TN: 2005 Jacques-Frédéric Mugnier Nuits St. Georges 1er Cru Clos de la Maréchale

[Doug Lee]

• 2005 Jacques-Frédéric Mugnier Nuits St. Georges 1er Cru Clos de la Maréchale - France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Nuits St. Georges 1er Cru (8/14/2020)
  Decanted for 45 minutes. Opaque darker ruby. Nose of fulsome violets, spicy fine earth, saline, sharp cherry, iron particles. Layers of jeweled dark berry, enmeshed dirt, ferric notes, and waves of rolling plum on the satin-textured palate. Freshening acidity and firm, fine-grained tannin leading to a long finish of red and black fruit gripped by earth and iron. Crags of Nuits relieved by what seemed to be the elegant presence of Chambolle. So much going on with this wine. (93 pts.)

Posted from CellarTracker

[Jerry Hey]

I had this bottle about a month ago and was pleasantly surprised by how approachable it was. Excellent NSG with lots of upside potential.

[Doug Lee]

Jerry,

I agree. This wine is just getting started.

Cheers,
Doug

[Matthew King]

By chance I opened up the 12 last night. A touch foursquare when opened but unfurled a bit after four hours in decanter. Begging for 5 more years of slumber.

These are NSGs made by a Chambolle master. Cherry and a touch of smoke is how I’d describe the Marechale.

[Doug Lee]

Matthew,

Nice descriptors. He is indeed a master. Met M. Mugnier once at the domaine and he was very gracious. I have collected the Marechale and his Chambolle Fuees.

Cheers,
Doug

[William Kelley]

Agree re. the 2005, this has turned out so well and actually drinks nicely now, unlike many still-reticent 2005s. From barrel and just after bottling, the 2015 of this particular wine was a dead-ringer for the 2005, by the way!

[Doug Lee]

William,

I appreciate your very informed comments, on this and in general. I had not expected the wine to be so open, and am glad to have selected one of the few 05's showing well at the moment. Will look for the 2015!

Cheers,
Doug

[David Kingsbury]

Doug thx for your note. Anyone had the 2009? It’s the only vintage of this wine I own and wonder where it is in it’s evolution.

[Doug Lee]

David,

I confess that I haven't sampled the 09. Would also be interested in others' experiences.

Cheers,
Doug

[Mel Knox]

I also have the 05 Musigny... has anybody cracked this?
I ve been tempted to open the 12 Marechale but will content myself with 05 and 10

[Michael S. Monie]

I've reád that Mugnier thinks that 2005 is the quintessential Marechale. I have the 05, 06, 10, and 2015. Any thoughts on the 2006?

[Mel Knox]

The 2010 Marechale is great now

[Mel Knox]

Spent too much money on 05
Nothing left for 06

[Doug Lee]

Mel and Michael,

I sampled the 2006 a few months ago and enjoyed it very much. If you have a bunch, it might be worth the plunge. Good to know the 2010 is showing well.

Cheers,
Doug

[William Kelley]

I also have the 05 Musigny... has anybody cracked this?
I ve been tempted to open the 12 Marechale but will content myself with 05 and 10

Given how charming the Marechale '05 is, I reckon it could be surprisingly fun to drink already.

It is funny to think that, tasting Mugnier's 2005 reds and Coche's 2005s whites, one would arrive at an entirely unrepresentative impression of the vintage. The question is, is that because they did everything right, or because many other producers did everything wrong?

[Nick Christie]

It is funny to think that, tasting Mugnier's 2005 reds and Coche's 2005s whites, one would arrive at an entirely unrepresentative impression of the vintage. The question is, is that because they did everything right, or because many other producers did everything wrong?

I like this Question! A lot. '05 remains very, very curious...

[William Kelley]

'05 remains very, very curious...

Absolutely. The potential was clearly there, as evidenced by the great wines that were made by the likes of Coche and Mugnier; but equally, I think a lot of that potential was wasted. Tasting 2005s today, the wines often feel more like the vintage that marks the end of the long 1990s rather than the beginning of something new.

[Nick Christie]

'05 remains very, very curious...

Absolutely. The potential was clearly there, as evidenced by the great wines that were made by the likes of Coche and Mugnier; but equally, I think a lot of that potential was wasted. Tasting 2005s today, the wines often feel more like the vintage that marks the end of the long 1990s rather than the beginning of something new.

You know, I sometimes wonder if '05 has some '86 Bordeaux vibes... Certainly, as you say, that can't be what '05 Burgundy giants were pushing towards, but if the result would eventually be elegant giants in middle/older age, I'd be fascinated (and less aggrieved than most, I suppose).

[William Kelley]

'05 remains very, very curious...

Absolutely. The potential was clearly there, as evidenced by the great wines that were made by the likes of Coche and Mugnier; but equally, I think a lot of that potential was wasted. Tasting 2005s today, the wines often feel more like the vintage that marks the end of the long 1990s rather than the beginning of something new.

You know, I sometimes wonder if '05 has some '86 Bordeaux vibes... Certainly, as you say, that can't be what '05 Burgundy giants were pushing towards, but if the result would eventually be elegant giants in middle/older age, I'd be fascinated (and less aggrieved than most, I suppose).

