Subject:  2010 Burgundy Tasting

Date: 9 January, 2012

Host: Charles Taylor Wines

Venue: The Travellers Club, Pall Mall London

Note: Charles Taylor deals with trade customers ONLY. So prices quoted are trade prices per case (duty paid but no VAT). Retail price would probably attract a 50% mark-up per case. I am summarising by Grower not by vineyard. Where a particular plot of land stands out, I shall mention it.

Summary:

2010 was a very good year. I rate it as 8/10.

The whites (at the bottom end) were better than the reds. Mid price wines were good for both reds and whites. Top end reds not as impressive – value for money. Most reds at the bottom end were low in tannin. So, it will drink well immediately.

Overall, the wines were clean, fruity and very good value when compared with Bordeaux and Italian wines.

Details:

In total 107 wines from 32 growers (most were present) were on show.

Xavier Ritton

The white wines (Marcon, St Vernon) were excellent value. The Pinot Noir Ok. All wines under £100 a case.

Jean- Francois Bordet

The Petit Chablis and Chablis were both ok. However  the 1 er Fourchaume lack the buttery taste usually associated with a premieur cru. Prices were £90-£144 per case.

Bernard Billaud.

I wasn’t sure about the Petit Chablis (£104). The Chablis (£112) was ok.

The 3 !er cru (Les Vallions, Mont de Milleu and Monde Tonnerre) were all impressive  -£155, £172 and £187.

Domaine Saumaize-Michelin

The Marcon Villages (£104) and St Vernan  (£112 and £132 for the villes vignes) were all very good. In fact all the St Vernan I tasted were outstanding.

The various Pouilly-Fuisse were all good at around £150 a case. The outstanding wine was Pouilly-Fuisse Clos sur La Roche at £167 a case.

Philippe Chavy

Phillipe Chavy was exhibiting more up maket wines . The Puligny-Montrachets were good . Corvees des Vignes (£230) was nearly as good as the 1er Blagny Sous le Dos d’ Ane (£286). I wasn’t sure about the Les Folatieres (£382).

Vincet Boyer

The basic Chardonnay at £126 a case was good. The more serious Meursaults   were fine but noit great.

Domaine Stephane Aladame

The Montagny (£137) was ok but the St Vernan from the previous growers were better value for money.

Domaine Jacques Cacheux et Fils

The Vosne-Romanee was perfumery and soft. This was drinking well despite the fact that it is a cask sample. At £225, it was an outstanding wine.

Not so sure about the Echezeaux (£575).

Domaine Daniel Rion et Fils

All the reds were good but the outstanding wine was  Nuits Saint George Vieilles Vignes (£245)

The best of the rest were

Cote de Nuits villages Le Vaucrian (£155)

Vosne-Romanee 1er Les Beaux-Monts (£350)

Jean-Marc Pillot

The Puily-Montrachet Les Noyes Brets (£242) and Chassagne- Montrachet 1er Cru Les Caillerets were the best from this grower.

Jean-Jacques & Agnes Girard

The Aloxe-Corton was brilliant – fruit, depth and price (£175).

Bertrand Devillard

The Mercury (£165) was another find. This nearly matched the Aloxe-Corton from Girad for outstanding value.

Florence Rossignol

To me, the Gevrey Chambertin 1er Cru Clos Prieur (£435) was the outstanding wine of the show. It had everything and very tannic. Will keep for 20-30 years.

The Chambertin which was the top price wine on show at £945 was totally closed. I could not tell.

For your information:

I purchased

Saint Veran Les Creches (Domaine Saumaize – Michelin)