French Burgundy Recommendations

WINE TALK
1

Could use some help suggesting a red French burgundy to a friend for a client gift, in the $400-600 range, drinking now. Don’t know enough about burgundy to be much help to her. The client is a high-end collector, knows his French burgundies and has probably had several much more expensive than that.

We share the same client, and I would love to send a pair, a nice French burgundy and a montrachet. Combined price range around $500.

Appreciate any ideas. I am in Kansas City, buy most of my wine online but may also call on Brown Derby in Springfield, MO for some suggestions. They have a very cool “back room” where the special stuff is stored.

2

Hi Diane,

If you really want to give a Montrachet, then you may be over-budget already. Your store only lists one (Batard-M):

http://www.brownderby.com/wineproduct.php?pf_id=14388

Do you use Wine-Searcher.com? Make sure your results are for a Montrachet Grand Cru, not one of the many Chassagne/Puligny 1ers (which can be veryvery fine).

I hope I’m not over-stating the obvious [cheers.gif]

3

Hi Diane,

I suspect your question is a little too broad to get useful answers here. I’d trust the Brown Derby, were I you.

If you want some guidance, How about a 1993 red from a reputable producer?

Montrachet is super-expensive, even on release.

4

Hi Diane.

  1. 2nd Brady. Brown Derby is a good store and will be able to help. I’d just walk in there with this request and get them to help. A good Montrachet (as opposed to a 1er Chassagne-Montrachet) from a good producer/vintage is already going to break your budget though.

  2. Just a semantics thing. There is no other type of Burgundy except for French Burgundy, so no need to ask for the ‘French’ part. All Burgundy wine is French wine, but not all French wine is Burgundy wine. Like asking for a poultry chicken. All chickens are poultry, but not all poultry is a chicken.

5

Diane, having just moved from KC I can give you the following advice:

  1. Go see fellow Berserker Jim Coley at Gomer’s midtown. He can totally help you out, with this and many other wine needs. Really a good store. Jim is great and Jack, the owner, is also great. I recommend without reservation.

  2. Brown Derby is a really good store too. They are good to deal with on the phone or in person, and they keep a lot of stock away from the sales floor so calling ahead is good.

The advantage of Brown Derby is that they have some wines that are ready to drink, or at least closer. I purchased Leroy 1999 Bourgogne rouge there last year, a reasonably priced wine that, while variable, can be very good.

Good luck

6

If I was picking for myself at Brown Derby in that price range, 2010 Ponsot Clos de la Roche, http://brownderby.com/wineproduct.php?pf_id=43449 for $599. Not sure if the reserve room has some things not on the website, if you search for Burgundy and sort by vintage, a few older Leroy and Remoissenet wines show up that some of the true Burgundy experts here would need to comment on.

7

Thank you so much for the recommendations and the education. Duh on the French Burgundy, I should know at least that.

Been to the midtown Gomer’s, greatly enjoy that shop. Love Brown Derby as well, about 3 hours away.

Will try to get on this site more frequently.

Thank you again!

Diane