Just had a 2010 GRANDS ECHEZEAUX by Nicole Lamarche yesterday evening. All silkie smooth and just about ready. In a near future I will be drinking the GRANDS ECH by upcoming star ALIX MILLOT. What I already do know : both domaines offer quality at decent prices. Lamarche still remains underrated even by renowned critics such as WILLIAM KELLY who claims (if i am not mistaken) that Nicole’s wines dry out too easily. This one did not have that problem William… Now most of her GE went to Liger Belair we know prices for that wine will be al little bit higher (UNDERSTATEMENT that was…).
5 Likes
The question is : how high do you lot rate this 2010 vintage in BURGUNDY at this VERY MOMENT. In my book it is great. What about you?
1 Like
In red, this is my favorite vintage since I have been collecting Burgundy. The best of everything with this vintage in red.
2 Likes
No, I never said they “dry out too easily”. I just find them a bit ephemeral and ultimately pale shadows of what those appellations can be in the best hands.
Dear William,
Thank you for putting things straight here. One tiny question : “Pale shadows of what those wines can be in the best hands”??? I wonder what domaines we are talking about ??? I tried to be very objectieve and thought LAMARCHE’S 2010 version was superb. Gave me much more pleasure than the 2002 DRC version did last year.
1 Like
I find 2010 to be among the best vintages of Burgundy I have ever seen. I have really loved the vintage ever since I tasted a number of them when in Burgundy in 2011.
It is often the case that one can find wines from a producer in a great vintage that is much better than the wines the producer makes in other vintages. I have not had a wine from Lamarche in many years so I am just asking. Do you find the wines from this producer to be superior in most vintages or just in 2010, a great vintage. And, while I love 2010, I have found most 2010s from better vineyard sites to be still a ways from maturity and “not just about ready.”
1 Like
Compared to the likes of Leroy, DRC, Mugneret-Gibourg, Pascal Mugneret, Lachaux, Cathiard etc.
I would love to see some of these middle-range Côte de Nuits producers, who are blessed with some of the region’s best terroirs and at least in some cases quite superior vine genetics, be given a few hectares of Pinot Droit in Mercurey to work with. I think the results would be telling.
I am glad that you enjoyed the bottle and that you find it to represent a good QPR, but forgive me for not feeling obligated to find the wines exceptional 
6 Likes
Dear Howard,
Thank you for your answxer. Whether the 2010s are ready or not could be depending on your palate, doensn’t it? I myself do not like too old Burgundies and prefer, much like say Alain Meunier of JJ Confuron, the wines on the younger side.
To William, of course i respect your opinion and always read your articles with much enthousiasm. But I want to remark that many also respected wine journalists do not necesarily agree with you on LAMARCHE. PS: Lachaux does not offer Grands Echezeaux!
1 Like
I absolutely love 2010 red burgundy, and it’s my favorite vintage. @Jasper_Morris has questioned 2010’s longevity, and I bow to his experience and wisdom. But I’m not worried about how they’ll drink when I’m 80. I think this bug is a feature, because I can start drinking my best wines soon while the ‘99’s, ‘05’s and best '09’s sleep. 2010 FTW!
3 Likes
Lamarche making good wine in 2010 is, to me, an indication of the quality of the vintage rather than the winemaking. That it’s good wine in arguably the best vintage this century isn’t very telling. If the 2010 Lamarche Echezeaux wasn’t good, it would be a real issue!
It’s like making judgements on Chablis producers based on their 2014s.
3 Likes
Nor do several of the other produces I listed. But they all make at least one or two AOCs also produced by Lamarche so are useful points of comparison.
1 Like
I have not opened anything from Cote de Nuits, but the Volnays and Pommards are drinking well, but likely to get a lot better.
Undoubtedly a great vintage. Can’t comment on Lamarche, as the last one I had, a 2002 Grand Rue, tasted blind, was not good.
2 Likes
I appreciate the 2002 wasn’t made by Nicole, but 2002 is also a great vintage. The last Lamarche I had blind was a 2013 Suchots; half the bottle was left at the end of the meal.
1 Like
2010 is drinking well now, but that’s because it has aged fast, possibly too fast for a top-rank vintage. Equivalent 2009s taste younger and will likely prove themselves better in the long run, if they haven’t already.
4 Likes
Agree with you overall, but there are also issues with a few 2009s from a number of top red producers that are suddenly showing a lot more age/oxidative qualities than they did just 3-4 years ago.
4 Likes
ouch - would you be willing to share a few examples?
As a German wine lover, I think I will always like the 2010s better. They have better acidity and thus more freshness and have plenty of fruit and complexity. Every time I have a 2010 against a 2009, I prefer the 2010. My 2 favorite vintages of red Burgs of the last 40 years have been 1999 and 2010.
La Tâche… Back in 2019 it was marvelous, but earlier this year, from an impeccable cellar, very evolved. You can find a Neal Martin note, beating around the bush but getting at the same thing, on the same bottle on the Vinous site.
1 Like
fantastic! daughter’s byear and i have a few. this is very on brand for 2023 news 
thanks mate. appreciate it.
3 Likes
Do have some Mugnier Marechale 2010, anyone tried one recently?