Ansonia Wines in DC is offering some older red burgs. This is the retail outlet of a reputable wholesaler, and I think they do a great job, especially in the import/transport of their wines. All of the burgundies have struck me as very fresh and lively. Short story shorter, I feel some goodwill towards these folks.
Any experience out there with Pierre Amiot or L’Arlot '04s? Michel Gros NSG '02s or Vosne Aux Brulees '02? Maume Pommard Argillieres '05?
I’m building a (very small) red burg collection, but don’t really have the expertise to evaluate what is on offer. I’m open minded and interested in educating myself and building a core, representative library. I have some 06 Angerville Champans, Beaune Teurons 05, and '07 Jadot Combe aux Moines. Anything here you think a newbie should try?
From all of the reports of the 2004s being hit with greenness I’d avoid those. I generally like the l’Arlot wines. The 02 should ne nice, though I can never keep the various Gros family properties straight. However, well stored examples, esp village wines and lower level premier crus should be drinking nicely in general. Doublecheck pricing for those wines on Wine Searcher just to make sure you’re getting the deal you think you are.
The d’Angerville’s are lovely wines. Try to leave them alone for 15 years. The Jadot should be lovely too. AS you build a collection, don’t forget the less well known communes - Savigny, Pernand, Monthelie, Santenay, etc. The big communes get all the press and impressive scores, but well made wines from those communes will age and improve for a decade or 2 and are lovely wines.
If you are just starting a “collection of burgs” I would not buy any '04s. I would certainly take opportunities to taste them but I would not purchase them. Otherwise, the remaining wines did not look that interesting (all factors included).
Just my opinion but I would strongly suggest that you dont start collecting* burgs until you have drank very widely to see where your preferences are among the different producers. There are huge differences in styles. Huge. Right now I would just buy what you plan to drink short term. Attend retail and offline tastings whenever possible. After a year or two of this you will start to get a sense of what producers and vintages you like.
buying in volume to age and consume after they reach maturity
well, I disagree. You like this store and these people. Let them recommend a couple of bottles to you. I’m not talking about buying a bunch, I’m talking 2-4 bottles at most. There’s much benefit to developing a good relationship with retailers you trust. Let them learn your palate; it will make future recommendations more reliable. I say support your local store, it will reward you over the long term.
I live in DC and received this email and while I thought some of the wines were of interest, they were not of interest to me - but that’s because I already own a ton of burgundy and I have a pretty good handle on my palate. But if I were new to the game, I’d definitely start by chatting up retailers and letting them make recommendations - indeed, that’s how I got turned onto truchot and bachelet and made some great life long friends with much more knowledge of wine than I possess (e.g., David Schildknecht). Don’t let these board guys dampen your interest.
Chris–these are not older burgs–just barely preteens.
I would agree with Maureen–try a small amount of what they recommend. Personally I’d just try a bottle of the Chaliots, or if you trust them, other stuff they suggest. Barry’s suggestion is correct–you need to find out what you really like and want to pursue, but it’s good to find a local shop you trust and can work with.
Another option to learn your pallet and try varieties are mixed lots at auction (shameless promotion, I know). But seriously, you can find some really great mixed burgundy lots that sell for very reasonable prices. It’s the same as doing a mixed case like this from a retailer. The auctions aren’t all cases of DRC, etc; there is access to some affordable great drinking wines that aren’t readily available.
Taste and compare as much as it’s possible. It’s the only way to really learn what you like and want to keep drinking for years to come.
I also agree with Maureen. There are some great Burgundy retailers in the Dc area. I have not been to Ansonia but would like to go there sometime. Two local stores where I buy Burgundy are Arrowine and Weygandt wines. MacArthurs is also good. Pick a place or two, get to learn the merchants, let them get to know you, try the wines they recommend, see what you like. Don’t buy too much from a producer you do not know you like.
As above I agree with Maureen. I have one exception. No 2004’s. I own every vintage back to 95 so I’m not just a vintage snob but 04’s are flawed and it would be a waste of money as well as give you a bad example of Burgundy. Berry also has a good selection to make sure you taste as much as possible. The more focused you can be on what you want the better you and you’re charge card will feel.
I own 4 bottles of 04’s - including a Pierre Amiot Charmes Chambertin. I am not a big purchaser of Burgs in general (and obviously not many 04s) but I have had some 04s and have not found them uniformly awful. In fact, one of my other 04s - Michel Picard Corton Clos de Fietres I bought after tasting it because I thought it was very good. You could make the same case for the 03s on the opposite extreme - too ripe - low acidity and yet there are some nice wines there also. Not too sure this is the best advice, but if you really want a great collection spend a lot of money on the best producers of the best vintage(s) and hold them for a decade or so - doubt you will be disappointed either in the wines if you drink them or the ROE if you decide to sell them. If you are looking to spend a bit less the 01 vintage may still have some good values but as with most of these wines the pricing continues to creep upwards. I probably favor 99 and 05 over 02 but they are all nice vintages. I have not had enough of more recent vintages to make a good recommendation. Good luck.
this used to be true but is rarely so now. I used to buy mixed burgundy lots at auction all the time - did particularly well picking up older pousse d’or, chezeaux, mugneret-gibourg, and faiveley. But now everything is expensive. And the days of knowing more than most about burgundy is over - damn these wine boards!
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