On the Wine Route: VINISUD & Burgundy

VINTAGES’ intrepid wine director ERIC BROEGE is spending 8 days in France, tasting 300 wines today and tomorrow at VINISUD in Montpellier and braving the chilly cellars of Burgundy later this week.  VINISUD is the annual wine fair for 1,500 Mediterranean wine producers from southern France, Spain, Portugal and more. From value picks to grand crus, Eric tastes and evaulates them all, selecting only the very best for a coveted place in our cellar and yours! So far, some great finds in Gigondas & Vacqueyras, not yet in the U.S.

NEW ARRIVALS from BURGUNDY:  DOM. ROBERT CHEVILLON, Nuits-St.-Georges

2007 DOM. ROBERT CHEVILLON Bourgogne Passetoutgrains Special $19.99
A perennial favorite when we have it, Dom. Robert Chevillon’s Passetoutgrains, a traditional blend of gamay and pinot noir, is a distinctive pleasure on the lighter side. Chevillon produces outstanding Nuits-St.-Georges, and in their Passetoutgrains, hints of black cherry, licorice and spice are brightened by the fresh fruit of gamay. 

2007 DOM. ROBERT CHEVILLON Bourgogne Rouge $30 “A pretty, even elegant, red pinot fruit nose trimmed in a bit of warm earth leads to supple, round and attractively complex middle weight flavors that are really quite forward yet impeccably well balanced. Top value!” - Burghound

2007 DOM. ROBERT CHEVILLON Nuits-St.-Georges “Les Saint Georges” 94 pts. $110 Quantity discounts apply!
“A completely different nose that is more red fruit driven and less overtly spicy yet every bit as complex as the aromas merge seamlessly into the rich, full and classy flavors that are marvelously pure, elegant and taut before culminating in a delicious, serious, dense and powerful finish that really stains the palate with extract. A stunningly good Les St. Georges and absolutely recommended. 94 pts.” - Burghound

“Sweeter and fatter than the Cailles today, with superb intensity and the refined texture of a grand cru. The vibrant, rising whiplash of a finish features a bitter cherry flavor sharpened by building minerality. Really an essence of this seductive vintage. 94 pts.“-IWA

NEW ARRIVALS: BURGUNDY
RED BURGUNDY from ROSENTHAL
Rosenthal Imports has championed traditional, family-run domains in Burgundy and beyond for more than 30 years. These are wines and producers to follow vintage after vintage.

2006 DOM. ROLLIN “Haut Cote de Beaune” Rouge $25 Vibrant, fresh, elegant with beautiful garnet color. Tremendous value in delicious-drinking burgundy. “Each vintage has a character and that character is not only worth expressing, it’s essential.” –Remi Rollin

2001 DOM. BITOUZET-PRIEUR Beaune 1er cru Rouge “Les Cent Vignes” $40
Classic Burgundian vinification is practiced at this traditional domaine with a unique style of wine. Vincent Bitouzet’s ancestral roots in Burgundy cover at least the last two centuries. They were one of the first of the family domaines in this region to bottle their wines.

2006 DOM. FOURRIER Chambolle-Musigny Villages Vielles Vignes $72 “Raspberry, flowers and crushed stone on the perfumed nose. The palate shows an almost liqueur-like raspberry character while retaining sap and freshness. Finishes with dusty tannins and good length.” — IWA
“The Fourrier ’06s are very impressive and worth a close look … they are ultra pure wines fashioned in an elegant and understated style.”– Burghound

WINE DOG DEAL: Red Burgundy from Chandon de Briailles $28!
2004 CHANDON de BRIAILLES Savigny les Beaunes Reg. $38; Now $28!
Ferdy the Wine Dog is drawn to the finer things in life as he gets on in years and sophistication. This week he has selected a beautiful burgundy from CHANDON de BRIAILLES.

Quantity discounts apply — stock up and save!

NEW ARRIVALS from BURGUNDY
From zen-like purity to explosive power

DOM. GHISLAINE BARTHOD, Chambolle-Musigny
Since 1986, Ghislaine Barthod has brought new vigor to every area of the domaine from vineyard management to vinification, but always with the profound regard for the purity of pinot noir and the character of the wines of Chambolle. Under her leadership, the reputation of this estate has grown internationally. The Domaine Ghislaine Barthod is now a standard bearer for the great wines of Chambolle Musigny.

