that coat the mouth on the incredibly long finish. Despite the underlying tension, this is essentially a wine of finesse and harmony that should also age for a very long time if desired. Brilliant and remarkably complex. (Drink starting 2025)Burghound | 96 BHGood full red. Vibrant perfume of raspberry, spices and minerals. Boasts outstanding dark berry intensity, with powerful crushed-stone minerality and a saline quality giving great energy and tension to the middle palate. Finishes with remarkable rising length, utterly suave tannins and superb lift. Like the Suchots, this is already wonderfully aromatic but is built for a decade or two of improvement in bottle.Vinous Media | 95+ VM(Romanée-St.-Vivant- Domaine Arnoux-Lachaux) The 2010 Romanée-St.-Vivant from Domaine Arnoux-Lachaux, not surprisingly, ash the best depth of fruit to stand up to the wood tannins here, and this wine is not bad at all. The nose is a complex and classy blend of cherries, orange peel, coffee, Vosne spices, lovely soil tones and plenty of smoky, luxe-styled new oak. On the palate the wine is deep, full-bodied and complex, with a good core of fruit, fine focus and very good length and grip on the chewy and only modestly over-oaked finish. This will have no trouble eventually absorbing its wood tannin, as it is only showing a touch of backend dryness at this time, and it will be a pretty good bottle at its apogee. But, should one expect more from an expensive example of Romanée-St.-Vivant in a great year? This will certainly not offer up even a modicum of value. (Drink between 2016-2040)John Gilman | 91+ JG

The 2010 Bonnes-Mares is a towering, statuesque wine. Layers of fruit burst from the glass in this multi-dimensional, kaleidoscopic wine. It’s hard to fully capture the wine in words. Let me just say, all of the elements are in the right place. In 2010 the Bonnes-Mares captures a striking marriage of power and sensuality. This is a marvelously complete wine from Bruno Clair. Anticipated maturity: 2025-2045.This is a fabulous set of wines from Bruno Clair and his long-time oenologist Philippe Brun. The harvest started on September 25. Yields were 22-30 hectoliters per hectare, which is to say a good 10% less than 2003, a torrid vintage marked by tiny yields. Clair describes the fruit as healthy, with no botrytis and soft tannins from the late harvest. The 2010s were 100% destemmed. New oak ranged from 25% for the villages to 50% for the Grand Crus, except for the Marsannays, which saw very little new oak.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 95-97 RPThe 2010 Bonnes-Mares is a towering, statuesque wine. Layers of fruit burst from the glass in this multi-dimensional, kaleidoscopic wine. It’s hard to fully capture the wine in words. Let me just say, all of the elements are in the right place. In 2010 the Bonnes-Mares captures a striking marriage of power and sensuality. This is a marvelously complete wine from Bruno Clair.Vinous Media | 95-97 VMThis is a big, dense wine that has great generosity. It’s ripe, full bodied and opulent now, and it offers concentration and depth of flavor. The fruit used to make this wine was sourced from 60-year-old vines located near Clos de Tart. It has considerable aging potential, so cellar this for 8–10 years.Wine Enthusiast | 97 WE(Domaine Bruno Clair Bonnes Mares Grand Cru Red) While this is also spicy and perfumed the aromatic profile of red berry fruit, stone and earth is more restrained at present than that of the Clos de Bèze. There is outstanding intensity and depth of material to the tautly muscular and impressively concentrated flavors that possess plenty of underlying tension and controlled power on the stunningly long and mouth coating finish. Again though, this is expressly constructed for the very long haul and unless your intention is to cellar this for a minimum of 10 to 12 years, I would look for more approachable high-quality alternatives. That said, this is one gorgeous wine. (Drink starting 2030)Burghound | 93-96 BH

