September 11, 2014
Burgundy 2010
– Allen Meadows, Burghound“A return to the high acid norm after 2009, and some very good quality”
-Jancis Robinson
“I am thrilled with the 2010 vintage. The wines are racy, show fabulous minerality and are true to site. In other words, the vintage embodies all of the qualities that make red Burgundy one of the world’s most compelling wines.” – Antonio Galloni
Burgundy is no stranger to challenging growing seasons, its complex weather patterns, with a multitude of wind, rain, sometimes hail, other times frost and, of course, its celebrated sun, always provides new challenges and pleasures for winemakers. And 2010 is no exception, shaping up to be one of those remarkable vintages in which weather patterns conspire to produce wines of outstanding quality in some of Europe’s most famous wine regions.
Ironically, the same thing that was expected to be a downside for the year, low yields, has in fact been the vintage’s saving grace, maintaining quality in the grapes that survived. The small berries gave a high ratio of skin to juice, plenty of tannins, body and color and a cool, drier September provided a long hang time on the vines for the skins to ripen while keeping the acidity vibrantly fresh – a pristine Burgundy.
The character is more classic than in 2009 and the red wines are built around a balance of fruit, tannins and acidity. Ranging from lighter to medium-full bodied depending on the extraction choices made by the producer, the reds display lots of bright fruit, such as cherry and raspberry, while the whites have incredible concentration and flesh on the palate. Though some Chardonnay was affected by the storm on September 12th, most producers have made some fabulous wines that are very aromatic up front, with a great range of different flavors, density and with very good acidity. With beautifully ripe reds, concentrated whites and the necessary acid levels to enable these wines to age, the 2010 vintage in Burgundy is by all accounts a success.
It was more difficult in the early days to see the potential for Burgundy in 2010, but from Bourgognes to Premier Crus, 2010s are showing exceptional refinement and grace. 2010 is a classic cool-climate vintage of Burgundy for those who enjoy a racier style. After a rainy summer, the vintage could have been a disaster, but Burgundy’s good fortune has struck again, and it’s easy to love the vivid fruit, freshness, fine aromas, supple tannins, energy and extract. No other vintage is directly comparable for the stunning combination of purity, freshness and concentration and there is huge pleasure in store for the Burgundy lover with these 2010s offered below.
CHABLIS
Burghound 92-95 points “A restrained nose of citrus, floral, mineral reduction and algae slides into impressively rich, powerful, serious and concentrated flavors that are almost painfully intense on the explosive and strikingly long finish. This is a classic Bougros with its robust and muscular big-bodied flavors.”William Fevre Chablis Valmur Grand Cru 2010 ($109.95)
$89 special 4 bottles available
Wine Advocate 95 points “The 2010 Chablis Valmur captures the essence of the vintage. It represents everything Chablis is and can be. Gunflint, slate, oyster shells, white flowers and citrus are just some of the many notes that emerge from this finely sculpted, chiseled wine. In 2010, the Valmur possesses stunning nuance and tons of delineation. It finishes with notable persistence and an element of austerity that is not totally typical of Valmur, but that is, nevertheless, highly appealing. Anticipated maturity: 2013+.”William Fevre Chablis Vaudesir Grand Cru 2010 ($89.95)
$79 special 8 bottles available
Wine Advocate 94 points “The 2010 Chablis Vaudesir is pure class and elegance. Layers of subtle, perfumed fruit caress the palate in this highly expressive Chablis. Everything is in the right place. The 2010 is all about subtlety. This is one of the more finessed Fevre 2010s. I love the balance of aromatics, fruit and acidity. Anticipated maturity: 2013+.”William Fevre Chablis Vignoble de Vaulorent Fourchaume Premier Cru 2010 ($74.95)
$59 special 2 bottle available
Antonio Galloni 94 points “The 2010 Chablis Vaulorent is striking. It shows plenty of richness but very little in the way of excess weight. There is plenty of depth waiting to emerge from this expressive, mineral-drenched Chablis. Mint, flowers and white stone fruits wrap around the pure, beautifully delineated finish. Anticipated maturity: 2013+.”
$199 special 6 bottles available
Stephen Tanzer 94(+?) points “Full bright, pale yellow. White peach, pear and a whiff of orange zest on the nose. The flavors of stone fruits and minerals offer terrific penetration and intensity thanks to superb acidity and the low yield of the year. No easy sweetness about this one! Wonderfully tactile, brisk wine with chewy, saline finishing flavors that resound on the aftertaste. One of two barrels was new in 2010; Boudot made three and a half barrels in the more generous 2011 vintage.”
Jean Marc Boillot Puligny Montrachet Les Combettes Premier Cru 2010 ($129.95) $89 special 2 bottles available
Stephen Tanzer 93 (+?) points “Good bright yellow. Ripe, rather powerful aromas of stone fruits, acacia flower and truffle. Dense and silky but also quite vibrant, with harmonious acidity giving shape to the very rich mid-palate. Very tactile, layered 2010 with an impressively long, sweet finish. Give this at least four or five years in the cellar.”
Jean Marc Boillot Puligny Montrachet La Garenne Premier Cru 2010 ($99.95) $79 special 7 bottles available
Stephen Tanzer 92 points “Pale bright yellow. Musky aromas of peach, citrus fruits and acacia flower. Juicy, intense and penetrating, with brisk citrus fruits and minerals dominating. Denser and riper than the 2011 version. Excellent acidity here: this vineyard almost always produces a fresh style. A superb vintage for this bottling, finishing very long and perfumed.”