2006 GHISLAINE BARTHOD  Chambolle-Musigny “Les Cras” 1er  $135 ($114.75 case purchase) “The most elegant wine in the range with its superbly expressive and perfumed nose of airy red berry fruit that serves as the perfect introduction to the strikingly detailed, understated and pure flavors that seem chiseled directly from liquid limestone on the linear finish. This is like rolling rocks around in your mouth with Zen-like harmony as a kicker. An exceptionally impressive wine for the vintage. 94 pts.“-Burghound

“Ghislaine makes wines that are so shimmeringly pure that in many ways they epitomize what Chambolle-Musigny and hence, Burgundy, is all about.  Chambolle-Musigny is known for the delicacy and elegance of its wines, and Ghislaine’s wines really capture that.”
-Eric Asimov, NYTimes

“Ghislaine Barthod continues to render some of the purest, most expressively fruity and consistently excellent as well as age-worthy Pinots in Burgundy.” -Wine Advocate

DOM. ROBERT CHEVILLON, Nuits St. George
“I like the (2006) wines as they’re fresh, balanced and energetic and remind me somewhat of the 2000s in the sense that they will offer early drinkability though they’re definitely more classic in style.” — Bertrand Chevillon

2006 DOM. ROBERT CHEVILLON Nuits-St.-Georges “Les Cailles” $105 ($89.25 case purchase) Good deep red. Brooding aromas of black cherry, black raspberry, licorice and smoky minerals are reticent but pure, with a chalky nuance emerging with air and carrying through onto the palate. Impressively rich and dense, offering superb depth of fruit with considerable power. The big, spreading tannins saturate the palate. 92+ pts.”–IWC

2006 DOM. ROBERT CHEVILLON Nuits-St.-Georges “Les St. Georges” $105 ($89.25 case purchase)
 “Good ruby-red. High-pitched, pristine nose offers raspberry coulis, minerals and fresh flowers. Wonderfully fine-grained and sweet but with a medicinal reserve today. This very rich, superripe wine offers insinuating intensity. Its superb underlying fat is hidden by tangy acidity and firm structure. Finishes very sweet, stylish and long. An outstanding showing, and a classic example of this vintage at its best. 94 pts.”–IWC

2006 DOM. ROBERT CHEVILLON Nuits-St.-Georges “Les Vaucrains” $105 ($89.25 case purchase)
 “Aromas of dark berry liqueur and bitter chocolate are sappy and liqueur-like but with outstanding energy. Quite full and powerful for a wine from this cellar, with outstanding sweetness and breadth to its flavors of blackberry, chocolate and roast coffee. Downright explosive on the finish, the noble tannins totally buffered by a wave of fruit. 95 pts.” –IWC

ROSENTHAL WINE TASTING, Part II (Concord)
Fri. Dec. 12 4:30-7:30pm with Eric Broege
SAT. DEC. 13, 2-5pm with MICHAEL KANE of Rosenthal
Please join us for another taste of the distinctive, terroir-driven wines of Rosenthal Wine Merchant. For thirty years, Neal Rosenthal has carefully selected artisanal wines that profoundly express their origins and traditions. The informative and inspiring MICHAEL KANE of Rosenthal will be at VINTAGES’ in West Concord on Saturday, Dec. 13, 2-5pm to present the wines.

PAOLO BEA, Montefalco, Umbria
“Paolo Bea’s wines represent the finest of the artisan approach to winemaking. Bea farms his vineyards naturally. The wines are made in a traditional style that calls for extended periods of skin contact and several years of aging. At their best these are finessed, expressive wines of the highest level in a style that recalls the Brunellos of Soldera or the Barolos of Giuseppe Rinaldi, to name just two producers with a similar aesthetic.” – Wine Advocate

BURGUNDY FESTIVAL!

WINE TASTING: BURGUNDY WINE FEST, FRI. & SAT. NOV. 14 & 15

TWO DAYS, TWO STORES, TWO LINE-UPS, Too Fabulous

FRI & SAT NOV. 14-15 VINTAGES BELMONT & CONCORD

The eternal allure of Burgundy; the original–and still the ultimate– expression of both chardonnay and pinot noir! Our selection represents not only renowned appellations, but the meticulous work done by these conscientious producers who reliably create the best wines of each vintage. Recent vintages — 2004, 2005 & the balanced 2006 — have created some very compelling wines. What’s so great about Burgundy? Tasting is believing! Please join us! The wines for Belmont are below; West Concord follows.
BURGUNDY FEST in BELMONT
Fri. Nov. 14, 4:30-7:30 & Sat. Nov. 15 1-6pm (or until wine runs out)
15% discount on any 12 bottles from the tasting!

white
2006 DOM. J.A. FERRET Pouilly-Fuisse “Les Sceles” $27 ($22.95) The last vintage of this highly-regarded estate; balanced, expressive, and delicious! Aromas of blossoms and ripe orchard fruit with hints of wood lead to rich, full and round flavors with a generous and sappy finish. Ready for celebrating!

