Burgundy - starting to get it.

[Dennis_Kanagie]

@Brady Daniels

So, how is your cellar? Cold and good for long-term storage?

Yes, it’s pretty good - and augmented with wine refrigerators.

@Brady Daniels

If so, time to start collecting those 10’s, 12’s, and 13’s.

Looking to go more aged to start - might check out 2010 in the near future.

Along with a few more bottles of the 1997 Potel CdlR Grand Cru, there are 3 bottles of 1995 Bertrand Ambroise Corton Le Rognet Grand Cru coming my way also. Looking at some 1er Cru too from 2001 and 2002 as well.

@Brady Daniels

Have fun!

You bet!

[Marc_Frontario]

I had a Rene bouvier charmes 2003 and it was not hot at all…it’s was all Asian spice laden love

[Howard_Cooper]

@Dennis Kanagie

Looking to go more aged to start - might check out 2010 in the near future.

From what I have tasted, I really love 2010s.

[Curtis_Chen]

@Howard Cooper

@Dennis Kanagie

Looking to go more aged to start - might check out 2010 in the near future.

From what I have tasted, I really love 2010s.

+1

[Rick_Dalia]

@Nathan Smyth

Maureen, I will have to take your word for it on some of those labels.

I googled Hubert Lignier 1er Crus:

http://www.wine-searcher.com/find/hubert+lignier+1er/1/usa

And this one caught my eye:

1997 Domaine Hubert Lignier, Les Chaffots, Morey-Saint-Denis Premier Cru, $103.00

Lignier is a weird house, and 1997 was a weird vintage, and it’s almost affordable - so that’s the kind of wine that I might gamble on.

Similarly with this 2003:

2003 Domaine Hubert Lignier, Morey-Saint-Denis Premier Cru Vieilles Vignes, $100.00

But, more generally, you’re looking at spending about $150 to get a Lignier 1er Cru with roughly 92ish points from Tanzer.

This was, indeed, a winner. I could sit and swirl and sniff this for awhile. A pretty red fruited and ethereal bouquet. The texture is one of silk and depth, strawberry and rhubarb come to mind, and later a faint dark chocolate note becomes noticeable. A finish of considerable interest. There must have been structure (tannin, acidity ) to this when young, I guess, but it’s all resolved into a complete package here. Delicious.

[Dennis_Kanagie]

Gotta love arrival day!

[Dennis_Kanagie]

Coming back to this thread over a year later yields few surprises. I’m still hooked on Ponsot ('95 and '02 CdlR plus '95, '99, and '03 C-C) and have picked up several more bottles of Ambroise Corton le Rognet ('95 and '10). Haven’t bought any more Gouges, but wouldn’t hesitate for a good deal. Have tried a few Potels from '97 through '02 and enjoyed them.

Been very lucky to find several bottles from recommendations in various threads here, particularly at the lower levels. '05 Alain Burguet Gevrey-Chambertin Mes Favorites VV, '05 Le Moines Bougogne, and '07 Faiveley Gevrey-Chambertin are all spouse approved. We also discovered that softer vintages from Comte George de Vogue Chambolle-Musigny are right up our alley, thanks to a suggestion by Susan at Belmont Wine Exchange.

There have also been a few producers that just didn’t click with my wife and I despite trying several vineyards / vintages. Latour and Jadot just didn’t tickle our fancy.

So the journey has been fun so far. Even better, my wife approves! She’s not particularly fond of tannins, and isn’t the fan of Cab that I am. Things are sooooo much better when your significant other is on board.

[Mark_Golodetz]

You might want to try some 1996 and 1997 Jadots. The 1996s are superb, and they really made some astonishingly good 1997s.

Both Clos Saint Jacques are drinking beautifully, and I was able to pick up several bottles of the great Chambertin Clos de Beze 1996 at auction in your price range late last year. The 1997 Bonnes Mares in magnum (worked out at $150 per bottle) showed incredibly well in November beating out your beloved Ponsots.

[Dennis_Kanagie]

@Mark Golodetz

You might want to try some 1996 and 1997 Jadots. The 1996s are superb, and they really made some astonishingly good 1997s.

There’s a '96 Chapelle-Chambertin in the queue. Still trying a few vintages Faiveley Gevrey-Chambertin and Comte de Vogue Chambolle-Musigny right now.

@Mark Golodetz

Both Clos Saint Jacques are drinking beautifully, and I was able to pick up several bottles of the great Chambertin Clos de Beze 1996 at auction in your price range late last year. The 1997 Bonnes Mares in magnum (worked out at $150 per bottle) drank beautifully last year.

Well, the per-bottle budget I set at the beginning of this quest has long been surpassed… maybe shattered is a better word. Buying magnums of Ponsot will do that.

[Mark_Golodetz]

The best way to learn what you like is to go to lunches/dinners BYO with a Burgundy theme. It allows you to compare and refine. I have learned to keep the groups small (my ideal is never more than six bottles on the table) pour all wines at the beginning of the meal, and enjoy the evolution of each wine.

[Gary_Schulte]

To stay within a reasonable budget there are some Jadot 1er Beaune wines with age that would keep you in the under $50 range that are delicious. Here’s one sleeper … EnoViti: 1996 Louis Jadot Beaune Boucherottes .

[Howard_Cooper]

@Dennis Kanagie

Coming back to this thread over a year later yields few surprises. I’m still hooked on Ponsot ('95 and '02 CdlR plus '95, '99, and '03 C-C) and have picked up several more bottles of Ambroise Corton le Rognet ('95 and '10). Haven’t bought any more Gouges, but wouldn’t hesitate for a good deal. Have tried a few Potels from '97 through '02 and enjoyed them.

