Maume continues.
Owned by Murray Tawse, overseen by Pascal Marchand - Bertrand Maume is still there.
2011 Liger Belair Clos du Chateau. No green, instead an expressive, darkly-fruited and spiced nose, silky, good depth, and fresh. Great village wine.
Yes - that’s it. Does Bertrand have anything to do directly with the wine making there?
Zero green or GMs in the 2011 Bertheau 1er Cru Chambolle.
WineBid?
Here are my notes from the La Paulee grand tasting - all 2011s.
Grand Tasting – La Paulee 2014 in San Francisco
I must stay that overall the wines were pleasing. Many wines met or exceeded my expectations which is a good thing especially when talking about the subjectivity of judging the quality of a bottle of grape juice. As mentioned before – the wines seemed delicate in a good way. A group of wines that to me didn’t show any Bug Juice Greenie Meanies at all (at this point in time – maybe in a year+???) and if anything showed like they were coming from an average+ burgundy vintage at best. Pyrazine worries aside – I think several of these wines will please to the upside for many people when I think that the expectations are so low to begin with. General impressions of the wines are below because this is how I found myself taking down my thoughts during the tasting. I didn’t taste everything for sure which is noted and I really only jotted down my thoughts on the wines I was impressed with. I did my best however!
2011 Hospice de Beaune Wines: I tasted these wines later in the session after several friends told me to find this table. The Puilly-Fuisse Cuvee Francoise Poisard was upfront and tart with a nice summer afternoon kinda personality. The Meursault 1er Genevrieres Cuvee Philippe Le Bon was a bit lacking on the mid palate and just average at best with touches of signature oak. The Pommard 1er Epenots Cuvee Dom Goblet was stylish with integrated oak and other dart scents/flavors. The Clos de la Roche Cuvee Georges Kritter was impressive for sure with dark cherry throughout, integrated oak, and flashed of lovely spices. If anything, I wrote down that the finish was a lacking but overall a nice showing believe it or not!
2011 Domaine Louis-Michel Chablis: The 1er Butteaux VV was pretty and laced with savory iodine laced fruit – wanted more length. The 1er Montee de Tonnere was fabulous and at the same level as the Butteaux but with more mid palate texture – for me at least. For the Vaudesir I wrote down that it was full if rich tangerine notes and savory acidity with 4 stars. I guess this means I like it! The Grand Cru Grenouilles had lots of chalky minerality and heft with plenty of nice layers saline acidity – impressive and the first time I’ve sampled this wine from Louis-Michel. Overall, an impressive line-up that I would buy if I was forced to :p.
2011 Christian Moreau Chablis: I liked these a bit less just due to the style – liked the Louis-Michel style better with it’s crisp salinity and cleansing personality. The 1er Vaillons from Moreau was AOK with a touch more richness in the middle which is what I noted. The Valmur was odd to me with something seemingly out of balance – mid palate richness+ with a iodine laced finish. The Le Clos was the best of the lot with creamy orchard fruits and maybe even some pineapple upside-down cake in there. This is what I wrote down anyway.
2011 William Fevre Chablis: Sparse notes here even though I did taste these. I noted that the Grand Cru Bougros Cote Bouguerots was fabulous and my favorite with the Le Clos close behind. The Bouguerots was full of cold apple fruits, citrus zest, and saline minerality.
2011 Domaine Alain Gras: Saint-Romain Blanc, Saint-Romaine Rouge, and Auxey-Duresses VV Rouge. Did not taste unfortunately.
2011 Pierre-Yves Colin-Morey: These were very nice across the board! The Saint-Aubin 1er En Remilly is one I try to buy every year. I think this version is not as good as the ’10 it’s still very good. The Baudines was aromatic and savory – lovely showing. The Meursault Genevrieres was beautiful with the type of focused profile that I generally prefer from a Meursault. The Batard-Montrachet was a true Grand Cru white burgundy with creamy fruit, touches of oak, and a palpable density of minerality in the mouth. This will be fun to try again in 5 years or so to see what’s going on – not as good as the ’10 of this however :p.
2011 Bernard Moreau Pere et Fils: Did not sample.
2011 Antoine Jobard Meursault 1er Genevrieres: This was a part of the Commune de Meursault wines. I tasted with Antoine at his Domaine a couple of years ago and was impressed. This was a very good showing for this wine – well balanced and poised, floral is what I wrote down.
2011 Ballot-Millot: I thought the whites really underperformed for whatever reason – they seemed lackadaisical in character. The Meursault 1er Charmes was good enough though.
2011 Domaine Matrot: I haven’t had very good luck with the Matrot wines I’ve sampled – problems with pre-mox, etc. The Meursault aoc and 1er Blagny were standard at best with the Meursault 1er Charmes was the best of the line-up with a distinct creamy lime character on the nose. Maybe needed a wee bit more acid to balance out the bigger fruit profile here – still impressive.
