Commune most likely to improve it's reputation

WINE TALK
21

Agree. Volnay has a better reputation than Pommard these days. From my limited knowledge of Burgundy history, the opposite used to be true. (Wasn’t Pommard historically considered among the best/most prestigious areas in Burgundy? Ray?)

I think the better vineyards of Pommard can show some of the lacy, silky elegance that I love in Volnay, but with a structural backbone that is totally unique.

-Steve

22

But I have two more rainbows than Steve !

23

I am going with Ray and Nick. More and more, I think MSD is my favorite village. Not as sexy as VR, Chambolle or Gevrey, but boy are the wines good. Yet, the reputation lags well behind that of the other three more favored villages in a way that I don’t think is deserved. Go, Morey.

The only problem with Morey is that the best wine from the village is not made anymore. Ray, you need to get some Clos de la Roche (or Clos St. Denis).

24

I would vote for Pommard and St. Aubin but if I had to pick one - I think St Aubin whites are the most underestimated wines in all of Burgundy.

25

I’d vote for Flagey. No one’s ever heard of it, so it’s reputation can only go “up”. No ifs about that. And, now that Emannuel Rouget has no one saying that Oncle Henri makes the wines anyway, I’d guess that they will still hold their own. A great formula in the vineyard and in the cuverie. And, Rouget is solidly in Flagey. A “commune” that no one’s heard of and has two excellent grand crus and , in my thinking, one of the very top estates in Burgundy in its downtown-- which is hard to get to, and dangerous to get to as there is a blind curve complicating the village entrance. (Flagey also has a part of my favorite 1er cru in red Burgundy in it: Les Beaux Monts; great wine from every producer I’ve experienced and even a decent QPR).

I don’t think Morey really has anywhere to go to improve. Ever since I’ve been paying attention to the region, it’s been well thought of. Even before Jacky Truchot put hit handprints in the sidewalk in D.C. Always been a source of excellent wines from serious producers that were well priced , at least in the past.

The question was about “commune” not “appellation”, so… [stirthepothal.gif]

26

I think the obstacle for Morey is that it’s hard to define a Morey personality. Much easier to describe Chambolle or Vosne in 15 words or less. And even the grand crus in Morey are so different from each other that it’s hard to call any one of them the archetypal Morey. Clos de la Roche and Clos des Lambrays are about as different in personality as two crus can be.

27

I always think of Morey as a tweener. More body than a chambolle but also more rustic. Not as much as Gevrey though. Kind of like the baby bear. Everything is just right.

28

Anyone who’s had Arlaud 2010s has to vote MSD. I’d like to vote Pommard but nobody imports that anymore aside from a few top cuvees that have always been great (Armand Ep, various Rugiens). I see more Fixin and Monthelie than Pommard in the shops.

29

I’m with Kevin. When isaw the title, I just thought of St. Aubin. Underrated village and ever increasing prices will push consumers to look for bargains.

30

Sorry to come in late on this.
I’d probably say Moulis.

Best regards,
Alex R.

31

Corton, Pommard and Nuits St. Georges have all had their salad days in the first half of the 20th century- perhaps based as much on “creative blending” on the part of certain negociants and London-based merchants back in the bad old days, so for these appellations, it would be more a return to prominence than a general dawning of awareness on the part of Burgundy lovers as to the qualty of the wines. All three share a sturdy structure in their youth that may slow their regaining a proper level of respect, but it is awfully hard not to be a fan of any of the three if one crosses paths with some fully mature examples from a top producer.

I would also beg to differ with folks who cited DRC’s involvement in Corton as likely to raise the level of awareness markedly of the inherent quality of reds on the hill. The Domaine’s decision to blend together their parcels of Corton’s three greatest vineyard sites- Clos du Roi, Bressandes and Renardes- to make a single cuvee is more of a Bordelais approach to the hill of Corton, rather than that of an illuminated Burgundian who would treasure the dramatic and compelling differences of these three great terroirs and seek to highlight those in each wine, rather than blending them all together into some sort of Cuvee de Luxe afterthought. And besides, given how well-known and respected Corton-Charlemagne is already, it is hard to argue that the hill of Corton is really hurting all that much when it comes to overall reputation.

