Burgundy (2)

                                         Three grand cru from Chambertin


The second tasting was at Domaine Trapet in Chambertin, in the north. We started with the  white 2011 Marsannay, grown just south of Dijon. This wine has a light colour, and the citrus taste dominates. The wine is well integrated and quite elegant (92 points). The first red was the 2011 Gevrey-Chambertin, 1er cru, Clos Priéur. This is not a very intense wine, tasting of red cherries, an elegant wine, with soft tannins and a medium finish (92 points).

Then we had three grand cru. A quick general note about that. The grand cru are found on the gently sloping hills, usually in the middle, where the drainage is good. Higher up is windier and cooler, lower down is richer soil and more vigour. The village of Chambertin had a higher reputation than Vosne-Romanée decades ago, but Domaine Romanée de la Conti changed all that. Anyway, I was looking forward to the grand cru from Chambertin, and I would not be disappointed. The 2011 Chapelle-Chambertin tasted of red cherry fruit. This was not a big wine, but very elegant, with silky tannins and a long finish (94 points). The 1996 Chapelle-Chambertin was similar, but more intense, and, given its age, was more complex, with forest floor flavours coming to the fore (95 points). Then finally the 1996 Chambertin, their best wine, from plots with complex clay soil structures. This is a bigger wine, with complex black cherry and mushroom flavours. While big, this is an elegant wine with a Burgundian fan on the finish (96 points).

The final tasting was at Domaine Pierre André. He is located near Beaune, at Aloxe Corton. He makes a huge number of white and red wines. The 2010 Chassagne-Montrachet, La Maltroie 1er cru shows citrus and pineapple flavours. The wine has a creamy taste and is quite gentle, with soft acidity - an appealing wine (94 points). The white grand cru are called Corton-Charlemagne. The 2011 has a darker colour than the Chassagne-Montrachet. The nose is big, with melon and apricot notes. This continues on the palate. Some soft oaky flavours are noticeable as well. The wine has a good mouthfeel and is not heavy, despite the bigger flavours. It finishes long (95 points). The red grand cru are called Corton. The 2010 Corton, Les Renardes grand cru tastes of dark cherry. It has quite high extraction and tastes a little angular. I did not find the wine totally balanced (92 points). The 2006 Corton, Chateau Corton, the red flagship wine, is showing garnet colour. It is a little bitter and angular as well. It is still quite fresh, but the finish does not impress (91 points). I certainly prefer the whites from this Domaine.

A quick report from another wine I quite enjoyed during my time in Burgundy. This was a 2009 Nuits-Saint-Georges, 1er cru, La Richemone, by Domaine Alain Michelot. This is an attractive feminine wine of red and black cherry flavours. This is not a big wine, but quite persistent on the palate. Elegant, with silky tannins. The mouthfeel is not perfect, but this is a good buy (93 points).