(Clos des Lambrays- Domaine des Lambrays) The 2010 Clos des Lambrays is unequivocally the most profound young wine I have ever tasted from this great domaine. The stunningly complex and very floral bouquet offers up a supremely elegant aromatic mélange of cherries, blood orange, a touch of red plum, kaleidoscopic minerality, woodsmoke, peonies, violets, a nice dollop of fresh herbs and a discreet base of new oak. On the palate the wine is deep, full-bodied and beautifully pure on the attack, with a reserved and refined personality, a sappy core of red fruit, flawless focus and balance, very suave, but substantial tannins, tangy acids and glorious transparency on the seamless and boundless finish. Just a brilliant, brilliant wine in 2010! (Drink between 2022 - 2075)John Gilman | 97+ JGGorgeous, plentiful tannins, which are ripe and refined. Great depth and layering with energy and freshness. Persistent, pure, mineral finish.Decanter | 95 DECThierry Brouin has crafted a sublime 2010 Clos des Lambrays that should age with grace and style. It has an intense bouquet of wild hedgerow, black cherries, crushed stone and dried flowers that demonstrates even greater delineation and focus than the impressive 2009. The palate has a core of fine tannins, plenty of fresh, red berry fruit and a delicate, focused, terroir-driven finish that has plenty of power and breadth, yet remains contained and never flashy. This is a beautiful Clos des Lambrays that deserves a decade in the cellar?if you can resist temptation! Tasted March 2013.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 94 RPA supple red, loaded with spice and berry flavors that lean toward cedar, sandalwood, currant and strawberry. Underscored by a fusion of earth and mineral accents, this is buoyed by the seamless structure. Fresh and delicate, but by no means easy, offering a long conclusion. Best from 2016 through 2035. 125 cases imported.Wine Spectator | 94 WSBright pale-medium red. Higher-pitched but more reticent on the nose than the 2012, showing a distinctly floral aspect as well as a redder fruit quality; more delicate and pristine. Wonderfully sexy and complex if somewhat youthfully tight in the mouth, conveying an ineffable silkiness of texture rather than the sheer plushness of the ’12. Less dark in its fruit character as well, offering flavors of red raspberry, cherry, brown spices and underbrush. Wonderfully tactile and delineated; this really glistens on the palate and on the very long, refined aftertaste. Here the tannins are suaver than those of the 2012. More about finesse than power, but this wine will nonetheless need time to express itself more fully. An essence of terroir and a wine of great verve. (13.4% alcohol; 3.55 pH; 3.7 g/l acidity)Vinous Media | 94 VMA highly expressive and very broad nose of superb aromatic complexity that includes earth, game, spice, red currant, plum, violets and a hint of the sauvage. The round and supple flavors possess outstanding detail and while the complexity doesn’t quite match that of the exquisite nose, it’s not far behind and this culminates in a beautifully balanced and harmonious finish that delivers striking persistence. I also had a chance to retaste the 2009 and it is bigger, richer and more powerful while the 2010 is much more of a wine of finesse and refinement. In a word, beautiful.Burghound | 94 BH

Tasted in 2021, this 2010 Meursault is still showing a bit of wood over the brightly youthful citrus fruit with nuances of hazelnut and creamery butter. It is an intensely structured wine with incredible freshness. This is a luxurious wine of immense potential, yet still not yet fully ready to drink. Try it in another five years and drink it over the following 20. Superb Meursault from an exceptional producer in a landmark year. (Drink between 2022-2045)Decanter | 96 DEC(from Vireuils-Dessous): Aromas of orange oil and wet stone. Juicy on entry, then rather strict in the middle, showing noteworthy power and tension, not to mention terrific precision of stone fruit and citrus flavors. Not yet expansive; in fact, this village wine is the closest 2010 to austere today. Owing to the low volume of grapes in 2010, Coche-Dury used 15% new oak here, vs. a normal 10%. (If you see the 2010 Bourgogne Blanc, but it: with its leesy, spicy pineapple and orange blossom flavors, its rather powerful mid-palate and its whiplash of a finish, it’s better than many Meursault botlings).Vinous Media | 92 VM(Domaine Coche-Dury Meursault Villages White) Here there is a completely different aromatic profile with its hazelnut, grilled almond, acacia blossom and yellow orchard fruit scents. There is excellent volume to the somewhat more generously proportioned flavors that are not quite as refined though I very much like the mineral character on the lemony, bone dry and borderline strict finish. This linear effort will definitely need time to unwind and flesh out on the finale. (Drink starting 2018).Burghound | 90 BHThe 2010 Meursault (Narvaux) is a gorgeous wine endowed with crystalline purity, fabulous depth and great overall balance. The long, pure finish makes it hard to move on to the next wine. As always, the Narvaux is one of several parcels that is bottled simply as Meursault, so readers will have to ask their supplier the exact provenance of their village-level Coche Meursault. Anticipated maturity: 2015+.(Not yet released)Jean-Francois Coche’s 2010s have turned out just as I hoped they would, which is to say the wines are breathtaking. On average, yields were down 40%, so these already highly coveted, rare wines are going to be even more impossible to find than usual. Coche is adamant that opening his top 2010s before age ten is a total waste, something he repeated a few times during my visit. Accordingly, Coche doesn’t plan on releasing the Corton-Charlemagne for another few years.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 90 RP