So far, we are seeing a lot of fat and / or oxidized whites, and a lot of rather oaky, extracted reds; to the extent that the vintage's reputation is increasingly made by the exceptions to the rule...

[Nick Christie]

So far, we are seeing a lot of fat and / or oxidized whites, and a lot of rather oaky, extracted reds; to the extent that the vintage's reputation is increasingly made by the exceptions to the rule...

[RyanC]

'05 remains very, very curious...

Absolutely. The potential was clearly there, as evidenced by the great wines that were made by the likes of Coche and Mugnier; but equally, I think a lot of that potential was wasted. Tasting 2005s today, the wines often feel more like the vintage that marks the end of the long 1990s rather than the beginning of something new.

Coche '05 is such a great example. After a bunch of fat, mediocre '05 whites, someone relatively recently opened an '05 Coche 'Enseigneres' that blew me away. I've also loved Raveneau's '05s. But both are the exception, not the rule.

Your comments re '05 reds are interesting to say the least. I've remained bullish on their long-run prospects, but you have vastly more experience than I have with them so it inspires a bit of concern. Good fodder for another thread.

[Mel Knox]

When I tasted the 05s out of barrel I was blown away and then I thought about 71, a ripe vintage that went to sleep, that nobody ever tasted you on.

I loaded up on Lafarge andMugnier and they are both good. I remember Becky Wasserman saying she thought 06 was the vintage to buy but I was broke when they came out

[Mel Knox]

When I tasted the 05s out of barrel I was blown away and then I thought about 71, a ripe vintage that went to sleep, that nobody ever tasted you on.

I loaded up on Lafarge andMugnier and they are both good. I remember Becky Wasserman saying she thought 06 was the vintage to buy but I was broke when they came out

[Greg K]

I wonder how much of this is reflected in all of France. 05 Bordeaux isn’t terribly approachable right now either, and the few 05 northern Rhônes I’ve tried have been monolithic. I guess it takes a winemaker like Mugnier to make an approachable 05.
At a recent blind tasting of 05s, I had the Mugnier Chambolle as my #2 of the night (the winner was a ringer - an 02 Mugnier Fuees).

[joz€f p1nxten]

When I tasted the 05s out of barrel I was blown away and then I thought about 71, a ripe vintage that went to sleep, that nobody ever tasted you on.

I loaded up on Lafarge andMugnier and they are both good. I remember Becky Wasserman saying she thought 06 was the vintage to buy but I was broke when they came out

As much as I like Lafarge, their 05s are so dense (at least Caillerets and Clos des Chenes) last time I tried in 2019. I don't think they will taste different today, or do they?

[Mel Knox]

Lafarge: I opened a Clos des Chenes and it was surprisingly drinkable
More than I can say for some of their older wines!
Down to my last 93s

[Michael S. Monie]

I opened a 2005 in a .375 and wow, has this developed beautifully since I last had it a couple of years ago. It has a wonderful texture with all the sharp edges gone. It's one of those wines that I could just hang out with smelling for hours. As a Burgundy neophyte, this is what I've been waiting for with a red Burgundy that I matured myself.

[Mel Knox]

The 05 lafarge was a 1er cru volnay
Just opened 99 of the same
Ready to go!!

[Mich@el Ch@ng]

I’ve only opened a few 05s and thought the Nicolas Rossignol 05 Chevrets was phenomenal a couple years ago. The 05 Jadot dominode or p. Rion chambolle were not ready. I am guessing my Lambrays, Jadot CSD/Beze, and Angerville Champans won’t be ready either. I have a couple of these Marechale though.

[scamhi]

here's my data on the 2005 Mugnier NSG Maréchale
Purchased in January 2007 from Garagiste for $65.87 still holding them.
I will look in on them in the next few years. 2005 has so much in reserve

[Paul Jaouen]

here's my data on the 2005 Mugnier NSG Maréchale
Purchased in January 2007 from Garagiste for $65.87 still holding them.
I will look in on them in the next few years. 2005 has so much in reserve

I got a few from Garagiste at that price and also Wine Library. But the best price was $53 at JJ Buckley. I've drank a couple over the last year. They were excellent but certainly no rush to drink.

[m. ristev]

'05 remains very, very curious...

Absolutely. The potential was clearly there, as evidenced by the great wines that were made by the likes of Coche and Mugnier; but equally, I think a lot of that potential was wasted. Tasting 2005s today, the wines often feel more like the vintage that marks the end of the long 1990s rather than the beginning of something new.

maybe avoiding all vintage of the decade/century/millennium hype is a sound buying strategy?

i have had the wine in question and it left me unmoved, as this cuvee often does. i feel like i have had better whites from 05s than reds.

[Paul Jaouen]

'05 remains very, very curious...

Absolutely. The potential was clearly there, as evidenced by the great wines that were made by the likes of Coche and Mugnier; but equally, I think a lot of that potential was wasted. Tasting 2005s today, the wines often feel more like the vintage that marks the end of the long 1990s rather than the beginning of something new.

maybe avoiding all vintage of the decade/century/millennium hype is a sound buying strategy?

i have had the wine in question and it left me unmoved, as this cuvee often does. i feel like i have had better whites from 05s than reds.

I've not liked the whites from the start. So much so that I don't own a single bottle.

[m. ristev]

find an 05 seve du clos from arnaud ente