Domaine CHANDON DE BRIAILLES

Beaune, Burgundy

WINE TASTING Fri. MAY 28, 4:30-6:30pm, Belmont

with Ms. Claude de Nicolay, winemaker

Claude de Nicolay

CHANDON de BRIAILLES, Cotes des Beaune
Four km from Beaune, in the heart of the Cote de Beaune, DOM. CHANDON de BRIAILLES is a 13-ha estate situated in three villages: Savigny les Beaunes, Pernand-

Vergelesses, and Aloxe- Corton. Run by brother and sister Francois and Claude de Nicolay, the estate has been in their family since 1834. Designed to age, these wines made in the purest Burgundian tradition expressing completely the soil and terroir of their origins. To achieve perfect equilibrium of the grapes, Chandon de Briailles maintains the equilibrium of the soil by using only biodynamic farming methods. Claude says: “For me, 2006 is a classic vintage that should offer much to like in the years to come as it’s balanced and thus the wines should age gracefully.” 2007 & 2008 were challenging vintages, but through their vigilance in the vineyards and rigorous sorting down to the berry during harvest, the de Nicolays were very happy with the resulting ripeness and quality of the grapes. Wines are barrel-aged in the 13th c. cellars below the winery for 18-24 mos. Wines are racked twice and bottled by gravity, unfiltered.
white
2007 CHANDON de BRIAILLES “Ile des Vergelesses” Blanc 1er cru $50
Oldest vines in this blend date from 1938. “Here the nose is more elegant with more of a citrus component to the otherwise similar nose that merges into tight medium-bodied flavors that possess good underlying tension and excellent length on the linear, vibrant and lingering finish. Like the Vergelesses, this is quite dry but not aggressively so.  90 pts. “Outstanding Top value”– Burghound

2006 CHANDON de BRIAILLES Corton Grand Cru Blanc Reg. $120 92 pts. Tasting Special $85 net
This is distinctly even more elegant than usual with beautifully fresh and even airy mineral and earth-infused ripe green fruit along with peach and pear notes that introduce big, rich and muscular full-bodied flavors that deliver real size and weight, all wrapped in a delicious, complex, intense, palate staining and notably citrusy finish. 92 pts.”–Burghound

red
2006 CHANDON de BRIAILLES Savigny-lès-Beaune “Les Lavieres” Rouge, 1er cru $40
“Earthy red berry fruit notes precede the very fresh, detailed and more obviously mineral flavors that are delicious yet entirely serious as they’re supported by firm tannins, where the dusty and persistent finish manages to keep them fully integrated. A lovely wine of harmony and this is quite fine. 89 pts.”–Burghound

2006 CHANDON de BRIAILLES “Ile des Vergelesses” Rouge, 1er cru $45
“A more deeply pitched nose of both red and black pinot fruit and a mix of mineral and earth-inflected flavors that pull off being more powerful yet finer still; the firm tannins are completely buried and I very much like the length. This is old school with excellent purity of expression. Outstanding! 90 pts.”–Burghound

2007 CHANDON de BRIAILLES “Ile des Vergelesses” Rouge, 1er cru $45 (June-July arrival)
“A notable step up in elegance is in evidence, particularly on the pure, complex and airy nose that offers up notes of red and blue fruit, wet stone and a touch of forest floor that continues onto the intensely mineral flavors that possess better overall ripeness as well as a tension filled, precise and driving finish. A really lovely effort that is balanced and understated. 91 pts.” -Burghound

2008 CHANDON de BRIAILLES “Ile des Vergelesses” Rouge, 1er cru $50 (November arrival) “A more complex and even more deeply pitched nose of wet stone and red and blue pinot fruit aromas that complement well the equally mineral-suffused medium-bodied flavors that radiate with underlying tension before culminating in a delicate yet quite focused and firm finish. A wine of harmony that should age well over the medium-term. Sweet spot outstanding! 92 pts.”

2007 CHANDON de BRIAILLES “Corton Bressandes” Grand Cru rouge $90 (June-July arrival)
“As is usually the case, this is the most elegant of the three Corton grands crus, displaying a beguiling, fresh, airy and layered nose of stone, red berry fruit and a subtle hint of the sauvage that continues onto the fresh, energetic and equally stone suffused medium full flavors that possess excellent detail and precision on the presently understated and restrained finish. I like the balance and the mid-palate concentration is such that this should amply reward 6 to 8 years of cellar time.” -91pts.  Burghound

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