Maison Deux Montille Montagny Les Coeres Premier Cru 2010 ($39.95) $33 special 12+ bottles available
Stephen Tanzer 91 points “Bright pale yellow. Tight, pure aromas of lime, quinine and ginger. Chewy, dense and rich, with brisk citrus fruits and saline minerality energizing the middle palate. Finishes tactile and impressively long for Montagny.”
Dominique Lafon Beaune Les Epenottes Premier Cru 2010 ($99.95) $79 special 12+ bottles available
Wine Advocate 91 points “The 2010 Beaune Epenottes fleshes out beautifully in the glass with dark red berries, spices and licorice. This is an incredibly expressive, layered wine built on a serious core of fruit buffered by the vibrant minerality of the year. Anticipated maturity: 2012+.”
Domaine Faiveley Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru 2010 ($249.95) $179 special 12+ bottles available
Stephen Tanzer 95-97 points “Aroma of cold steel. Great energy to the flavors of crushed rock and citrus fruits. A wine of outstanding richness and chewy texture, this Corton-Charlemagne washes over the palate like a wave. An infant today but destined for a long life in bottle. Conveys an impression of great solidity. (I also loved the Bienvenue-Batard-Montrachet for its exhilarating acid/sugar balance and spicy, citric intensity, but neither it nor Faiveley’s more austere Batard was near the end of its secondary fermentation. The Puligny-Montrachet Les Folatieres showed a piquant floral quality and terrific sappy length.)”ST
Henri Boillot Puligny Montrachet Clos Moucheres Premier Cru 2010 ($179.95) $149 special 4 bottles available
Stephen Tanzer 95 (+?) points “Bright pale yellow. Soil-driven aromas of grapefruit, fresh dill and flinty minerality. Dense and brisk on entry, with outstanding grand cru intensity to the lemon and crushed stone flavors. Conveys a strong impression of silex. This boasts the sappiness of the best 2010s and finishes with outstanding stony, citric persistence. Like a slap in the face today, this wine demands at least several years of bottle aging, at which point it may merit an even higher score.”
Henri Boillot Criots-Batard Montrachet Grand Cru 2010 ($249.95) $199 special 4 bottles available
Burghound 93 points “Moderate wood frames ripe, dense and expressive yellow orchard fruit that also evidences discreet notes of exotic elements. The equally well-concentrated, powerful and imposingly scaled flavors possess an abundance of palate soaking dry extract, indeed so much so that this displays an almost chewy mouth feel on the massively persistent finish. This is not at present extraordinarily complex though there is so much material that my score offers the benefit of the doubt that it will develop in time as this will need at least a decade to arrive at its peak.”
Henri Boillot Chassagne Montrachet Les Embrazees Premier Cru 2010 ($99.95) $79 special 7 bottles available
Burghound 92 points “An elegant and attractively cool nose of stone, pear and citrus nuances gives way to well-delineated and energetic flavors that terminate in a cuts-like-a-knife and mineral-inflected finish. This is also very dry with fine complexity and almost Chablis-like salinity on the balanced backend.”
Jadot Chassagne-Montrachet Caillerets Premier Cru 2010 ($84.95) $69 special 1 bottle available
John Gilman 93 points “The 2010 Caillerets from Maison Jadot is another excellent premier cru. The deep and very classy nose wafts from the glass in an elegant blend of lemon, pear, apple,spring flowers, a beautiful base of terres blanches and a deft base of new oak. On the palate the wine is deep, full-bodied and seamless, with a beautiful core of silky fruit, great intensity of flavor, brisk acids and a very long, pure and classy finish.”
Jadot Domaine des Heritiers Corton Charlemagne Grand Cru 2010 ($189.95) $129 special 12+ bottles available
Stephen Tanzer 96 points “Brilliant pale yellow. Precise, penetrating aromas of green melon, ginger, quinine and dusty stone. Silky on entry, then sappy and deep in the middle, with a powerful crushed stone character and strong limey acidity combining to give the wine uncanny energy. This is almost painful today. This extremely dense, long wine may ultimately surpass Jadot’s Chevalier-Montrachet.”
Comtes Lafon Meursault Les Gouttes D’or Premier Cru 2010 ($299.95) $249 special 1 bottle available
Stephen Tanzer 92+ points “Pale bright yellow. Superripe aromas of pineapple, peach and apricot verge on exotic. Sweet mid-palate fruit is nicely balanced by juicy acidity, which gives lift and a light touch to the peach and pear flavors. Finishes long and perfumed, with noteworthy breed for this bottling. Lovely wine with good aging potential.”
Domaine des Lambrays Puligny Montrachet Clos du Caillerets Premier Cru 2010 ($159.95) $139 special 3 bottles available
Burghound 93 points “Here the nose is similar to that of the Folatières but is more complex still as there are spice and more obvious stone hints that carry over to the exceptionally well-detailed and highly energetic flavors where the underlying minerality seems extracted directly from liquid rock. There is excellent mid-palate concentration as well as a lovely interplay between the acidity, fruit and supporting dry extract, all wrapped in an explosive finish. Classy and impeccably well-balanced juice.”
Matrot Meursault Charmes Premier Cru 2010 ($84.95) $66 special 2 bottles available
Stephen Tanzer 93(+?) points “Good pale yellow. Ripe aromas of peach, fresh apricot and hazelnut; a quintessence of Meursault. Rich, ripe and sweet but framed and energized by a stony mineral underpinning, strong spice notes and a flavor of underripe pineapple. The building, palate-staining finish displays excellent structure and verve. This needs a good eight years of bottle aging. As with the Perrieres 2010, the yields here were tiny (22 h/h) owing to millerandage, noted Matrot.”