(Charmes-Chambertin “Vieilles Vignes”- Domaine Denis Bachelet) Monsieur Bachelet has made some absolutely brilliant vintages of his old vine Charmes-Chambertin over the course of his fine career, but I have never had one better than this magical 2010. The simply stunning nose- still very primary, but, oh so promising- offers up a very deep and complex blend of cassis, black cherries, grilled meat, raw cocoa, black minerality, espresso, woodsmoke, fresh herb tones, violets and a lovely base of new oak. On the palate the wine is deep, full-bodied and very, very pure on the attack, with a sappy core, outstanding focus and balance, substantial, but, fine-grained tannins, tangy acids and a veritable mineral bath on the extremely long and utterly suave finish. This has the seamless beauty, coupled to stunning transparency and intensity of flavor that only the very greatest wines of 2010 can deliver. A brilliant, brilliant wine. (Drink between 2025-2100)John Gilman | 97+ JG(Domaine Denis Bachelet Charmes-Chambertin Vieilles Vignes Grand Cru Red) Relatively prominent wood spice does not dominate the otherwise very ripe and densely fruited cassis and plum suffused nose that also displays plenty of Gevrey style pungent earth, underbrush and a hint of the sauvage. The intense earthiness continues onto the textured, seductive and mouth coating broad-scaled flavors that brim with dry extract, indeed so much so that the firm tannins are relegated to the background on the beautifully well-balanced and hugely long finish. This very serious effort is at once classic Bachelet in that the palate impression is suave and harmonious yet the wine is also the epitome of a textbook Charmes. (Drink starting 2022).Burghound | 93-95 BHThe 2010 Charmes-Chambertin Vieilles Vignes is a wine of impeccable class and elegance. Layered, nuanced and subtle, the wine literally blossoms in the glass, showing off its incomparable pedigree. Sweet, floral notes appear later, adding complexity to layers of silky, highly expressive fruit buffered by suave tannins. The gracious, aristocratic finish leaves a lasting impression. This is a dazzling effort from Bachelet. Anticipated maturity: 2022-2032.Denis Bachelet’s 2010s are fabulous across the board. I find the wines more harmonious and complete than the 2009s. The cool, long growing season provided a lovely counterpoint to the rich, fruit-driven aromas and flavors that are typical in these wines, and that marks some vintages (such as 2009) to a significant degree. Like many of his colleagues in Gevrey, Bachelet was hit by the severe December 2009 frost. The flowering, which typically takes one week, took an entire month because of bad weather, leaving the plants with a high percentage of shot berries. Bachelet began harvesting on September 25. The wines spent 15 days on the skins and were racked prior to the malos. Bottling was scheduled for March 2012.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 92-95 RPBright red-ruby. Pure, perfumed aromas of black raspberry, blackberry, violet, licorice and pepper, plus a hint of molasses. Silky, dense and very intense, with a distinctly tangy high-toned quality giving lift to the sappy berry, dark chocolate and violet flavors. Piquant, classy wine with a very long, firmly tannic finish that delivers mounting length. The highest-toned of these 2010s at 0.55 grams per liter and the sexiest today. But this really needs at least eight to ten years of cellaring. These vines were originally 100 year old but there has been substantial repiquage (the replacement of dying or virused vines with new ones) in recent years.Vinous Media | 95 VM