2006 JEAN-MARC PILLOT Saint-Romain Blanc $38 ($32.30) “Fresher and cooler with bright green fruit notes that can also be found on the racy, sweet and detailed flavors underpinned by a trace of minerality and an agreeably dry finish.” –Burghound

2006 GUFFENS-HEYNEN Macon-Pierreclos “En Crazy” $35 ($29.75) “Wild, intensely floral bouquet of lime, tangerine, licorice and magnolia. Tangy citrus flavors gain depth and power with air, picking up bitter pear skin and green cardamom on the close. Offers wonderful clarity and finishing lift.” -IWC

red
2005 JEAN-MARC PILLOT Chassagne-Montrachet Rouge 1er “Les Macherelles” $49 ($41.65) “A more elegant and refined nose blends notes of black and blue pinot fruit, pepper and violet aromas that introduce detailed and attractively precise flavors that exude a fine if discreet sense of underlying minerality on the suave, complex and satisfying finish.” –Burghound

2005 CHANDON de BRIAILLES Pernand Vergellesses Rouge $45 ($38.25) “A brooding nose of dark berry fruits. Medium-bodied; flavors are sweet, elegant, pure, transparent and delicious while possessing terrific definition and brimming with an intense minerality on the beautifully long finish.”

2004 FRANCOIS GAUNOUX Pommard “Tavannes” $52 ($44.20) Run by father and daughter team Francois and Claudine Gaunoux, they combine modern techniques with traditional methods to produce top quality wine, starting, of course, with exceptional vineyard work.

BURGUNDY FEST IN WEST CONCORD

Fri. Nov. 14, 4:30-7:30 & Sat. Nov. 15 1-6pm (or until wine runs out)
(Bottle price followed by price for case purchase)

whites
2006 d’ANGERVILLE Meursault “Santenots” $75 ($63.75) “A very subtle hint of pain grillé frames an expressive nose of floral aromas, in particular acacia and here too there are discreet notes of straw that are picked up by the rich, full and precise flavor that possess fine balance on the sappy and mouth coating finish. I particularly like the underlying tension that imparts a sense of vibrancy. Lovely! Outstanding!” –Burghound

2006 GUFFENS-HEYNEN Pouilly-Fuisse “Sauve des Eaux” $65 ($55.25) “Smoky lees, pear and anise on the nose, with an undertone of wet stone. Sharply focused quince and lime flavors are given depth and roundness by sweet butter and finish with firm citric bite. The anise quality reappears and lingers seductively.” IWC

2006 VERGET Chablis “Les Clos” Grand Cru $95 ($80.75)
One of the most famous grand cru appellations. “A fascinating nose of stone dust and white flower aromas combine with superbly well detailed and intensely mineral suffused flavors that are dry, penetrating and wonderfully long on the explosive and palate staining finish. The clear class of this group.” –Burghound

reds
2004 HARMAND GEOFFREY Gevrey-Chambertin V.V. $52 ($44.20) The Harmand-Geoffroy estate, in the family since the late 1800’s, now totals 9 hectares of vineyards in 10 separate appellations. The vineyard for the “V.V.” rouge is 50-60 years old. Gérard Harmand, and his son Philippe, run the domaine As Gérard explained, this father-son team are focused on making wines with more elegance and finesse, using the most natural practices to express their particular terroir.