JF Mugnier Nuits St Georges Clos de Marechale Blanc Premier Cru 2010 ($119.95) $89 special 3 bottles available
Wine Advocate 90-92 points “The 2010 Nuits St. Georges Clos de la Marechale Blanc shows off fabulous balance and cool, insistent minerality. It boasts tremendous energy in its chiseled notes of lemon, crushed rocks and white flowers. The aromas, flavors and minerality are pure Chardonnay but there is a breadth to the wine that is unique and may be related to the fact that the Clos de la Marechale Blanc is made from Chardonnay grafted onto Pinot Noir rootstock. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2018.”
Olivier Leflaive Puligny Montrachet Les Folatieres Premier Cru 2010 ($119.95) $99 special 4 bottles available
Burghound 90-93 points “A discreet touch of wood frames an elegant and quite pretty nose of lemon, stone, pear and floral scents that gives way to exceptionally rich yet attractively well-detailed medium-bodied flavors that possess a seductive mouth feel. There is excellent cut and punch to the lingering finish and overall, this is really very stylish.”
Philippe Colin Chassagne Montrachet 2010 ($64.95) $51.90 special 6 bottles available
Stephen Tanzer 90 points “(the only 2010 that was bottled before the 2011 harvest; the rest were bottled between January and March of this year): Bright lemon-yellow. Lemon, peach, pear and wet stone on the nose, plus a hint of toast. Offers impressive tension and penetration for village wine, with sweet white peach and lemon peel fruit flavors building nicely on the vibrant finish. Quite rich but youthfully imploded: I’d give this at least two or three years in the cellar.”
Philippe Colin Chassagne Montrachet Les Chenevottes Premier Cru 2010 ($84.95) $69 special 12+ bottles available
Stephen Tanzer 93+ points “Bright straw-yellow. Complex, expressive aromas of pear, fresh peach and spices; much fruitier than the Vergers. A rich, dense orchard-fruit-and-spice bomb with terrific acid lift to buffer its sweetness. This tastes sweeter than the Vergers. Finishes broad, powerful and long, with resounding floral character.”
Aurelien Verdet Bourgogne Hautes Cotes Nuits Prieure Blanc 2010 ($39.95) $33 special 6 bottles available
Burghound ” A more elegant and slightly more complex nose speaks of earth, ripe purple fruit and a hint of violets along with plenty of pungent Savigny style earth. There is good richness to the sappy and naturally sweet medium-bodied flavors that possess a velvety mouth feel, all wrapped in a balanced finish. Lovely.”
Simon Bize Savigny Les Beaune Les Marconnets Premier Cru 2010 ($64.95) $47 special 3 bottles available
Burghound 89-91 points “This is also agreeably fresh and bright with ripe but cool aromas of crushed plum and warm earth. There is excellent verve to the intense and lightly mineral-driven medium weight flavors that possess a round and generous mid-palate but tighten up on the focused and mouth coating finish. I like this not only for its balance but also because the mouth feel is rather sophisticated. Lovely and understated.”
Simon Bize Savigny Les Beaune Les Talmettes Premier Cru 2010 ($59.95) $49 special 11 bottles available
Burghound 89-92 points “Here the nose is quite similar to that of the Serpentières with its violets and lavender scents that combine with notable earth and underbrush-infused red berry fruit aromas. There is good richness, size and weight to the round yet relatively refined medium-bodied flavors that possess a fine sense of balance on the mouth coating finish. I like the mouth feel and if this moderately structured effort can develop more depth in bottle, it just might catch the Fourneaux in time.”
Jean Marc Boillot Pommard Les Jarollieres Premier Cru 2010 ($89.95) $59 special 9 bottles available
Stephen Tanzer 91-93 points “Good full red. Ripe aromas of musky dark cherry, dark berries, minerals and bitter chocolate, lifted by a violet topnote; more floral and spicy than the Pitures. Fat, sweet, silky and concentrated, with impressive mouthfilling richness. The long finish features big, rich, supple tannins and a repeating note of bitter chocolate.”
Jean Marc Bouley Volnay 2010 ($49.95) $36 special 12+ bottles available
Burghound 88-91 points “This offers a big step up in both aromatic complexity as well as elegance with its cool red berry fruit nose replete with violet and anise hints. There is good richness and fine volume with ample mid-palate concentration to the refined middle weight flavors as the supporting tannins possess a very fine grain, all wrapped in a balanced, intense and solidly long finish. There is a touch of youthful austerity but I suspect that the backend will flesh out relatively quickly.”
Camus Bruchon Savigny les Beaune Pimentieres 2010 ($41.95) $36 special 2 bottles available
Burghound 88-91 points “A notably more complex if not necessarily more refined nose of kirsch, warm earth and a hint of the sauvage merges seamlessly into rich, concentrated and mouth coating flavors that enjoy an abundance of dry extract that amply displays the extra dimension typically present with the fruit of such old vines. There is excellent character present if limited elegance.”
Chandon Briailles Savigny Les Beaune 2010 ($39.95) $34.50 special 12+ bottles available
Burghound 87-89 points “A deeply pitched nose of Savigny-style earth, floral notes and fresh dark berry fruit aromas precedes the clean, fresh and vibrant middle weight flavors that are shaped by rustic but ripe tannins that are well-integrated on the tension-filled finish. This isn’t particularly refined but it’s solidly complex and well-balanced.”