I first saw a sample of the 2010 Echézeaux from Maxime Cheurlin last November, when the wine had just finished up its malo, and it was a bit disjointed from the secondary fermentation, but showing outstanding potential. I was very happy to have the chance to revisit it again in March, where it was absolutely singing. Maxime’s family’s parcel lies in the lieu à dit of Les Cruots and the vines are in excess of eighty years of age. These venerable old vines have produced a superb wine that shows no difficulty standing up to its one hundred percent new wood this year, soaring from the glass in a blaze of plums, black cherries, dark soil tones, woodsmoke, a touch of game and a generous base of spicy new wood. On the palate the wine is deep, full-bodied and very pure on that attack, with a rock solid core sappy fruit, tangy acids, ripe, well-integrated tannins and outstanding length and grip on the focused and nascently complex finish. This is a classic example of Echézeaux in the making, with the vintage’s beautiful transparency very much in evidence. A prodigious first vintage of Echézeaux. (Drink between 2022 - 2060)John Gilman | 93+ JG

This is also notably floral in character with a panoply of spice elements that add both depth and breadth to the cool cherry, raspberry and red currant aromas. As was the case with the Beaux Monts there is a spicy inner mouth perfume to the delicious and classy middle weight flavors that are shaped by sophisticated and very fine tannins, all wrapped in a mouth coating, focused and seriously persistent finish. A classic RSV. (Drink starting 2022)Burghound | 95 BHGood full, deep red. Sexy nose combines dried currant, cocoa powder, coffee, mocha, pepper and flowers; conveys a strong impression of terroir . Highly concentrated and sweet, with the red fruit and roast coffee flavors conveying a compellingly sappy quality. The powerful building finish offers serious tannic spine and lovely floral lift. The crop level for these old vines (the vineyard was originally planted in 1922 and the vines average 55 to 60 years of age) is always around 30 hectoliters per hectare, according to Alain Meunier.Vinous Media | 94 VM

(Musigny- Maison Joseph Drouhin) I simply cannot imagine a better example of young Musigny than the Joseph Drouhin 2010. The deep, pure and utterly profound bouquet offers up a magical blend of cherries, red plums, blood orange, mustard seed, stunningly complex soil tones (and there is no other terroir in Burgundy that I love as well as Musigny!), incipient notes of gamebird, woodsmoke, roses and vanillin oak. On the palate the wine is deep, full-bodied, and brilliantly pure on the attack, wonderfully sappy and transparent at the core, with fine-grained, substantial tannins and simply haunting length and grip on the regal and utterly sublime finish. I have had the good fortune to taste almost every top vintage of Drouhin Musigny since the 1959 vintage and have never had one as flawless as this brilliant 2010 Musigny. For me, this is a perfect wine. I hope that it shuts down after bottling so that it can receive the bottle age it so richly deserves, as it would be a criminal act to open this wine before it has at least witnessed its secondary layers of complexity blossoming. It should start to drink well about ten to twelve years from now, but its real zenith of peak drinkability will be two to three decades down the road! (Drink between 2022-2100)John Gilman | 100 JG(Maison Joseph Drouhin Musigny Grand Cru Red) Here the fantastic nose closely resembles that of the Amoureuses except that the wood is more completely integrated. The suave and gorgeously rich middle weight flavors display superb precision and like its stable mate, the palate impression is one of pure silk. There is ample minerality on the fantastically complex and persistent finish and once again, this is a picture perfect example of power without weight. In short, this is absolutely a ’wow’ wine. (Drink starting 2027)Burghound | 94-97 BHGood bright, dark red. Compelling aromas of raspberry, blueberry, blood orange and crushed stone. The palate combines great sweetness and outstanding energy, thanks to perfectly ripe acids that frame the dark fruit, spice and mineral flavors. Deceptively approachable now owing to its sweetness, but it would be a shame to open this wine before 2022 or so. Really spreads out on the back half to saturate every square millimeter of the palate. One of the longest wines of the vintage and still a baby.Vinous Media | 96+ VMThe 2010 Musigny wraps around the palate with sensual layers of fruit. This is an understated Burgundy whose many attributes might be easy to miss, so pure is the integration of fruit, acidity and structure. A notable refinement caresses the palate on the silky finish. Despite its approachable personality, there is plenty of structure lurking underneath. Anticipated maturity: 2020-2040.This is an impressive showing from Drouhin. In my view the 2010s are more interesting and transparent than the 2009s. Veronique Drouhin describes 2010 as a vintage with long-term aging potential, which certainly seems to be the case. Some of the wines were vinified with a portion of whole clusters, including the Corton-Bressandes, Petits-Monts, Charmes and Musigny.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 93-95 RP

