I just can’t seem to get it to click. I enjoy pinot. I enjoy elegantly structured wines. I enjoy juicy acidity and terroir-driven aromatics. But, I’ve never met a Burgundy that really made me say “ohhhhh, NOW I get it.” Obviously price is a prohibitive factor, and stylistically, I tend to consume riper styled wines more frequently (although I have been drinking lots of Northern Rhone in the last 6 months), but I want to be able to enjoy Burg more than I do–which is pretty much not at all. I know this has been discussed on the board in the past, but I was hoping we could revisit with an update of approachable vintages, producers, village wines, etc. Educate me and help me transition my palate!
More power to you, Billy, but why do you want to like something (expensive!) that you obviously don’t like?
Burgundy just might not be for you. Worse crimes of omission have certainly been perpetrated.
However, if you’re looking for “riper-styled” Burgundy, then 2015 might be the recent vintage for you. You didn’t specify a budget, but for a little over $30, you can probably find Hudelot-Noellat’s Bourgogne. It’s not a “wow” wine, but you might find it a tasty introduction.
It’s just not time yet.
Take a break, spend time apart, you’ll run into each other here and there and if the right time arrives, you’ll click and be together.
Believe it or not, I am being serious.
Just check in with it from time to time and see how your palate evolves over time.
I still don’t like Port but I try it from time to time to see if either it, or I, have found a way to hook up.
Best wishes! ![[cheers.gif]](/uploads/db3686/original/2X/0/0ff9bfcdb0964982cd3240b6159868fbdf215b1a.gif "cheers"){kind=small}
Take up religion.
I went down this road and finally said screw it. It’s not for me. I drink my CA Pinot and enjoy it. Don’t force it.
I look forward to the “Help me “get” religion” thread! 
There’s enough people that already “get” Burgundy. The club doesn’t need more groupies.
But I hear church pews are quite empty, perhaps you can find a new religion there.
To paraphrase Louis Armstrong: if you have to ask, you’ll never understand. It’s the wine for intellectuals. You have to be an intellectual to find validity with most of them.
Oh my god.
I hate to say this, but based on this I doubt you will find Burgundies you like.
Riper recent vintages, 2009, 2012 and 2015. You might like 2009 and 2012 more because acidity is lower. The producers you have the best shot with are probably guys like Michael (or Frederick) Magnien.
For me it couldn’t be forced. I thought I was supposed to like Burgundy so kept trying but just didn’t get it. I actually hated pinot at one point. There was one tasting that was eye opening but the wines were Leroy and I wasn’t in a financial position to chase that dragon. So I went years were I drank lots of other stuff but only the occasional Burgundy and really didn’t enjoy them all that much.
I think the turning point was a dinner at citronelle where a modest Burgundy that the Somm recommended really spoke to me. It took a few more tries for me to be convinced that things had changed. After that, it was all different. I won’t say obsessed but wanted to understand different vineyards and producers and it ultimately resulted in a visit to the region.
Give it time, if it’s meant to be it will happen in time.
Have you tried an aged one (more then 10 years old)? For me, my revelation came from a 2006 Château de la Maltroye Santenay 1er Cru La Comme. Think I like the tertiary elements mostly and they don’t seem to come through when young. The nose was full of mushroomy forest floor and very much distinct.
I’ve also had a 1998 Maison Bertrand Ambroise Corton-Le Rognet and it didn’t have any of those sous bois notes that I love, so I don’t know. I’ve decided the the Le Rognet might still develop themand I have to wait longer.
Josh makes an excellent point. I wasn’t completely “sold” on Burgundy until I had the 1990 Dujac Clos St. Denis at 20 years post-vintage. It was at that moment that I became cursed. Like you, budgetary restrictions greatly limit my ability to play in this pond, but I can’t keep myself away anymore.
The 2009 suggestion is what came to my mind, as well.
Finally, as others have suggested, perhaps Burgundy just isn’t for you. And I would suggest that’s a great thing!
Some excellent, and hopefully tongue-in-cheek replies here. I suppose, as a “non-intellectual” ( ![[pwn.gif]](/uploads/db3686/original/2X/3/3d5d493eaefe29f8a37971ea1ffbb65a4e2b21aa.gif "pwn"){kind=small}
), there’s some expectation I’ve placed on myself that I’ll find enjoyment in Burgundy, because generally speaking, I’m able to find enjoyment in the vast majority of wines that are considered “good” or “desirable” by the wine drinking populace. My experience has been relatively limited, but I have had a few from reputable producers with bottle age (though never any grand cru). Interestingly enough, I did just pick up a few of the '15 Noellat Bourgogne from Envoyer to give that a go as a transitional wine. I’m not expecting to have a transformative experience, just hoping to find something to grab hold of. I suppose, at only 30, there’s plenty of time left to “get it”…
Thanks for the replies!
The HN is quite good. But, to truly understand what is magical about Burgundy, you need a 10-20 year old wine, at least.
Love the one you’re with, so to speak.
You probably have many years of imbibing ahead of you, and, at some point, Burgundy might grab you, What a pleasant surprise that would be. For me, by contrast, I’ve only recently discovered how interesting Champagne can be.
Burgundy has nothing to do with being intellectual, BTW; but is an expensive habit.
Billy, If you read what I wrote closely you’ll see the shot is at Burgundy. I had a 2000 Damoy Beze recently and while it was good it certainly wasn’t enlightening.
California is hedonism.
Bordeaux is intellectualism.
Burgundy is masochism.
Now you get it.