Clos Moulin Aux Moines Auxey-Duresses aux Moines Monopole 2010 ($39.95) $29 special 3 bottles available
Comte Armand Pommard Premier Cru 2010 ($109.95) $79 special 10 bottles available
Burghound 89-92 points “This is also exuberantly fresh and expressive with a pretty and ripe nose of primarily red currant and blue berries plus ample amounts of warm earth. There is a similar level of energy that gives a real sense of life to the detailed, pure and impressively intense flavors that possess solid phenolic ripeness and superb balance on the lasting finish. Fine quality here and worth considering”
Comte Armand Volnay Les Fremiets Premier Cru 2010 ($139.95) $99 special 11 bottles available
Burghound 91-93 points “This is more elegant still with a high-toned, pure and exceptionally fresh nose of mineral-inflected rose petal, stone and wild red berry fruit aromas. The equally mineral-driven, energetic and beautifully well-detailed medium-bodied flavors possess pain staining intensity, all wrapped in the dusty, firm, focused, balanced and lingering finish. This is a really lovely effort and Leroux noted that “the 2010 is the best Frémiets that I have ever made.”
Marquis D’angerville Volnay Fremiets Premier Cru 2010 ($149.95) $99 special 12+ bottles available
Wine Advocate 93-95 points “The 2010 Volnay Les Fremiets is all crushed rocks, graphite, minerals and wet stones. With time in the glass the fruit gradually begins to emerge. Sweet red fruit, mint and freshly cut flowers are some of the nuances in the glass, but in the end the Fremiets remains decidedly cool and inward. A pointed, chiseled finish continues the theme to its logical conclusion. Readers will need to be especially patient here. Anticipated maturity: 2020-2030.”
Domaine d’Ardhuy Savigny Les Beaune Les Peuillets Premier Cru 2010 ($39.95) $29 special 12+ bottles available
Domaine d’Ardhuy Corton Clos Du Roi Grand Cru2010 ($89.95) $69 special 12+ bottles available
Burghound 93 points “This is surprisingly elegant with its strikingly pure nose of red currants, spice and distinctly pungent earth. There is a coolness to the relatively supple mid-palate with ample minerality to the firm, balanced, long and imposing finish. This is a dazzlingly good Clos du Roi though note that this will need a minimum of 12 to 15 years to be at its best and thus I would not advise buying this if you’re not planning to bury it deep in your cellar.”
Domaine d’Ardhuy Corton Pougets Grand Cru 2010 ($99.95) $69 special 12+ bottles available
Burghound 91 points “An openly earthy nose also offers up notes of dark berries, plum, stone and dried floral nuances. There is a velvety and utterly delicious quality to the solidly concentrated and mouth coating flavors that also reflect an underlying minerality on the long finish that displays fine balance. This isn’t quite as complete as the other examples of Corton in the range but it’s the finest among them.”
Domaine d’Ardhuy Savigny Les Beaune Aux Clous Premier Cru 2010 ($37.95) $28 special 12 bottles available
Burghound 88 points “There is a touch of crushed leaf character to the otherwise ripe, earthy and pretty mélange of dark berry fruit aromas. There is lovely complexity to the punchy and mildly rustic medium weight flavors that possess very firm tannins on the lingering finish. This is clearly built to age and will need the better part of a decade to arrive at its peak.”
Domaine d’Ardhuy Savigny Les Beaune Les Narbantons Premier Cru 2010 ($44.95) $36 special 7 bottles available
Burghound 90 points “The appealingly complex nose offers up aromas of ripe dark berries that are infused with plenty of pungent Savigny style iron-infused earth. There is good density to the pliable and round flavors that possess good punch on the dusty, firm and balanced finish. This is the best of this group of Savigny-based wines and possesses the highest level of phenolic maturity as well. Worth a look.”
Dupont Tisserandot Corton Rognet Grand Cru 2010 ($99.95) $79 special 12+ bottles available
Burghound 93 points “Strong oak aromas presently dominate the otherwise ripe red and dark berry fruit nose. There is good freshness and energy to the powerfully concentrated big-bodied flavors that are shaped by forceful and phenolically mature tannins that are buffered by the copious extract. This is an imposing wine, and very Corton in character, that possesses excellent depth and length on the moderately austere finish where about the only nit is a trace of backend warmth. This is also one to strongly consider as long as you’re prepared to cellar it for a minimum of 10 years.”
Faiveley Beaune Clos De L’Ecu Monopole Premier Cru 2010 ($49.95) $39 special 12+ bottles available
Wine Spectator 93 points “An expression of pure cherry highlights this delicate, silky red. Vibrant and intense, with well-integrated tannins and a lingering finish of sweet fruit, spice and mineral. Best from 2015 through 2024.”
Faiveley Volnay Santenots Premier Cru 2010 ($84.95) $69 special 4 bottles available
Burghound 90-93 points “Very deep ruby. An explosive and highly complex nose offers up aromas of raspberry and cherry liqueur along with hints of lavender and violets. The medium-bodied flavors possess outstanding richness and volume with excellent levels of dry extract that render the tannins almost invisible at present though the finish is sufficiently firm to suggest that they will require 12 to 15 years to fully resolve. I very much like the balance and sense of harmony here.”