A highly spiced nose features notes of cool red currant, plum, violets and wet stone along with ample amounts of pungent Gevrey style earth. There is impressive richness and size to the powerful and well-concentrated large-scaled flavors that are underpinned by buried tannins before culminating in a huge finish that is also monumentally proportioned. This built-to-age beauty will also require a considerable amount of patience as it should see its 50th birthday without undue effort.Burghound | 94-97 BHBright, deep red. Pungent, vibrant nose combines dark raspberry, smoked meat, sandalwood, musky herbs, minerals and lower-pitched earth tones. Dense, sappy and expansive, boasting outstanding lift and energy to its sharply delineated flavors of dark cherry, berry skin, flowers and white pepper. There’s no easy sweetness to this great Clos de Beze, which finishes with noble tannins and compelling subtle persistence.Vinous Media | 96 VMWell-marked by oak, showing smoke and spice notes, with ample black cherry, currant and mineral flavors adding depth. The tannins are dominant but not overbearing, offering balance on the long finish of fruit and spice. Best from 2016 through 2032. 100 cases imported.Wine Spectator | 95 WSOne of the jewels of Domaine Faively, this wine is huge, rich and structured. It has power and concentrated tannins, and the hints of wood aging are apparent. The ripeness of the fruit and the serious texture promise long-term aging. Wine Enthusiast | 95 WE

(13.7% alcohol; 3.45 pH; 3.89 g/l acidity; production just under 35 h/h): Medium red with a faint suggestion of amber at the rim. The wonderfully complex yet discreet nose combines the fruits, flowers and spices of the ’15 and the brooding medicinal character of the ’12, presenting fruit aromas of raspberry, strawberry and cranberry lifted by white pepper, pungent spices and chalky verve. Wonderfully juicy, savory and tactile, showing outstanding intensity and cut, with the wine’s aromatic treble notes of red berries, spices and rose petal complicated by subtle soil tones. With its near-perfect balance and tautness, this wine has great potential to fill out while maintaining its energy. Finishes with a fine dusting of tannins and outstanding, slowly building length and grip; only a slight angularity suggests that it hasn’t yet embarked on what should be an extended plane of peak drinkability. Barnier noted that the grapes benefited from a bit of late concentration from a north wind, as well as from some millerandage that resulted in smaller grapes. Splendid.Vinous Media | 95+ VMThe 2010 Corton Pougets is a beautifully focused wine laced with sweet red cherries, raspberries, flowers, mint and crushed rocks. The Pougets is all about nuance, detail and clarity. It comes across as quite elegant, but there is an understated weight that fleshes out on the finish. Anticipated maturity: 2020-2030.IRobert Parker Wine Advocate | 92-94 RPA highly complex nose speaks of pure wet stone, fresh cassis and ripe plum aromas. There is excellent detail to the mineral-driven and tension-filled sleekly muscular flavors that culminate in a precise, linear and driving finish that offers superb balance, wonderful depth and stunning length. As it always is, this is a relatively fine Corton; indeed it is consistently one of the most refined Corton reds made but note that is has an almost uncanny ability to age. In short, this is fabulous.Burghound | 94 BHThe 2010 Corton “Pougets” shows off how well the elegance of the vintage dovetails with some of the more stalwart terroirs such as youthful Corton, and this is likely to be an absolute reference point vintage of this consistently excellent bottling. The nose jumps from the glass in a very classy mélange of cassis, dark berries, superb minerality, gamebirds, espresso, woodsmoke and cedar. On the palate the wine is deep, full-bodied and very elegant for a young Corton, with a sappy core of fruit, substantial, but very fine-grained tannins, tangy acids and outstanding focus and grip on the very long and delineated finish. A superb Pougets in the making, but do not think about touching this wine for at least a dozen years. It should prove to be extremely long-lived. (Drink between 2022 - 2075)John Gilman | 93 JGThis red offers adequate fruit and suppleness up front, but remains a bit shy, locked down by aggressive tannins on the finish. Come together in the end, so be patient. Best from 2016 through 2029.Wine Spectator | 92 WS

