Last night my value group met to taste Burgundies. This group tastes wines that cost $20 to $40 and are available on our local shelves. The upper limit was raised to $50, this was Burgundy. Luckily, there is still a good supply of the 05 vintage around which provides plenty of pleasure at the lower price levels.
Our host, Jeff K., started us off with a white:
2005 Bindi Quatz Chardonnay
From Victoria in Australia. Yellow gold in color, clear and bright. The nose has a dollop of sulfur and grapefruits. Pretty nose. On the palate, this has an oily texture. Tart green apples and grapefruit. Long finish. I thought it most likely a white Burg (I never considered Oz). A nice wine but I am not sure of the price. 50+3+13+16+5=87
The Reds:
2005 Jadot Beaune Clos des Couchereaux 1er Cru
$45 Ohio. Ruby in color, clear and bright. The nose is earthy with clay and also some cherries. Pretty. Soft and thinner on the palate though. Light cherries though it did put on some weight with air. Mild tannins. 50+4+12+15+5=86
2005 Jadot Gevrey Chambertin
$45 Ohio. Ruby in color, clear and bright. The nose is quite tight but with air it opens to show cherries, candy cane and slight earthiness. On the palate, sweet cherries. Simple with a nice texture. Mild tannins. 50+4+12+16+6=88
2005 Michel Gay Chorey-les-Beaune
$36 Ohio. Ruby in color, clear and bright. The nose has cherries, cherry Kool-Aid®, and is slightly complex. Slightly sweet cherries on the palate. Nice wine. 50+4+12+16+5=87
2000 Thevenot-Lebon Bourgogne Hauts Cotes du Nuits Crus du Vignon
Thrown in as an extra bottle. Really odd. It smelled like a Sauvignon Blanc. An off bottle to be sure, but I wonder what it was like 7 years ago. NR
2005 Anne Gros Bourgogne
$37 Ohio. Ruby/purple in color, mostly clear and bright. The nose is quite tight. With air, cherries emerge along with some cherry-vanilla shake. Nice texture. On the palate, root beer and cherries. Blind I am guessing Sonoma. Nice finish. Expensive for a Bourgogne perhaps but reasonable vis-à-vis the quality IMO if a bit atypical. 50+4+12+16+7=89
2005 Vincent Girardin Santenay 1er Cru La Maladiere
$52 Ohio. Purple in color, ruby at the core, mostly clear and bright. The nose is earthy with cherries and slight VA note. Nice texture. A good amount of oak showing. Complex, tight layering of cherries and earth. Mild tannins. Needs a few years but a nice wine. 50+4+12+17+7=90
2005 Albert Bichot Pommard Clos des Ursulines Domaine du Paillon
$52 Ohio. Ruby/purple in color, mostly clear and bright. The nose is tight but eventually opens up to show cherries, earth and some tarragon. Great texture. On the palate, a complex wine with cherries, earth and anise. Nice finish. Mine and the groups overwhelming, WOTN. 50+4+12+17+7=90