I like Kevin’s nomination of St. Aubin- though the reds still have a way to go to carry their end of the bargain, but the top whites from this commune now are certainly at least at the level of all but the best premier crus in Chassagne, as well as often more interesting than the second division producers in the top premier crus in Puligny and Meursault. But, the reds are still pretty rustic in general and have not quite caught up with the level of the whites, so I might be tempted to look around for another poster child.

There are two other communes that might merit even a bit more attention than St. Aubin- given the rising quality of both the reds and the whites at this time- Auxey-Duresses and Savigny-les-Beaune. Both commune’s white wines are clearly winners in the global warming sweepstakes and are now truly compelling and unique white Burgundies- completely undervalued and wines that will age very well indeed (if this even really matters today in the long shadow of premox). Savigny’s reds have always had a pretty good reputation with Burgundy insiders, but like its neighbors of Pernand and Aloxe, the wines can be rather rustic and sturdy out of the blocks and like good Corton, they take time to show their inherent elegance and breed- which they do with aplomb with sufficient bottle age. But, global warming here seems to have really ameliorated a lot of the youthful rusticity of Savigny rouge, so that the wines are showing a lot more of their eventual refinement early on these days- though still nicely structured- and it is not hard to imagine that these reds could really catch on over the next decade. Auxey’s reds are also really lovely- the best examples are really the Cote de Beaune reds that Chambolle lovers should be seeking out- much more so than Volnay in my opinion- with a cornucopia of red fruit, zesty topnotes and beautiful transparency down to fairly chalky soils. Gilles Lafouge or Coche-Dury Auxey Rouge bottlings can quickly make one forget the high price of Musigny these days…

32

I agree with Kevin’s and John’s post though I think I have underrated the best wines of NSG more so than Pommard and Corton so to me at least that commune offers the most potential improvement in reputation. I need to drink more St Aubin whites, which ones are the highlights ?

33

Interesting question anthony.
John Gilman’s post has me salivating for the impending arrival of my 2010 Pierre-Yves Colin-Morey St Aubins I must say.

There are certainly some communes who do not receive the attention that they deserve and in the right hands over deliver in spades.
A couple that spring to mind:-
Santenay - taste the wines of Jean-marc Vincent to see what can be achieved here.
Savigny-Les-Beaune - has been mentioned prior, but an interesting terroir and capable of producing excellent wines in both colours.

34

I was wondering what Wine Commune was doing differently to improve its reputation…whoops…no wonder the replies made no sense.

35

Mike,
There are many terrific examples.
I recommend:
Hubert Lamy
Prudhon
Colin-Morey

It’s important to note that St. Aubin Remilly is virtually adjacent to Chevalier Montrachet (though IMO some of 1ers above the town itself are just as good). This is not poor dirt that sometimes excels but rather truly great terroir that just has a marketing problem (especially if you enjoy more Chablis-like or mineral-driven whites).

36

Yeah, I could go with the MSD call…

37

Interesting re MSD - are the premier crus consistently as good as say Chambolle or Vosne?
Can’t say that I can answer that with any certainty, as I have very few premiers from MSD (Arlaud, Boisset and maybe a couple of others), despite the fact that I have plenty of Grand Crus and Village wines from MSD.

38

Thanks Kevin, I just found some Hubert Lamy Saint Aubin 1er Cru Derriere chez Edouard old vines 2010 which I have ordered. BTW I had the 08 Rhys Alpine Vineyard which Brodie brought over, the other two are still in the rack. Great wine which I have been meaning to write up. Our group felt it was unique in that it showed so much in the old world style, terroir rather than fruit driven, not only that but seriously good terroir. I have had nothing like it from the New World, great stuff. I’ll get around to posting a proper note. Cheers Mike

39

Mike,
It’s great to hear that you enjoyed the Alpine. Thanks for your thoughts on it.

BTW, I am very jealous about your Lamy Derriere chez Edouard! I tasted it chez Lamy and it is amazing. That St. Aubin 1er vineyard is above the town (very rocky soil but not adjacent to Chevalier Montrachet like Remilly) and really shows how good the appellation can be.

40

I just ordered anotherthree [cheers.gif]