Henri Boillot Pommard 2010 ($59.95) $49 special 12+ bottles available
Antonio Galloni 90-92 points “The 2010 Pommard is pure sensuality. Sweet roses, dark red fruit and spices wrap around the palate in this supple, refined wine. The Pommard impresses for its elegance and richness. It is a beautiful and highly representative 2010. Sweet floral notes linger on the finish. The Pommard is made from vines in Clos Blanc, a 1er Cru vineyard. – Henri Boillot turned out a superb set of 2010 reds. Best of all, readers won’t have to shell out a fortune to enjoy them, as a number of the more modestly priced wines far exceed the quality of their respective appellations”
Henri Boillot Savigny les Beaune Les Lavieres Premier Cru 2010 ($59.95) $49 special 10 bottles available
Wine Advocate 90-92 points “The 2010 Savigny-les-Beaune Les Lavieres boasts striking inner perfume and an expressive core of dark red fruit. This is another big wine within the context of its appellation, but the balance is first-rate. Layers of fruit continue to build to the powerful, textured finish. Anticipated maturity: 2015-2025.”
Henri Boillot Volnay 2010 ($59.95) $49 special 12+ bottles available
Burghound 90 points ‘OUTSTANDING TOP VALUE’ “This is more aromatically reserved with an elegant nose of red and dark pinot fruit, earth and an interesting note of smoked tea. There is even more refinement to the mouth feel of the lightly mineral-infused medium-bodied flavors that possess a dusty and rather serious finish of impeccable balance and persistence. This may be labeled as a villages but it’s easily of 1er quality.”
Huber-Verdereau Volnay 2010 ($49.95) $33 special 12+ bottles available
Burghound 88 points ” A pretty mix of red and blue pinot fruit aromas exhibits plenty of earth influence that continues onto the silky and pure middle weight flavors that culminate in a moderately rustic and austere finish. This will need a few years to flesh out and add depth.”
Huber-Verdereau Pommard Vaumuriens 2010 ($51.95) $41.90 special 8 bottles available
Burghound 89 points “This is more deeply pitched still with ripe but cool earth and stone inflected aromas of briar and plum. There is good volume to the delicious, serious and admirably complex flavors that also evidence plenty of minerality on the racy, dusty and long finish. As with the straight Pommard, there is good phenolic maturity to the dense but fine tannins and while this is a bit less structured, this will also need a few years of cellar time.” “OUTSTANDING”
Huber-Verdereau Volnay Les Fremiets Premier Cru 2010 ($84.95) $69 special 12+ bottles available
Burghound 90 points “Huber indicated that this was vinified with 50% whole clusters. A notably floral nose of ripe and pure red pinot fruit scents gives way to attractively detailed, intense and mouth coating medium-bodied flavors that possess a balanced, spicy, dusty and lingering mineral-inflected finish. This is really lovely if not particularly deep though it’s already so pretty that if it can add more depth in bottle my score may seem unduly conservative.”
Jadot Corton Greves Grand Cru 2010 ($119.95) $89 special 1 bottles available
John Gilman 93+ points, Antonio Galloni 93-95 points “The 2010 Corton ‘Grèves’ from Maison Jadot is the most broad-shouldered and potentially complex of these three excellent Cortons, as it offers up a deep and very precise bouquet of red and black cherries, coffee, iron-like soil tones, woodsmoke, coriander seed and cedar. On the palate the wine is deep, full-bodied and quite reserved,with a rock solid core of fruit, outstanding transparency, firm tannins and excellent focus and grip on the very long, very young and soil-driven finish. This is a classic young Corton that will need some patience, but which should be absolutely stellar at its apogee.”JG
Jadot Domaine des Heritiers Pernand Vergelesses Clos de la Croix De Pierre Rouge 2010 ($49.95) $39 special 12+ bottles available
Wine Enthusiast 92 points “The Clos de la Croix de Pierre forms part of the En Caradeux premier cru, and it creates poised wines. This is the red partner to a white also produced by Louis Jadot, and it displays juicy red fruit, layered with firm tannins. Drinkable now, but also capable of aging for five years.”
Jadot Pommard Clos de la Commaraine Permier Cru 2010 ($59.95) $49 special 12+ bottles available
Wine Advocate 89-91 points “The 2010 Pommard Clos de la Commaraine is a little fleshier and deeper than the villages, but it remains relatively airy and delicate. Sweet red berries, flowers, licorice and tobacco are some of the notes that are woven together in this gorgeous Burgundy. The firm tannins will need a few years in bottle to soften. Anticipated maturity: 2018-2030.”
Jadot Pommard Epenots Premier Cru 2010 ($59.95) $49 special 12+ bottles available
Burghound 90-93 points “In contrast to a number of the preceding wines, this is almost devoid of wood influence which allows the ripe and very earthy cassis and black raspberry aromas to enjoy center stage. The rich, full-bodied and enveloping middle weight plus flavors possess a suave, even silky mouth feel though the typical Pommard-like tannins arrive just at the very end of the exceptionally persistent finish. This is really quite good and well-worth considering though note that it will require extensive cellar time.”
