2006 Anne Gros Chambolle-Musigny La Combe d’Orveau: Drinking quite nicely and really developed into a terrific example of village Chambolle over the course of about 5 hours (opened 3.5 hours in advance). As noted here this is not a big wine but it has very nice crunchy red fruit, decent mid-palate sweetness and extraction and a nice balance of acidity and tannin on the finish. I wouldn’t imagine this developing into anything more substantive than what it is now but I think this will be a nice Chambolle for the next 7-10 years.
Just last week I bought a couple of cases of 2006 Red Burgundies on a very nice close-out sort of price. I think I have more faith in and love for the vintage than a lot of other Burgheads as disturbed as myself. I like the relatively early-drinking nature of the vintage and the immediate sort of appeal that the wines have (as noted by myself and others the 2006 Mugnier Clos de la Marechale is drinking quite nicely). My credit card could get very hot very quickly if a sell-off of this vintage starts to take place as the the 2009s move to market while 2007s and 2008s are also fighting for shelf space. Perhaps the robust buying on the 2005s tempered the buying fever for this vintage. I am all for it. While I don’t think it is a great vintage I think it has terrific merit and anyone who is drinking and loving the 2000s now (not comparing the two for anything other than being appealing yough and relatively discredited following a great vintage) knows the joy of not having to wait forever to drink and enjoy the top wines from the vintage. Honestly, I have been trying to hunker down on the buying and clearly I am doing a lousy job of it but damn I got some good wine for some nice prices!
Jim, thanks for the note. I like the better 2006’s a lot, but I think the above quote is an astute observation. I went long on 2005, and my plan was to buy ZERO from 2006, just to restore some fiscal restraint. That didn’t work out too good once I started tasting the '06s, and I ended up with a modest stash, and glad I have them. But still way down from what I bought in '05, '02, '01, etc. etc. There are going to be some good deals on 2008 as well, but I’m on the sideline.
Sidelines for 08? I’ve been hearing about rot and triage issues but haven’t tasted many subpar 08s, although I’m apparently more rot/green resistant than average. Does seem like the 09 offers are starting fast furious.
Jim, have you tried the Clavelier version of d’Orveau as a comparison? Nice that the young '06 AG is so giving now.
Thanks for the note Jim. I also like '06 - d’Angerville Champans, Bachelet GC VV, Bouchard CV, Jadot Chenes, and F.Magnien Suchots have all been good - just from a list of ones I’ve tasted since buying… Will love to pick off the good ones to have in the cellar - CHEERS.
I’ve never even seen the Clavalier d’Orveau let alone tasted it.
I have definitely started to see the offerings on '09 come rolling through. I’ve tasted some Raphet stuff some of which I liked, some of which I thought was insanely expensive for what it was. I sort of expect that to be par for the course for the vintage. I’m willing to be patient. I think there are lots of '06s and 07s that are beginning to overstay their welcomes in warehouses around the country. I like both vintages enough to be a buyer when the deals start to flow (and I think they will).
Richard, I’m on the sidelines for '08 for strategic reasons not related to '08 quality. I have enough wine, and the overwhelming majority of it is red Burguindy, and so I’m not buying more.
BTW, I love, love, love Bruno Clavelier’s Combe d’Orveaux. But it is from the 1er cru section of the vineyard, while Anne Gros’ is village level. IMO, there is a very big difference in Combe d’Orveaux between the 1er and the villages.