2011 Domaine des Comtes Lafon: These were ultra stylish and several friends confirmed this after tasting. The Meursault Clos de la Barre had touches of integrated oak with plenty of balancing minerality to really extend this in the mouth. The Meursault 1er Charmes is a large wine with quinine laced lemon chiffon, integrated oak components, and a balanced long finish. Impressive stuff with lots crammed in there! I came back later to try the Volnay Santenots du Milieu here and wasn’t all that impressed – a showing that just didn’t grab me as the wine seemed lacking in the mid-palate.
2011 Francois Carillon: These were all good enough with my favorite being the Puligny 1er Combettes with really showed a lacy texture in the mouth – this is what I wrote down at least. The Pulighy 1er Perrieres was seemingly lacking when sampled next to the Combettes for my tastes at least. The Perrieres seemed one dimensional but still packed with attractive cold pear fruit. This was the first time sampling any of the Francois Carillon wines after the split with his brother. More research is needed!
2011 Etienne Sauzet: These were fun to try and seemingly the most terrior driven whites for me. The 1er Champ Canet and the Puligny 1er Combettes were definitely in the rich category but also really stood out to me as well made. Both had a lacy chalk driven palate presence that really pleased. The Chevalier was ultra good with more of that savory chalky minerality throughout – very floral with lemon zest and touches of savory coconut aromas. Complex and nice!
2011 Chateau Genot-Boulanger: Did not sample!
2011 Domaine de Montille: I did not like these wine as much as others around me unfortunately. The The Volnay Taillepieds and Pommard Rugiens were good enough but not wines I’d buy in this vintage – if I had a choice. The Meursault 1er Poruzots was stylish enough but had nothing to distinguish itself. However, the Corton Carlemagne was a wine I’d buy – present oak but still balanced and classy with ample amounts of density on the palate. Not as good as other top notch Corton Charlemagnes I’ve tasted recently but still in the top 50%.
2011 Domaine de Courcel: These wines are some of my favorites from Pommard and these are wines I could get behind. Large personalities as expected with the 1er Grand Clos des Epenots really standing out with it elegance and poise – still present tight tannins. There was nothing wrong with the Pommard 1er Rugiens but it just seemed more shut and tight at this point. I think these wines will age well with their classic profile!
2011 Domaine Marquis d’Angerville: These Volnays were hitting on all cylinders that afternoon – not blockbusters but certainly worth a try if you can get any of them at a reasonable price. The Fremiets seems more rustic and earthy than the others – the others also had really nice levels of savory earth “stuff”. Of the Champans and Taillepieds – I liked the Taillepieds the most with it airy nose and sneaky soft youngish tannins. The Clos des Ducs was more rustic and reserved which bodes well I think. Like these!
2011 Domaine Chanson Pere et Fils: Did not sample!
2011 Maison Joseph Drouhin: I really wanted to get a sample of the 1er Clos des Mouches Rouge to see what’s going on. I just love the ’09 version of this – this ’11 version is cut from the same style but really lacks palate persistence. The 1er Proces and the whites (CM 1er Morgeot MdL and Corton Charlemagne) were both nice enough but nothing stood out to me.
2011 Bouchard Pere et Fils: I very much liked the elegant and savory style of these whites from Bouchard – the vintage seems to fit the restrained airy style of Bouchard for me at least. The Meursault Genevrieres was restrained and complex all at the same time – elegant is what I wrote down. The Corton Charlemagne could please anyone looking for a more restrained style of CC – lovely stuff IMHO. The NsG 1er Les Cailles and 1er Greves Vigne de l’Enfant Jesus was both also lovely with airy cherry – medium bodied beauties is what I wrote down. None of these were blockbusters by any means but will please to no end if you pay attention to them.
2011 Maison Camille Giroud: Did not sample!
2011 Maison Louis Jadot: I was not all that impressed with the whites (SlB Clos des Guettes Blanc and the Corton-Charlemagne). The Chambolle 1er Sentieres was very airy with soft blue fruits and a medium at best palate presence. A pleasing wine that would please at any dinner table is what I wrote down. The Clos Vougeot was so tight and not giving much.
2011 Domaine Simon Bize: Did not sample!
2011 Domaine Faiveley: The MUSIGNY was awesome to taste – haaaaaa. I wish! I was very impressed with the Bienvenue-Batard that was being poured at the tasting – the first white from Faiveley that I can remember sampling. This had such concentration and balancing minerality/acidity – made this an ultra compelling wine for me. Yum! The Latricieres Chambertin was also very nice with a darker personality – fine tannins albeit a bit closed at the moment. Interesting stuff coming out of Faiveley that I’ll have keep better track of over time!