Jadot Savigny-Les-Beaune La Dominode Premier Cru 2010 ($49.95) $39 special 8 bottles available
Wine Advocate 90 points “The 2010 Savigny-les-Beaune 1er Cru Les Dominodes has a vivacious nose with plenty of crisp red currant and fresh strawberry fruit that burst from the glass. The palate is well-balanced with crisp acidity, firm grip and a touch of spice toward the lifted finish. This is a lovely, lilting Savigny that I would rather drink in its youth. Drink now-2017.-NM”
Antonio Galloni 90 points “The 2010 Savigny-les-Beaune 1er Cru Les Dominodes has a vivacious nose with plenty of crisp red currant and fresh strawberry fruit that burst from the glass. The palate is well-balanced with crisp acidity, firm grip and a touch of spice toward the lifted finish. This is a lovely, lilting Savigny that I would rather drink in its youth. Drink now-2017”Jadot Volnay Clos De La Barre Monopole Premier Cru 2010 ($84.95)
$59 special 12+ bottles available
John Gilman 92+ points “The premier cru of Clos de la Barre is located immediately below the village center of Volnay, tucked in on the slope between les Angles to its north and Clos de la Bousse d’Or to its south. The 2010 from Maison Jadot is outstanding and another real sleeper to search out in this vintage. The classy and very precise bouquet offers up scents of cassis, dark berries, espresso, dark chocolate, a great base of complex minerality and just a hint of new oak. On the palate the wine is deep, full-bodied and very pure on the attack, with impressive complexity, ripe tannins, a lovely core and impressive grip on the long and tangy finish. A beautiful bottle of Volnay in the making, the 2010 Jadot Clos de la Barre will need the better part of a decade to fully blossom and should age for a very long time”Jadot Volnay Les Santenots Premier Cru 2010 ($84.95)
$59 special 12+ bottles available
Wine Enthusiast 93 points “Santenots, like most premier crus, is located halfway down the slope. This is structured, yet it remains ripe and fruity, and it shows off the voluptuous texture that’s characteristic of Volnay. There is fine balance between the acidity and fruit, and the dry core promises aging potential.”JM Morey Chassagne Rouge 2010 ($37.95)
$29 special 12 bottles availableJM Morey Beaune Greves 2010 ($59.95)
$44 special 9 bottles available
Burghound 90 points “This is also notably cool and restrained with a pretty mix of citrus components that are given a touch of elegance from the presence of both acacia blossom and honeysuckle hints. There is good volume and richness but also good cut to the vibrant flavors that culminate in a linear, persistent and lemony finish. Lovely and fashioned in a distinctly understated style.”Matrot Blagny La Piece Sous Le Bois Premier Cru 2010 ($64.95)
$49 special 12+ bottles available
Burghound 90 points “An overtly fruity yet solidly complex nose features notes of cassis, plum, violet and black raspberry. There is an appealing mineral streak to the delicious medium-bodied flavors that exude both floral and spice elements on the delicious, long and balanced finish. This too will drink well almost immediately yet there is good underlying material to suggest 3 to 5 years of upside development potential.”Matrot Meursault Rouge 2010 ($49.95)
$39 special 12+ bottles availableMatrot Monthelie 2010 ($44.95)
$36 special 12+ bottles available
Burghound “A pretty and attractively layered nose of plum, red raspberry, cherry and soft warm earth nuances. There is good energy to the supple and round flavors that are shaped by light and fine-grained tannins that, like the Bourgogne, will allow this to be enjoyed almost immediately.”Matrot Volnay Santenots Premier Cru 2010 ($64.95)
$49 special 12+ bottles available
Burghound 89 points “This is both riper and more elegant with a lovely and beautifully layered blend of red currant, plum, spice and earth. There is good mid-palate density to the suave, even opulent flavors that exude a fine minerality on the equally spicy and persistent finish. While the Matrot style is for reds that will be agreeable when they’re young, this will also be capable of rewarding 3 to 5 years of cellar time.”Pavelot Savigny les Beaune Les Peuillets Premier Cru 2010 ($59.95)
$44 special 12+ bottles available
Burghound 90 points “A more elegant and slightly fresher nose features a pretty mix of red berries along with hints of violet and plum. There is also more of a mineral character to the appealingly detailed, complex and delicious flavors that are shaped by more refined tannins while offering fine length. A classic Peuillets of finesse.”Pavelot Savigny-Les-Beaune 2010 ($44.95)
$24 special 12+ bottles available
Burghound 88 points “Here the fruit is ripe though distinctly different as the Savigny style earth character is quite prominent on the somber dark pinot fruit nose. There is a velvety texture to the supple and relatively forward flavors that possess good concentration and fine balance on the sappy finish. This isn’t an especially elegant effort but it is certainly delicious and satisfying.”Tollot-Beaut Chorey-Les-Beaune 2010 ($39.95)
$33 special 12+ bottles available
Wine Spectator 89 points “A suave, polished style, bursting with cherry, raspberry, smoke and spice flavors. Features some grip, rounded out by a long, fruit- and spice-filled finish. Best from 2014 through 2022.”Violot Guillemard Pommard La Platieres Premier Cru 2010 ($79.95)
$69 special 11 bottles available
Burghound 91-93 points “This is also quite pretty and if not quite as elegant as the Clos des Mouches, it’s not far off though the composition of the nose is distinctly different as it’s more deeply pitched with much bluer fruit and a more distinct earth character. The intense, mouth coating and overtly powerful flavors brim with excellent depth and plenty of minerality before terminating in an ever-so-mildly rustic if exceptionally long finish. An excellent Pommard.”
