Had a few splendid Burgs last night, with an obligatory Barolo palate cleanser to finish. An Aussie ring-in showed really well.
2011 Henri Boillot Corton-Charlemagne: Has an engaging scent of white flowers. There’s the perfect amount of struck match reduction and pure white peach fruit. It has great balance and drive and is rich but with the vineyard’s strict line. Drinking beautifully today, like so many ‘11’s are.
2015 Henri Boillot Corton-Charlemagne: At first, the sun-drenched fruits of the vintage are front and centre but it tightens considerably in the glass. It is quite flinty and has sappy, powerful fruit flavours. There’s some aniseed spice and length is impressive.
2006 Domaine Roulot Meursault 1er Cru Charmes: Absolutely delicious and ready to go. Complex aromatics of honeysuckle, crème brulee, almond butter and white peach. It is full, round and layered in the mouth. There’s good depth and power coupled with the usual Roulot finesse.
2005 Louis Jadot Vosne-Romanée 1er Cru Les Beaux Monts: There was some meaty reduction at first but it blew off to reveal ripe red and black fruits, tinged with spice. In the mouth it had good depth and detail and a velvety feel against the gums. It built through the palate and fanned out on the finish leaving plenty of enticing earth and floral notes.
2005 Domaine Bruno Clair Chambertin-Clos de Bèze: Had such a beguiling perfume of rose petals, violets, black cherry and spiced plum. In the mouth it was deep and penetrating. There was real lusciousness to the fruits but it remained light on its feet. It had great breadth and complexity and a finish that went on and on. Brilliant wine.
2014 Bass Phillip Pinot Noir Premium: Plenty happening on the nose. There was some earth, root vegetables, black cherry and blood plum. Fruits were perfectly ripe in the mouth and it had great shape and texture. All flavours were underpinned by breezy acidity and it had excellent drive and persistence. Held its own in strong company.
2015 Bernard Dugat-Py Pommard La Levrière Vieilles Vignes: Incredibly deep purple of colour. There’s plenty of punchy spice to the nose with notes of rose petal, freshly grated ginger and sandalwood. The black cherry fruit is deep and penetrating and there’s a strand of licorice weaving through the flavour profile. It is velvety and full and has some Pommard muscle to the finish along with bright minerally acidity. Length is fabulous.
2000 Bartolo Mascarello Barolo: Drinking very well. Had a nose of cedar, burnt fig, raisin and tar. The palate was rich and voluminous, with a lovely interplay between the sweet and savoury elements. There’s real flesh and a gentle flex of sinewy muscle to the back-end. The finish is quite earthy.