Been very lucky to find several bottles from recommendations in various threads here, particularly at the lower levels. '05 Alain Burguet Gevrey-Chambertin Mes Favorites VV, '05 Le Moines Bougogne, and '07 Faiveley Gevrey-Chambertin are all spouse approved. We also discovered that softer vintages from Comte George de Vogue Chambolle-Musigny are right up our alley, thanks to a suggestion by Susan at Belmont Wine Exchange.

There have also been a few producers that just didn’t click with my wife and I despite trying several vineyards / vintages. Latour and Jadot just didn’t tickle our fancy.

So the journey has been fun so far. Even better, my wife approves! She’s not particularly fond of tannins, and isn’t the fan of Cab that I am. Things are sooooo much better when your significant other is on board.

Next stop - white Burgundy - and then, finally, RIESLING.

[Dennis_Kanagie]

@Howard Cooper

Next stop - white Burgundy - and then, finally, RIESLING.

Riesling is already a staple at our house. I buy JJ Prum by the case - most recently 2011 Graacher Himmelreich Spatlese.

Oh, and your post in another thread about my wife’s taste was what made me start to realize she just doesn’t like tannins.

[Heath_Richardson]

@maureen nelson

2010s:

H-N chambolle - NY Wine Warehouse @ $52, Dig in SF @ 65
Grivot vosne romanee - HDH @ 65; Mission Fine Wines @ 70
Gouges NSG - Ultimate Wine Shop in NJ @ 38; Vinopolis @ 44

• Gouges NSG Clos des Porrets 1er cru @ schneiders at 64; also Chaignots 1er cru at Vinopolis @ 69
  Fourrier GC aux Exchange - Crush @ 90; Gevrey VV
  Chevillon NSG - JJ Buckley @ 45; Chaignots 1er cru @European Wine Resource and Amazon @ 74
  Voillot Volnay and Pommard @ Rare Wine Co @ 50; Champans 1er cru at Chicago Wine Co @ 77 and Garnet for 80
  d’Angerville volnay at Crush @ 64; volnay 1er cru at online wines @ 64; Fremiets 1er cru at Down to Earth wines at 89

Nathan, he didn’t say he wanted to spend 125-150 - you extrapolated that from his short-hand way of asking for less expensive stuff - i.e., at a tenth the cost.

Unfortunately those prices don’t translate to Texas. I wish they did. I have decided to go through my Burgundy palate education tasting village by village.

[maureen_nelson]

@Mark Golodetz

… pour all wines at the beginning of the meal, and enjoy the evolution of each wine.

I couldn’t agree more. But my insistence on drinking this way - just me, mind you, not others - got me booted from the group.

[Stuart_BeauneHead_Niemtzow]

@Mark Golodetz

The best way to learn what you like is to go to lunches/dinners BYO with a Burgundy theme. It allows you to compare and refine. I have learned to keep the groups small (my ideal is never more than six bottles on the table) pour all wines at the beginning of the meal, and enjoy the evolution of each wine.

I’ll add to Maureen’s agreement to pour everything early and watch them evolve (leaving the question of “proper” preparation on the table).

And, I especially add to Mark’s “smallness” preference. Really get to know a particular group of Burgundies well is key to developing your own preferences. And, for me, fewer people, fewer wines and less elaborate food to compete with the wines are all conducive to getting to know them. The more each element is increased, the less likely there will be good repayment of such an effort, IMO. I’ve pretty much stopped going to “big” events for that reason: my head was usually spinning as I tried to record my impressions. A good “theme”, like a single vintage, producer, village, etc. helps the focus, too.

[Dennis_Kanagie]

Just an FYI: my wife and I are members of a wine club. We have dinners once a month on average. While it is more Californiacentric, there are some old school French wine lovers that are sort of a group inside the group. Once in a while we all agree to bring Burgundy and/or Bordeaux depending on the specials the restaurant we’re dining at has for that evening.

[Howard_Cooper]

@Dennis Kanagie

@Howard Cooper

Next stop - white Burgundy - and then, finally, RIESLING.

Riesling is already a staple at our house. I buy JJ Prum by the case - most recently 2011 Graacher Himmelreich Spatlese.

Oh, and your post in another thread about my wife’s taste was what made me start to realize she just doesn’t like tannins.

Love Prum.

What did I say in the other thread? I guess I am brilliant, but with no memory.

[Dave_McCloskey]

@Dennis Kanagie

Just got back from dinner with a friend ITB at our favorite steak house in Florida and drank a fantastic bottle - '93 Domaine Ponsot Clos de la Roche. My question is what is out there with similar characteristics, already aged or in need of laying down for a few years, to a bottle like this that is more reasonably priced. Obviously, there won’t be wines that cost 1/10th the price that have the same quality. Just curious about a few decent bottles that are worth trying.

Thanks!

Sounds like an evening at Berns! That’s a seriously expensive bottle of wine. Well done and glad you enjoyed it. I’m still on the journey to find an eye opening Burgundian Pinot… haven’t sampled one yet.

[Dennis_Kanagie]

@Howard Cooper

Love Prum.

I’ll remember to bring a few bottles if we’re ever at the same off-line. Got the odd bottle back to '83. There’s at least 6 cases, probably more, in total. Both my wife and I like it.

@Howard Cooper

What did I say in the other thread? I guess I am brilliant, but with no memory.

Don’t remember the exact wording, but I’ll search the post. You noted my wife liked mature wines instead of just fruity, so I put it to the test based on tannins. Sure enough, the less tannic and more resolved the wine, the more she liked it.