$139 special 12+ bottles available
Burghound 91-94 points “This is impressively ripe yet superbly fresh with black cherry and floral scents that are trimmed in a background application of wood. There is excellent mid-palate concentration and richness to the powerful, muscular and energetic large-scaled flavors that possess superb reserves of mouth coating dry extract that serves to impart a seductive mouth feel to the dusty, serious, balanced and strikingly long finish.”Domaine d’Ardhuy CDNV Clos Des Langres Monopole 2010 ($49.95)
$33 special 12+ bottles available
Burghound 88 points “Bright ruby. An agreeably fresh nose of red and black currants, plum and earth gives way to precise and attractively vibrant flavors that are unusually refined in the context of the appellation. There is only moderate depth but I like the balance and overall persistence. Good quality here.”Domaine d’Ardhuy Clos De Vougeot Grand Cru 2010 ($149.95)
$119 special 12+ bottles available
Burghound 92 points “This is also quite somber and restrained with an intensely earthy character to the otherwise pretty red currant and wild berry aromas. There is equally good intensity to the supple medium weight plus flavors that display good power and fine concentration on the balanced, long and moderately austere finish. This is very much a typical Clos de Vougeot that will need time to flesh out.”Digioia-Royer Chambolle Musigny 2010 ($69.95)
$59 special 6 bottles availableDupont Tisserandot Charmes-Chambertin Grand Cru 2010 ($139.95)
$99 special 12+ bottles available
Burghound 93 points “(80% from Charmes proper with the balance from Mazoyères; the two parcels total .8 ha). The presence of the wood treatment is more visible on the exceptionally fresh and pure mix of wild red berry fruit aromas and pungent earth scents. There is excellent power to the rich and admirably concentrated medium-bodied flavors that possess outstanding complexity, intensity and drive, all wrapped in a balanced and seriously persistent finish. This will require at least 10 years of cellar time to really unfold and 12 to 15 is likely to be the sweet spot.”
Dupont Tisserandot Gevrey Chambertin Les Cazetiers Premier Cru 2010 ($119.95)
$77 special 7 bottles available
Burghound 92-94 points “Very mild reduction does not completely hide the much more deeply pitched nose that is more sauvage in character and while the fruit is muted, there is a clear floral component. There is excellent mid-palate density to the powerful and broad-shouldered flavors that possess a textured mouth feel before culminating in a precise, intense and very stony finish that delivers grand cru length and punch. I have pointed this out before but the Dupont Cazetiers always seems to be particularly successful and the 2010 version is no exception.”Dupont Tisserandot Gevrey Chambertin Petite Chapelle Premier Cru 2010 ($89.95)
$69 special 12+ bottles available
Burghound 91-93 points “Not surprisingly, this is more elegant still with pure and ripe aromas of cherry and raspberry liqueur that marry into stony, detailed and racy middle weight flavors that are blessed with an abundance of mouth coating dry extract, all wrapped in a driving finish. I very much like the sense of harmony and balance and this is textbook Petite Chapelle with its ultra-refined mouth feel. In a word, impressive.”Dupont Tisserandot Gevrey Chambertin Clos Prieur 2010 ($54.95)
$41.90 special 12+ bottles available
Burghound 87-89 points “Discreet wood spice adds breadth to the very fresh cool red cherry and earth suffused nose that is in keeping with the vibrant, detailed and impressively pure mineral-laden flavors. I like the sense of underlying tension and balance on the lingering finish.”Dupont Tisserandot Gevrey Chambertin 2010 ($49.95)
$39 special 12+ bottles available
Burghound 89-91 points “This is also quite pure with attractive and relatively high-toned aromas of fresh red and dark berry fruit that complement well the detailed, intense and equally earthy medium-bodied flavors that possess excellent precision and plenty of vibrancy on the serious, balanced and solidly persistent finish. This is an excellent and age-worthy villages that is worth a look.”Faiveley Bourgogne Rouge 2010 ($19.95)
$16 special 12+ bottles available
Burghound “A very pretty red berry fruit nose that evidences soft earth influence leads to very fresh and racy flavors that are still quite tight as the finish is clean though mildly tangy. This is on the lighter side.”
Faiveley Chambolle Musigny Les Fuees Premier Cru 2010 ($179.95)
$139 special 12 bottles available
Burghound 91-93 points & Stephen Tanzer 90-92 points “Here the nose is more deeply pitched compared to that of the La Combe d’Orveau with ripe yet cool red berry liqueur, earth and wet stone aromas. There is outstanding delineation to the more powerful, intense and mineral-inflected flavors where the firm but ripe tannins are almost completely buffered by the copious dry extract that really coats the palate on the balanced and strikingly persistent finish. I very much like this.”Faiveley Echezeaux Grand Cru 2010 ($199.95)
$133 special 12+ bottles available
Stephen Tanzer 92-95 points “Good full red. Pungent aromas of raspberry, crushed stone and white pepper. Enters with intense raspberry and spices, then turns firm and floral in the middle, showing superb energy and sappiness to the primary red fruit and mineral flavors. With its saline impression of extract and strong tannic spine, this should evolve in bottle for couple of decades.”Faiveley Gevrey Chambertin 2010 ($79.95)
$42 special 7 bottles available
Wine Enthusiast 90 points “Light colored and fruity, this is all about red fruit—its structure and firm tannins coming out slowly. This village wine demonstrates the richness of the appellation, showing a fine balance between its ripe fruit and its smoky, dry, tannic core.”Faiveley Gevrey Chambertin Clos des Issarts Monopole Premier Cru 2010 ($89.95)
$69 special 9 bottles available