The 2010 Griotte-Chambertin floats on the palate with the silkiest of red berries, freshly cut roses and sweet mint. Currently the Griotte comes across as understated, finessed and classy. The mid-weight structure is deceptive in its weightlessness. While the Griotte may drink well fairly early for the vintage, it also appears to have the pedigree to age well for a number of years.Antonio Galloni | 91-93 VMThe 2010 Griotte-Chambertin floats on the palate with the silkiest of red berries, freshly cut roses and sweet mint. Currently the Griotte comes across as understated, finessed and classy. The mid-weight structure is deceptive in its weightlessness. While the Griotte may drink well fairly early for the vintage, it also appears to have the pedigree to age well for a number of years. Anticipated maturity: 2018-2028.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 91-93 RP(Griotte-Chambertin- Maison Louis Jadot) There are only two piéces of the 2010 Griotte-Chambertin, both of which are new this year. The nose is very stylish, offering up scents of cherries, blood orange, coffee, a bit of grilled meat, soil, cedar and a floral topnote redolent of roses. On the palate the wine is fullish, deep and complex, with very good length and grip, moderate tannins and a long, tangy finish. This wine is also not vinified by the Jadot team and perhaps, there is just a touch less precision here than the wines made from their own vineyards, but this is a very, very good bottle of young Griotte. (Drink between 2017-2045)John Gilman | 92 JG

(Domaine Méo-Camuzet Vosne-Romanée "Les Chaumes" 1er 1er Cru Red) An intensely floral nose exhibits a lovely spiciness to the plum and black berry fruit nose. There is excellent richness and volume to the generous and velvet textured medium-bodied flavors that are shaped by phenolically mature tannins before terminating in an intense and mouth coating finish. There seems to be a bit more depth than usual and this has the potential to be one of the better Méo Chaumes of recent vintages. That said, it probably will not match the 2005 version. (Drink starting 2022)Burghound | 90-93 BHThe 2010 Vosne-Romanee Les Chaumes is deep, powerful and sensual. It boasts fabulous depth and an understated personality that is immensely appealing. Today the Chaumes is cool and introspective, but it should blossom nicely with further time in bottle. At present it is quite reticent, even if its potential is striking. Anticipated maturity: 2015-2025.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 91-93 RPThe 2010 Vosne-Romanée Les Chaumes is deep, powerful and sensual. It boasts fabulous depth and an understated personality that is immensely appealing. Today the Chaumes is cool and introspective, but it should blossom nicely with further time in bottle. At present it is quite reticent, even if its potential is striking.Vinous Media | 91-93 VM(Vosne-Romanée “les Chaumes”- Domaine Méo-Camuzet) The Vosne “Chaumes” is one of the wines chez Méo that saw a bit of whole cluster in 2010, as the wine included fifteen percent of the stems in this vintage. Given that Chaumes can sometimes be a bit too easy going structurally for its own good, this seems like a very good idea to me and the 2010 version is going to be very good indeed. The nose is deep, pure and nicely reserved, offering up scents of black raspberries, cassis, raw cocoa, lovely soil tones, woodsmoke and spicy new oak. On the palate the wine is deep, fullish and quite tight on the attack, with a lovely core of fruit, ripe tannins and excellent precision on the well-balanced and tangy finish. A lovely bottle of Chaumes. (Drink between 2019-2040)John Gilman | 91+ JG

