A small group of us got together for a last minute mid-week lunch to taste through these amazing wines.
Leclerc-Briant Abyss – I’m definitely guilty of writing these wines off as a gimmick, but this was delicious. Savory profile of umami and ginger framed by salty acids with impressive punchy drive. Would be a lovely oyster paring. Great way to kick off lunch.
2007 Raveneau Butteaux – Classic left bank 1er cru with sea spray and tidal pool that drifts towards Greek yogurt and parmesan cheese rind as the wine opens. Big waxy texture, limestone, and an impressive structure of chalk and salty acids. Great example of Rav 1er cru that was sadly dwarfed by the flamboyant d’Auvenay.
2013 d’Auvenay, Meursault Narvaux - generously shared by the host. This wine is bonkers. Like smelling a jet engine. Put your nose in the glass and it blows your hair back and knocks your sunglasses off with intense toasted sesame reduction, salty minerals, petrol and roasted nuts. The palate was so intense it was almost painful. Liquid rocks with spicy ginger that sublimates on a long driving finish. Everything is beautifully framed by a structure carved out of chalky dry extract. Like Russell Crowe this humble village wine just screams “are you not entertained!” Wine of the flight.
1993 Rousseau Ruchottes - Perfectly resolved tannins that frame bright airy red fruit like detailed lattice work. A wine at its apex. The more I try Ruchottes, the more I wonder if it’s my favorite vineyard for red Burgundy. It just makes such pretty wines. My red of the flight.
2002 Rousseau Beze - My first experience with CdB. Limestone, cinnamon, and freshly tilled earth on the nose. Palate was dominated by oak at first, but after about 30 minutes in the glass there was an epic follow-through. Fruit is lush, powerful, detailed and perfectly on the cusp of red and black with a long driving mineral laden finish. This wine is very much still on its way up. Wine was opened 2 hours prior to lunch and the last sip was the best after 3 hours in the glass.
2005 Jacky Truchot Charmes-Chambertin – lovely red fruit driven profile, but this wine had sadly been shipped 3 days prior. The color was cloudy and muddled with micro-sediment. Difficult to understand – chalking this one up to bottle shock.
2014 Fourrier Griotte – subtle reduction on the nose woven through the classic basket of flowers and blueberries that Fourrier wines often deliver. Well managed limestone forward structure (very Chambollesque). Sensual attack of red and black berries that caress the palate followed by a punchy mineral drive that fans out into a long simmering finish. A gorgeous young wine.
