I should definitely clarify. I am very bullish on d’Angerville in general. They are one of my top producers and my cellar is filled with 05,07,08 and 10 d’Angerville wines. I got to try the 05’s, the 07’s and the 08’s during the early drinking window, and they were spectacular. As I mentioned previous on this thread, the older wines (78 and 64) that I have had were spectacular - among the best wines I have ever had.
My first thought, in comparing the recent vintages I loved to the wines from the 90’s, was that maybe the style changed somewhat, and the wines from the 90’s are not up to par, but then when I throw in the oldest wines, it makes it more likely to me that the wines just need a lot of time and are in a dumb phase now.
I drank that 99 d’angerville several times when it was young and it was terrific every time - a couple from my cellar and 2-3 from others’. Then it shut down hard, which d’angerville wines do. Sarah, just ignore for another 8-10’years.
But Neal if you bought a bunch of young ones try them soon because they might bein a good drinking window now. And might not be for a long time once it closes.
This is very true. And this is why many drinkers mistake a closed burg for a fruitless wine yet when they drink a cab-based wine that similarly shows no fruit they will excuse it as being closed.
I recently participated in 41 vintage vertical of Angerville and was more impressed after than I was going in. Even “off” vintages showed extremely well.
Also interesting how some scold for opening Burgundy young, while it’s open and drinking pretty well. Much better of course to wait 20 years and be nonplussed.
I have yet to taste a good wine from D’Angerville. May be I just don’t get it. I have tasted 1996, 1999, 2001, 2005 and 2006. Every time the comment is made the wine needs time. And more time.
Funny, Sanjay, because that’s my experience with Lafarge…sort of a Gouges of Volnay.
I own some of the d’Angerville '99s…bought in 2001…one of Jacques d’Angerville’s last vintages. (And, in the middle of the night u.s. time…we received a frantic call from him when the transporter was there to pick up our wines…for payment…hard to do much at 4:00 am.)
Anyway, my cache is buried…as is most of my '99 collection…so I’ve only tasted a few '99s in recent years. To me…this is a minimum of 20 years vintage, maybe 25, sadly. And, they need to be aerated accordingly, IMO.
But, it is important, I think to note that 1999 was a vintage marked by really excessive yields…even where they were legally declared. (And, many producers sold the “excess” stock out the back door.) Some winemakers told me this was an achilles heel of the vintage, especially in the Cote de Beaune…in white and red. I have no insight at the moment into the high yields’ effect…but I did find some wines not as great as I expected during visits at Xmas 1999 and spring 2001. It is certainly a good vintage…but…caveat emptor…when emptoring those bottles of 1999.
I think you’ll be happy, particularly with the 10. 11 was a very light-styled vintage, particularly for D’Angerville. Since you have more than you should, might be worth opening an 11 and enjoying now.
Have tasted both Ducs & Champans from '01 & '02 over the past few years and all 4 showed very well. The '02’s were both ready (not mature) and delicious, while the '01’s were (just slightly) more classic & reserved.
Will they all be better in 5-15 years? Very likely, but still surprised by some of the negative responses here.
I’m a big d’Angerville fan, but as Maureen has made clear, my approach to the wines is a little backwards in comparison with how I handle most other burgs. They can be stunning somewhat early (eg 8-10 years) but then can shut down and be surprisingly dull for a long, long time. For me this has been a particular problem with 1999 (esp ducs). One of the most stunning CDB reds I’ve ever had was the 96 ducs at about 8 or 9 years of age. Several bottles since that time haven’t come close, but I remain optimistic.
Just read Meadows write-up–very impressive tasting. there also was an extensive Ducs tasting with notes by Jay McInerney published in Vinous last December, also with the Guillaume present. Very unfortunately for me I’m sort of priced out of Ducs now that it is often over $200 in good vintages. (Taillepieds is a close second for me, and still “affordable”. I would love to see a similar retrospective of this wine.)
Well, maybe, sort of. He made the 2000s, 2001s, and 2002s. he did not die until june or july 2003. I was fortunate to taste with him in June 2003 and he was gone a couple of weeks later.
Per Meadows, 2011 more delicate/floral, very enjoyable even now. gave it a 91 and drinking window is now till whenever.
2010 nicely delineated, great mid-palate strength, a bit austere finish. Strong wine, drinking window 2025+.