2005 BOCQUENET Nuits-St-George “Aux St. Julien” $60 ($51) “A beautifully perfumed nose that is classic Nuits with earth and red berry fruit aromas that merge into precise, pure and admirably intense medium full flavors …this is more refined than usual while keeping all of its typical power and punch.” - Burghound

2006 BOCQUENET Echezeaux Grand Cru $138 ($117.30) Dan Bocquenet is a rising young talent in Burgundy. “This is also beautifully perfumed and much more complex with spicy and beautifully layered black fruit aromas. This sense of nuance and depth continues onto the rich, sweet and firm medium plus weight flavors underpinned by a solid core of ripe tannins and excellent length.” –Burghound

DOM. DANIEL BOCQUENET
Brilliant Perfectionist in Burgundy

“The enormously talented Daniel Bocquenet told me that 2006 “was marked by the lousy August yet also by a surprisingly warm September. But if you kept only the best grapes, the quality was excellent, indeed I would go so far as to say that it’s not far off of what 2005 achieved.” I have said it many times but it’s worth repeating: few domaines offer the price/quality ratio that Bocquenet’s wines do … nothing short of brilliant.”–Burghound

2006 BOCQUENET Echezeaux $138 ($117.30)
“This is also beautifully perfumed and not surprisingly much more complex with spicy and beautifully layered black fruit aromas where this sense of nuance and depth continues onto the rich, sweet and firm medium plus weight flavors underpinned by a solid core of ripe tannins and excellent length. This could easily surprise to the upside as the structural elements are still very primary and youthfully austere. 92 pts.” –Burghound

2006 BOCQUENET Nuits-St-George Aux St Julien $65 ($55.25 cs price) “A beautifully perfumed nose that is classic Nuits with earth and slightly animale red berry fruit aromas that merge into precise, pure and admirably intense medium full flavors… while keeping all of its typical power and punch. 89 pts.“–Burghound

2006 BOCQUENET Vosne-Romanee $65 ($55.25 cs price) “A ripe, spicy and nicely complex nose introduces moderately firm and unusually robust as well as distinctly primary flavors… 89 pts.“–Burghound

DOMAINE ROBERT CHEVILLON
Bertrand Chevillon: “I like the (2006) wines as they’re fresh, balanced and energetic and remind me somewhat of the 2000s in the sense that they will offer early drinkability though they’re definitely more classic in style.” –Burghound (Photo: Denis & Bertrand Chevillon)

2006 CHEVILLON Bourgogne Rouge $32 ($27.20 cs price)

2006 CHEVILLON Nuits St. George Vieilles Vignes $65 ($55.25 cs price) “An exceptionally pretty nose for a wine at this level with an earthy mix of red and black pinot fruit where the earth continues onto the round, delicious and relatively firm middle weight flavors underpinned by ripe tannins and fine length. This is a solid villages. 89 pts.”–Burghound

2006 CHEVILLON Nuits St George “Les Roncieres” $85 ($72.25 case price) “A discreet background of wood spice highlights more deeply pitched aromas of red and blue berry fruits plus violet and game hints that slide into concentrated and admirably rich medium-bodied flavors that evidence obvious minerality on the wonderfully long and impressively deep finish. Highly Recommended. 92 pts.”–Burghound

2006 CHEVILLON Nuits St. George “Les Vaucrains” $105 ($89.25 cs price) “A brooding and much more reserved nose is densely fruited with notes of plum, blueberry, earth and a subtle sauvage hint that mouth coating and impressively concentrated flavors that positively explode on the gorgeously long finish. As it always is, this is a big and powerful wine yet with a bit more elegance than usual. Terrific and potentially the class of the range in 2006. 94 pts.” –Burghound

2006 CHEVILLON Nuits St George “Les St. Georges” $105 ($89.25 cs price) “Here the equally elegant fruit profile runs more to the red side of the spectrum though it is perhaps not quite as complex yet the rich, round and stylish flavors are actually more complex with a delicious, powerful and seriously long finish that packs a real punch. A wine that should mature well over the medium term. 93 pts.” –Burghound

2006 CHEVILLON Nuits St George “Les Cailles” $105 ($89.25 cs price) “As one would expect, this is much finer and more elegant with notably ripe dark berry and plum fruit that evidences a distinct trace of an earthy spiciness that is also picked up on the round, pure and detailed flavors that are nothing but velvet on the delicious, long and balanced finish. As it always is, this is brimming with buckets of old vine sap. A wine of finesse. 93 pts.” –Burghound

VINTAGES announces our offering of 2006 BURGUNDY from such producers as RAMONET, GROFFIER, d’ANGERVILLE, CHEVILLON, BOCQUENET, MUGNERET, CHANDON DE BRIAILLES, DE VOGUE, PAUL PILLOT, JEAN-MARC PILLOT and more!

See the current listings and look for more under the BEST IN SHOW tab on the left. Call 978-369-2545 to reserve!