Chet, thank you for your insights and recommendations here, which have been gleaned from much real experience. I really like Blagny rouge. I have not had Matrot’s, but I really like Jobard’s (through 2006) and Cherisy’s versions.
Thank you for the Vincent note, Kent. I like this producer as much as you in both red and white. They don’t make much wine, but it still surprises me that they do not get more attention. As you and Jeremy have pointed out, they could easily be mistaken for a $100 plus bottle of Cote de Nuits per cru (I sell them for less than $50). I have had each of Gravieres, Passetemps and Beaurepaire many times, but I don’t know that I could describe any stylistic differences among them. I know that Gravieres is produced from old vines and is considered by some to the pick of the bunch, but that has not necessarily been my experience. Do you have any thoughts regarding differences among the three crus? Jeremy?
I like all of Jean-Marc’s reds Martin but the Gravieres is perhaps my favourite. It is the most complete with good depth and plenty of old vine sap. I find the Beaurepaire to be a little more red fruited and the Passetemps to be a little more up front and fruity.
The Beurepaire Blanc is an absolute beauty. Have a look at the 2013, it would hold its own against many a high quality 1er Cru Puligny.
+1 on Katrina’s recommendation of the Viré-Clessé. Beautiful nose on an elegant wine.
Just over $50, I recently bought all the 2008 Paul Chapelle & ses Filles Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru Champgain that I could find. It has a beautiful floral nose, although not the kind of steely raciness you normally associate with the higher end Puligny-Montrachet. Instead it was much richer and expressive even while maintaining a nice balance. I’d suggest adding it to your “off-the-beaten” path list because of its proximity to Blagny, good prices (when you can find it), relatively young domaine by Burgundy standards, and the fact that Champgain is generally overlooked because critics have dismissed the climate as producing wines lacking intensity, weight and complexity. Certainly not my experience with this wine. My wine tasting circle picked it as the WOTD (day-time tasting).
Thank you, Jeremy. I have the 2013 Beaurepaire Blanc in my warehouse but haven’t gotten to a bottle. Craig Gleason, savvy as he is, usually keeps my Vincent Blanc picked fairly clean.
That’s a good call, Gray. I don’t know the producer, but it sounds good. Jean-Marc Morey makes a lovely Chassagne-Montrachet Champs Gains Rouge, as well. His Blanc from the same vineyard sells for about $75 and his Rouge, even though the yields are much smaller and the Pinot Noir harder to grow and more labor intensive, is about $45. Definitely a place to look for good red Burgundy at a fair price. I agree with you that the (not necessarily accurate) reputation of the reds from this area keeps a lot of Burg buyers away.
I have a few Chassagne Rouge headed my way this fall. Will be good to explore what they have to give, I think I have only ever had one or two in the past.
It borders Santenay. According to Jasper Morris, it was rated highly by Dr. Lavalle, but is rarely talked about today. Sounds like a good fit for “off-the-beaten” path Burgundy to me.
One could do very well with Auxey Duresses mostly red but some very good whites for sure.
Fichet and Lafouge
Roy and Prunier
Even wines from Roulot and Bize Leroy made some beauties both Domaine and negociant over the years.
They all need time in the cellar however.
I’ve had 3 bottles of 2011 Henri Prudhon’s en Remilly and Murgers Dents des Chiens, and have generally been quite disappointed, since he has such an excellent reputation. One En Remilly was badly premoxed. The others where very tight and pine resin laden - not a flavor I enjoy personally. I really did like the 2013 JM Morey Santenay Cornieres Blanc, which I drank Friday night. Note that I do work for the California importer. None the less it was tasty - better than I expected. There is not much imported thought. I think we get between 5 and 10 cases. I agree with the notes on JM Morey Reds - particularly the Greves mentioned above. Chunky and delicious, and will age exceptionally well. Getting up there in price the 2012 Roty Marsannay rocks. A Gevrey in our portfolio well worth the money is the Frederic Esmonin Les Jouise V.V. Full retail would be $45. With small producers, unfortunately there is very little wine and the prices are… well Burgundian.
Dean, good to see you posting here. I don’t believe that Prudhon did very well in 2011. The whites were not as good as usual and the one red I tried was just okay. I must try J-M Morey’s Santenay Cornieres Blanc. I see that you have it in stock. Also, I must take a closer look at Roty’s impressive Marsannay line up.
This is delicious. On the big side. Fruity, good for bbq ribs or maybe a full flavored stew. Not something for a more complex meal that would be overpowered by this.
I tried two wines from Domaine Ballorin, a relatively new domaine (2005), this week. Grapes are farmed biodynamically. K and L started carrying their wines with the 2011 vintage. Allan Meadows is very positive about the domaine, calling it “an exciting source of high quality, value oriented wines” so I was looking forward to trying them. The first was a bust. A 2012 Fixin Les Chenevieres was heavily reduced on nose and palate. Despite decanting and 48 hours in the fridge, the sulfurous funk never lifted. Too bad as I could sense a really pretty wine underneath.
The 2011 Domaine Ballorin Marsannay Clos Du Roy was much better. There was some reduction at first but this blew off fairly quickly. Very light ruby. Cranberries, wild strawberries and a piney/licorice element. A delicate mouthfeel but not without some depth to the flavors. Nicely balanced with a purity of fruit that is attractive. Reminds me somewhat of an Evesham Wood pinot but with a tad more sweetness to the fruit. Fair value at $30ish.
Yes. We import the Cote de Nuits Villages. The 2012 was really good. The vineyard is in throwing distance to Nuits Clos de Marechale, but higher on the slope and adjacent to a large Comblanchien marble quarry. The 2013 is good, but the Jouise is worth the extra money this year IMO.
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