Having started my wine journey over 25 years ago with cabernets {still love them} I progressed to Bordeaux, Barbaresco, Brunello, Barolo, White Burgundy, and more recently Champagne. All along the way I have gradually climbed the quality ladder in each with usually a bit of research and/ or tasting before venturing into the deep end of the pool.
I have drank some very good producers of red burgundy including attending a Domaine Leroy vertical many years ago. For many, that experience would have been a start of their long Burgundy exploration. Even though I loved the educational experience and found them earthier more complex and more subtle than the wines I was drinking previously I was not hooked and none provided the epiphany “aha” moment. Nor has any red burgundy made me understand why all roads lead to Burgundy. until now
At a Bottle Of Pain tasting held by a friend of mine’s group I finally had my first epiphany. We shared some amazing bottles that evening, including an 82 Mouton, 02 Latour, 04 Haut Brion, 82 Grange, 93 Lafleur, 06 Harlan, 96 Henschke Hill of Grace, and a 90 Giacosa Santa Stefano Reserva as well as a few stunning Champagnes. Having already enjoyed some incredible offlines arranged by myself and others through the years this was no doubt the biggest embarrassment of riches of any offline in my life. several boxes on my bucket list were checked off at one time.
The dinner was already feeling like I was a 1%er enjoying a typical night, but none of these gems invoked the same reaction as when I took my first sip of the star of the night, a 1983 DRC La Tache. I felt like I was 12 years old and kissing a girl for the very 1st time. It was an epiphany unlike any red burg that had ever touched my lips. The color was ruby red dramatically lighter than any other red on the table. My best description would be raspberry ambrosia. Definitely in no way overripe or super sweet but all about finesse elegance and fruit purity I recall the taste vividly as though it was 2 seconds ago instead of 2 weeks ago. If I never drink another wine as good in my life at least I sampled it once.
However now the scary part is since I am 58 years old and have many great years ahead of me, I now have caught the bug possibly, and am craving to try a wine that gives me an experience that is close, without selling my house to buy wine. I do have a nice car but really dont want to live in it.
So in conclusion, with my epiphany motivating me I impulsively within minutes bought my first very expensive red Burgundy without having a clue what I am doing. I did not blindly go into a wine shop put a blindfold on and pick a random bottle but not much different. I received an email from a favorite store that I have bought plenty of other wine from and saw a familiar name which I suspect may be another gem if not quite a DRC. It is a 2017 Hudelot Noellat Romanee St Vivant. I suspect this might be an amazing wine and worth the tariff . At $600 it is expensive but if I do love it I could afford having a tiny stash of wines of this caliber. As I believe strongly in paying it forward and am floored at the generosity of the guest bringing the DRC to share, I will likely share this bottle at a future offline.
Hopefully my story doesn’t bore everyone or make people think I am bragging about the dinner, au contraire, I am humbled and feel like a rookie once again. One of the major reasons for my post is I would like to know from those who are versed in Burgundy, did I make a good pick as my first major foray into this varietal ? Secondly. is this a bottle that might provide a somewhat similar flavor profile to the DRC without such a huge investment. Thanks in advance for any feed back !