(Domaine Mongeard-Mugneret Richebourg Grand Cru Red) An intensely floral and gloriously spicy nose of ripe and highly complex black cherry liqueur and rose petal aromas leads to impressively dense and brooding large-scaled flavors that possess fantastic depth and positively stunning length. I have experience with almost every Mongeard Richebourg since the first vintage in 1984 and I have never seen one with more potential than this one though not surprisingly, patience will be needed. In a word, brilliant. (Drink starting 2030)Burghound | 94-96 BH(Richebourg- Domaine Mongeard-Mugneret) The 2010 Richebourg just noses out the Grands Echézeaux this year as the best wine in the cellar, but, at least at this early stage, this is a race that is likely to go right down to the wire for king of the cellar. The stunning and utterly refined nose soars from the glass in a blend of red and black cherries, black plums, dark chocolate, fresh herb tones, complex soil nuances, woodsmoke and vanillin oak. On the palate the wine is deep, full-bodied and very pure, with a fine sense of reserve, a rock solid core, brilliant transparency (particularly for Richebourg), ripe tannins, tangy acids and outstanding length and grip on the utterly refined finish. A beautiful, beautiful wine. (Drink between 2025-2100)John Gilman | 96+ JG

Rousseau’s 2011 Ruchottes-Chambertin dazzles from start to finish. Plums, black cherries, cloves and violets are among the many notes that are alive in the glass. This is a surprisingly rich, explosive Ruchottes endowed with superb depth and more than enough intensity to drink beautifully for many, many years. What a gorgeous wine this is.Vinous Media | 95 VM(Ruchottes-Chambertin “Clos des Ruchottes”- Domaine Armand Rousseau) As I noted in the introduction, the domaine’s use of less new wood has really ratcheted up the expression of the underlying soil in the 2011 Ruchottes-Chambertin- at least to my palate- and this is probably the finest young vintage of Rousseau Clos des Ruchottes that I have ever had the pleasure to taste! The brilliant nose offers up a sappy and very transparent blend of red and black cherries, red plums, cocoa, a touch of gamebird, magically complex soil tones, a deft framing of vanillin oak and a pungent topnote of violets. On the palate the wine is deep, full-bodied and very primary in personality, with a great core of fruit, ripe, fine-grained tannins, vibrant acids and outstanding focus and grip on the very long and very energetic finish. At this point in time, this wine truly looks to be superior to the excellent Clos St. Jacques in 2011, and I would have to guess that part of this is the purity of terroir that is brought about by less new wood in the mix. A great wine. (Drink between 2023-2060)John Gilman | 94 JGThe 2011 Ruchottes-Chambertin Grand Cru was aged in a judicious 10% new oak. It has an entrancing bouquet that is a serious level up from the Mazy and Charmes-Chambertins with pure fresh strawberry, raspberry and violet aromas. The palate is medium-bodied with supple, sensual tannins and a fine line of acidity. This is silky smooth in the mouth, that prudent oak just giving it lift and sensuality. If I were buying 2011 Rousseau, my money would be spent here. Drink now-2025.Robert Parker Neal Martin | 94 RP-NMNot surprisingly this hasn’t changed greatly since my last review in January 2014 (see herein) and most of my original tasting note remains apt. An adroit but not invisible application of wood frames cool, pure and restrained red and dark berry fruit, truffle and spice aromas that are becoming slightly earthier. There is good richness and volume to the intensely mineral-driven flavors that terminate in a beautifully complex, lengthy and impeccably well-balanced finish. This is very classy and should be excellent in due course. I should note that this is actually enjoyable now and while it is nowhere near its full maturity it is lovely thanks to the fine balance. Tasted twice recently with consistent results.Burghound | 93 BH