2011 Domaine Hudelot-Noellat: The NsG 1er Murgers was a revelation to me at least – liked this very much and don’t get to sample this wine from them very often. The 2011 version is worth a shot if it ever crossed your wine glass! The Suchots was good enough but just didn’t leap out of the glass at me – darker with touches of spice. The Clos Vougeot was closed and stern. The Romanee St. Vivant was large with elegant a real grand cru experience on the nose and only maybe a 6 out of 10 on the palate. I’d buy this to see what happens in a vintage like 2011 – I say it ages well over the midterm.
2011 Domaine Hudelot-Baillet: I must say that I came away from the tasting with a great first impression from this Domaine – first time sampling these wines from any vintage for me I think. The Chambolle Cras was airy and filled with stones – medium visocisty – lovely silky finish. The Bonnes Mares was larger but still nicely fruited on the nose. I really like the balance here, seriously!
2011 David Duband: Did not sample!
2011 Domaine Armand Rousseau: This was the most compelling set of wines from the whole tasting session. Each wine from the GC aoc, Lavaux, CdlR, to the Chambertin are well made and balanced. The Chambertin is full of savory structure and earthy cherry components. The most complete and exciting wine for me overall! It will hopefully be very interesting to sample some of these (at least the ones I can find to cellar) over the years.
2011 Domaine Fourrier: Tasted the GC aoc, CM 1er Cherbaudes, GC 1er Combe aux Moines, and the beautiful GC 1er Clos St. Jacques. Ultra pure wines here with the Cherbaudes really exceeding my already high expectations for these wines. I don’t get to sample the Cherbaudes very often but this version really did impress with it’s stylish personality. The Combe aux Moines was darker in personality. The CsJacques was a step up in density and purity – a grand cru for sure in quality most vintages which is no secret.
2011 Domaine Alain Burguet: Did not sample and wish that I could have found the time to keep my palate going at the end!
2011 Domaine des Lambrays: The whites were compelling as usual with the Cailleret ultimately being better in overall quality when compared to the Puligny 1er Folatieres. The Clos des Lambrays GC had touches of airy spices and herbs – medium length – tart silky tannins – savory finish. Medium+ wine in quality that maybe is a bit lacking from the vintage.
Great notes, Jon! Thanks for posting your thoughts on '11.
I still need to write up my notes from La Paulee but after trying those Ive come around to the belief that 2011 does not have 2004-style GMs. I certainly noticed some green in some wines but it was just normal slightly-under-ripe green and not the weird chemical thing that 2004s have.
This Bonnes Mares was actually my wine of the tasting. I liked it even more than the Rousseau Chambertin. It seems like every la paulee I make some new personal discovery and this domain was it for me. The wines seemed quite similar to Bertheau but with perhaps a little more depth. They have the same lovely personality though (at least based on this small sample).
Liked these guys also Berry - even though the wines were from 2011 ![[wow.gif]](/uploads/db3686/original/2X/7/7d450e9830889c8943b674446a21b7254cad657e.gif "wow"){kind=small}
! The wines came across as aromatic and pure. Funny, I looked to see if any of the '10s (other good vintages also) were available and W-S let me down 
.
P.S. Does anyone know if Hudelot-Baillet is brought into the US? If so, by whom?
i searched my email account (which would contain every email offer in the last 5 years that didn’t go to spam), and no luck. i’m going to presume it is not.
But why would a domaine come to La Paulee and pour without distribution here?
Presumably they want to start distribution here at some point.
BM;
http://www.sussexwine.com/sku25885.html
others from Hudelot-Baillet;
Dammit. Hudelot Baillet is small and under-the-radar. Please, let’s keep it that way. This is particularly important to me because they are my number two burg holding since 2009, and my allocation of 2012 was already cut a little. (Please note, I am only half-serious, and don’t really want to censor any discussion.)
Interestingly, their 2011 village is one of the wines that prompted my “harshness in 2011 burgs” thread, even though I only mentioned the a Roumier.
Nice Jon!
Hudelot Baillet comes through Skurnik in NY/NJ.
I will start once they have enough wine…come on '14!
I hope you know where you’d have an interested buyer ![[bow.gif]](/uploads/db3686/original/2X/3/34fe6dfbb5b9ca18529c11cea0b49f72cb1f17d5.gif "bow"){kind=small}
- Me!
Back to the focus of this thread 
. I opened a bottle of 2011 Domaine Dujac Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Cru Aux Combottes last night - why not… Popped around 3pm and placed in a decanter and kept in the cellar until dinner time. This wine was dark and earthy for sure - plenty of black cherry and asphalt like components. The palate was surprisingly soft when one tries to square the nose with the mouthfeel - full of savory cherry and still tight tannins. I didn’t get any off putting greenness at all other than maybe a wee bit of floral herbal on the nose which really added complexity. I’ll wait another 5 years to try another.