Ah! you might ask, why do I have a few Burgundies. Because I am constantly asked for mature Burgundy. I have very good contacts in Burgundy to find good wines with some bottle age.
The sometimes mooted rivalry between Bordeaux and Burgundy is more in the minds and voices of importers and distributors around the world that anything I have experienced in either Burgundy or Bordeaux. From my experience they very much respect each other’s wines and I have been told by many in both regions that there is no rivalry, it is nonsense. A number of ill informed Burgundy importers feel a need to deride Bordeaux but this demonstrates a rather narrow view of the fascinating world of fine wine, as well as somewhat of a tall poppy attitude.
Personally I love the wines of both regions and have no need or interest in selecting one over the other.
This list of Burgundies have been selected from blind tastings. I was not overly familiar with some domaines before I tasted the wine, but I was very interested after tasting the wine. Like my Bordeaux selections they are chosen because they are excellent, in some cases brilliant wines and represent good value. Appellation, tipicity, style etc of course all come into the selection process.
This smart wine has good colour with a nice rich, plummy, earthen, charcuterie nose. On the palate the same rich, plummy, earthen characters with good fruit weight. It is typical Burgundy of some quality.
A very bright wine of deep limpid colour. Aromas of crushed raspberry and blackberry with a delicacy of Chambolle Musigny, its nearest neighbour. A very open and generous palate with a touch of acidity, good balance and a very good finish.
"This is a classical wine, fine and fruit driven with beautiful pinot noir characteristics. We appreciate its purity on the finish." Vins et Art de Vivre Bourgogne
The 2008 Serveau Chambolle Musigny has a bright, rubis, limpid colour. The nose is more powerful than the 2007 with nice red and black fruits and more precise. The palate is rich and powerful and very well balanced with a good long finish. Very good now but will cellar well.
Champonnets is one of a group of Premier crus that lie between the Grand Crus Ruchottes-Chambertin and the famous vineyard of Clos St Jacques. Champonnets are wines of medium weight with rounded, supple red and black fruit supported by significant but ripe tannins.
The wine has a pale colour but very clear and bright. A little subdued on the nose showing exotic spicy characters of raspberries and cherries. The palate is rich with some beetroot, meat and exotic spices. It has good weight and persistence in a more elegant style. Tasted some hours later it was a rather convincing Burgundy.
La Romanee lies upslope from the village of Gevrey on a south-east facing slope. At this mid slope position the soil is only 50cms deep sitting on stone of silica which warms the ground in summer. The wine is seductive, rather richly-textured wines, complemented by fine mineral notes and well-integrated tannins. Elegant and supple.
