2018 BURGUNDY SAMPLING GATHERING - Undisclosed location in McLean, VA (1/7/2021)
Four of us got together to try two reds and a white from the 18 vintage. We carried out from an Afghan restaurant.
Champagne
Apparently a very rare cuvee. It was a very good Champagne but not something that I would chase.
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NV Pierre Péters Champagne Grand Cru L’Etonnant Monsieur Victor - France, Champagne, Champagne Grand Cru
Expressive nose displaying ripe yellow fruit with a hint of white, granny smith, lemon curd, peach, marzipan, white flowers, honey, brioche, and limestone. Fully integrated plate, nicely layered slightly sour ripe yellow fruit, fine medium abundant mousse, bright acidity, strong mineral and a medium to long ripe white fruit driven finish with brioche and marzipan at the end. Mature and user friendly style reminds me Cedric Bouchard Champagnes. Very enjoyable but not spectacular. According to Amy, 2009 is the base wine for this rendition. (94 pts.)
Corton Charlemagne
It actually showed a pretty good balance.
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2018 Arnaud Baillot Corton-Charlemagne - France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru
Expressive nose displaying ripe yellow fruit with a hint of white, ripe pear, golden delicious, a hint of pineapple, lemon curd, flint, sweet spices and limestone. Excellent concentration, nicely layered ripe yellow and white fruit, bright acidity and good mineral present that counters ripeness, and a medium to long ripe yellow fruit driven finish with a hint of flint and mineral at the end. Although quite ripe, it maintains good balance and focus. (94 pts.)
Red Burgundy
The Heitz was surprisingly pale especially for the vintage. The Baillot RSV showed really well, the fruit was sourced from Hudelot Noellat’s RSV plot.
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2018 Domaine Heitz-Lochardet Pommard 1er Cru Clos Poutures - France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Pommard 1er Cru
Surprisingly pale color especially in lieu of the vintage. Medium expressive nose displaying subtle black fruit, blackberry soda, black cherry, a hint of unripe fruit, sweet spices and limestone. Medium concentration, subtle slightly watery black fruit, medium acidity, strong mineral and a medium long subtle black fruit driven finish. My guess is that this was either picked really early or press very gently. With air, the unripe fruit note dissipates. Not sure how this will age. (91 pts.) -
2018 Arnaud Baillot Romanée St. Vivant - France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Romanée St. Vivant Grand Cru
Expressive nose displaying perfectly ripe black and blue fruit, crushed blackberry, blueberry, a hint of licorice, rose, Vosne spice, nutmeg and limestone. Excellent concentration, very finely layered perfectly ripe black fruit, pure and precise, medium acidity, strong limestone mineral and a seamless long pure black fruit driven finish with rose and mineral at the end. This is an excellent RSV with very pure fruit. (95 pts.)
Vega-Sicilia
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1994 Bodegas Vega-Sicilia Ribera del Duero Único - Spain, Castilla y León, Ribera del Duero
Beautifully mature nose displaying generous ripe black fruit with a hint of red, blackberry and cherry liqueur, black cherry, oak/vanilla, a hint of leather, dark spices and earth. Excellent concentration, layers upon layers of generous sweet black and red fruit, rich and generous, bright acidity, earthy mineral, mostly resolved medium fine tannins and a long sweet black fruit driven finish with a hint of vanilla/oak at the end. This is a big scale concentrated Unico that is drinking well. (95 pts.)
It was a fun and educational evening.
Posted from CellarTracker