Popped a 21 today just because we were talking about it and it was nearby. Anything but charming, it’s brooding with this off-putting nose, probably just reduction. Hope it will improve after a decant.
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2014 Domaine Roger Belland Volnay 1er Cru Santenots
This is drinking really nice right now for the price range ~ $50. And closed under diam, probably because (I think) this domaine is mostly known for their whites.
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Hadn’t improved in a couple of hours so put it back in the bottle till tonight. Finally the nose blew off, but what you are left with is not that charming; more austere and kind of clunky. Glad I stopped buying.
But it looks like I really enjoyed it in June, so maybe bottle variation.
I’ll second this: I really like Berhaut Gerbet’s wines for their open, dark-fruited pleasure. The Fixins are delicious, easy-drinking and a relative value at U.S prices. Weekday wines. If you like Fixin, try Audoin as well. Great stuff.
I’ve tried BG 17 Vougeot and liked it but don’t chase it. It’s pricier and there’s less floatiing around. Vougeot’s not my thing usually- kind of a minefield of quality though there are some good ones out there. Mugneret-Gibourg is just one example.
17 was drier and less fruit-forward than BG’s more usual winemaking style in Gevrey or Fixin. This may have as much to do with the site and vintage but it’s the first of her Vougeots I’ve tried. The vineyard site appears to be in the lower end of the slope, which doesn’t drain as well as the more prized plots at the upper end bordering Flagey Echezeaux.
Old vines from 1956, 30%-50% whole cluster according to the domaine’s website
I was surprised how much I enjoyed an 18’ BG Cazetiers last May. Ripe red cherry with a touch of that rustic Gevrey soil and iron, low-med tannins and acid, bit of reduction/graphite. 13.5% Alc.
A delicious glass, generous yet balanced, fresh and open for business. Reminded me of Fourrier’s style and speaks of its place, one of the rare 18s that I love.
The connection makes sense, I like the CSJ, LSJ, Cazetiers, Moines end of the Gevrey slope; set apart from the GCs by a distinct cleft, the wines from there just grab my palate for some reason.
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Excellent Steve! You should try Berthault-Gerbet’s village lieu dit Gevrey Combe de Dessus. I have a bunch of the 2019 and it is amazing quality at almost any level. Amellie Berthault is doing a wonderful job. BTW my guilty pleasure from Berthault Gerbet is the Vosne Romanee Petit Monts.
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I think the clos vougeot has been much better in recent years too.
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Her 2019 Clos Vougeot is stunning Michael.
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I agree, but think the bg wines have made additional strides forward in 21-23. I think that’s true for the millot wines to some degree although I think the 17s are phenomenal.
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PSA: The Wine Club just put out an offer for some Berthaut Gerbet 22s and 23s
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I have enjoyed different Berthaut-Gerbet wines (no GCs) - and have some 21/22 1er Petit Vosne in the cellar. Wines have shown immediate quality, however, I do feel they come across a bit dark and concentrated for my palate - missing a bit of elegance and finer nuances.
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Snakes alive! The 2007 vintage continues its nonstop pleasure. So sad this is my last snake from that year. By the way, I think the 2005 snakes are coming around…
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Another guilty pleasure of mine. Guillemot Savignys especially Serpentieres and Narbantons.
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Why ‘guilty’?
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Can we still talk about Beaune 1ers here? I went through a Morot phase 15 years when first buying. Found this one in the cellar. Drinking really well! Traditional, old-school, perhaps, but you can easily tell what it is and where it’s from.
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Please!
I’m post some Violot-Guillemard and des Croix notes sometime!
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I’ve had some very impressive Morot Beaune Teurons from the 90s. And less impressive from 09/10. They need an enormous amount of time, I think.
If you have the patience to genuinely cellar (or completely, conveniently forget) I endorse them. But I have found they really need the two decades to unfurl and integrate.
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We opened two bottles of Morot 1985 Beaune Bressandes several (~7?) years ago. One was stellar; the other tired.
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Figure of speech. A bottle you would pop anytime and love plus wish you had many more.
I love this stuff. My favorites are from David Croix now especially Bressandes, Jadot Ursules, Drouhin Clos des Mouches and Baby Jesus from Bouchard
Nobody is making better Beaune 1ers than David Croix to me.
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Lafarge makes some decent Beaune 1ers too.
There’s a supple, dark cherry element to the village’s better wines that appeals to me … they are easy going … if Volnay and Chambolle had a love child!
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