2020 Alvina Pernot Saint-Romain Blanc - France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Saint-Romain (8/19/2024)
– first glass poured 45 min. before initial taste –
– tasted non-blind over 3 hrs. –
NOSE: expressive; initially high-toned with lots of mineral, before settling-in to something more tropical: pineapple, honey mango, and mineral; hint of caramel about one hour into tasting (nearly two hours after uncorking).
BODY: rich golden yellow color; wax top; soft, natural cork; medium-light to medium bodied.
TASTE: medium-light to medium intensity of flavor; medium to medium+ mineral note; a bit loose; seemed to boomerang back into focus about one hour into tasting; doesn’t have the stuffing of the big boys; obviously Chardonnay – it mostly exists in the lean-with-ample-mineral style, but it does have just a little bit of a buttery edge to it, too; 13.5% alc. hidden. Ash likes it a lot, and give s a gut impression score of “low 90s.” Purchased for $50, and I think I buy again at that price and sit on it for a couple of years, as it did seem to improve over the 3 hrs. it was tasted.
How does this compare with other Saint-Romain blancs you’ve had? I know almost nothing about Saint-Romain, and not a ton about Burgundy in general, but I had a '21 Hubert Lignier Saint-Romain Blanc earlier this year and really loved it.
Don’t think I’ve ever had one. This bottle represents my occasional foray into the Burgundy cheap seats; and, more often than not, when I do, I am reminded there is better value elsewhere, sometimes significantly so. This wine is right on my borderline of “worth it.” Playing into this dynamic is the fact that Chardonnay without bubbles is hardly my favorite white wine. For my preferences, wines from @Marcus_Goodfellow and @Eric_Lundblad are significantly better, but they each have their own personality, and variety is important to me, so yeah …
Had intended to put a lil bit of age on this bottle, but it got pulled per a friend’s request, so here we go …
2020 Alvina Pernot Saint-Romain Blanc - France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Saint-Romain (11/24/2024)
– popped and poured –
– tasted non-blind on Day 1; revisited on Day 3 –
NOSE: DAY 1: sulfur; high-toned tanginess. DAY 3: light; no oxidation; sulfur gone; better today than on Day 1.
BODY: medium-light bodied; light yellow color.
TASTE: very light on the fruit; medium-light mineral aspect; overall, “light” — I’d prefer more substance.
Alain Gras has been making very proper and strong chardonnay for quite a long time in Saint Romain.
If you do a diligent search, 375’s and 750’s are each available at extremely reasonable prices. The wines age effortlessly and improve for several years.
Warmer vintages has really improved the quality of this communes whites and reds.
Like Saint Aubin which was very under the radar for so many years, this commune is a comer and the likes of Pernot, Lignier etc. are well aware of the potential for great wines and value from here.
Perhaps my acquaintance William Kelly might find that further comment is warranted regarding St. Romain. More I think for the Chardonnay than the Pinot Noir?….
And it wouldn’t surprise me if he has uncovered a source or two of great grapes from that commune both white and red.