Stephen Tanzer 88-91 points “Good bright, dark red. Reduced, rather wild aromas of cherry and mocha. Sweet and thick but a bit youthfully tart owing to firm acidity. Densely packed but disjointed today, with saline soil tones dominating the middle palate. Tannins are nicely ripe though. In a reductive phase and hard to assess with accuracy.”Faiveley Latricieres Chambertin Grand Cru 2010 ($229.95)
$169 special 11 bottles available
Stephen Tanzer 93-95 points “Good bright dark red. Wonderful mineral tang lifts the complex aromas of raspberry, cherry, pomegranate, coffee, pepper and spices. Fat, sweet and deep, with the piquant minerality and a peppery element giving lift and energy to the middle palate. Notes of candied strawberry and raspberry are complicated by saline soil tones. Powerfully structured wine with long, bright finishing flavors that saturate the sides of the mouth.”Faiveley Mazis Chambertin Grand Cru 2010 ($249.95)
$189 special 12+ bottles available
Wine Spectator 94 points “The cherry, raspberry, earth, spice, and mineral flavors are offset by the smoky oak and solid tannins in this well-defined red. Vibrant and long, offering oak spice and mineral on the finish. This should develop beautifully. Best from 2016 – 2035.”Forey Morey St Denis 2010 ($59.95)
$44 special 10 bottles available
Stephen Tanzer 88 points “Bright medium red. Plum, rust and brown spices on the nose. Round, supple and vinous, with ripe redcurrant fruit showing good sweetness and plenty of early appeal. Finishes with a hint of oaky bitterness but the tannins are nicely enrobed by fruit.”Forey Vosne Romanee 2010 ($74.95)
$49 special 3 bottles available
Burghound 88 points “There is lovely spice to the black pinot and red currant fruit nose that complements well the equally spicy, rich and solidly precise middle weight flavors that possess an appealing finishing purity on the linear finale. Similar to the Morey, I like the sophistication of the supporting tannins and because they’re relatively fine, this could actually be enjoyed now.”Geantet-Pansiot Gevrey Chambertin Vieilles Vignes 2010 ($74.95)
$59 special 12+ bottles available
Burghound 91 points ” gorgeously complex and lightly spiced nose serves up notes of violet, plum and plenty of pungent earth that is also reflected by the dense and serious medium-bodied flavors. There is excellent volume and concentration to the mid-palate that possesses impeccable phenolic ripeness, all wrapped in a seductive yet linear finish. This is very Gevrey in character with a brawny yet not overtly rustic mouth feel. Recommended.”Gouges Nuits St Georges 2010 ($69.95)
$44 special 12 + bottles availableGouges Nuits St Georges Les Chaignots Premier Cru 2010 ($89.95)
$69 special 12+ bottles available
Burghound 88-91 points “Reduction. The round, supple and already readily accessible medium-bodied flavors possess subtle spice notes before the expected punch and focus arrives on the finish where everything immediately tightens up on the mouth coating finish. This is one of those wines that will very likely drink well all of its life.”Gouges Nuits St Georges Les Chenes Carteaux Premier Cru 2010 ($79.95)
$59 special 12+ bottles available
Burghound 89-92 points “Reduction. This is also quite supple and relatively forward but the middle weight flavors retain good delineation and excellent complexity on the persistent finish. This is presently on the tangy side though I attribute this more to the presence of substantial amounts of gas rather than under ripe phenolics. This should amply reward 10 to 12 years of cellar time.”Jadot Chambolle Musigny 2010 ($59.95)
$49 special 12+ bottles available
Burghound 89-91 points “OUTSTANDING SELECTION” A very pure nose of wet stone, spice and an elegant mix of various wild red berries. There is good richness to the mouth coating flavors that possess excellent volume and surprisingly good power, all wrapped in a mineral-driven finish that delivers excellent length. This is a big Chambolle and an especially big villages yet it remains harmonious and refined. Worth considering.”Jadot Chapelle Chambertin Grand Cru 2010 ($219.95)
$199 special 8 bottles available
Stephen Tanzer 95 points “Good full, medium red. Expressive, nuanced aromas of strawberry, raspberry, crushed stone, smoke and flowers. Glyceral yet light on its feet, with a suave, silky texture to its vibrant, savory red fruit, floral and mineral flavors. Not at all a superripe style: really perks up the palate and leaves the mouth refreshed on the very long, sweet/savory finish. This classy grand cru finishes with captivating perfumed lift.”Jadot Cotes-De-Nuits Villages Le Vaucrain 2010 ($29.95)
$21.90 special 7 bottles availableJadot Gevrey Chambertin 2010 ($54.95)
$39 special 12+ bottles available
John Gilman 89+ points “The 2010 Gevrey AC was also one of the last to finish up malo in the cellars this year, but the wine was showing very good potential. The nose is a fine mélange of black cherries, cassis, coffee bean, fresh herb tones, woodsmoke and black minerality. On the palate the wine is fullish, long and complete, with a fine core, moderate tannins and very good length and grip on the tangy finish. This too will get a ‘booster’ of de-classified premier cru barrels and will probably merit a 90+ point score once that takes place.”Jadot Nuits Saint Georges 2010 ($54.95)
$44 special 12+ bottles available
John Gilman 88+ points “The current rendition of the 2010 Jadot Nuits AC is long and complex, but a bit four-square at the present time. Keep in mind though that this wine will probably be ‘dressed up’ a bit with the addition of some barrels of premier cru, so in all likelihood, my score will ultimately prove to be quite conservative for this wine in its finished form.Today, the nose offers up notes of red and black cherries, coffee, woodsmoke, fresh herbs and a fine, complex base of soil. On the palate the wine is deep, full-bodied and impressively sappy at the core, with a very good signature of soil, ripe tannins and fine length and grip on the finish. If this wine gains a bit more refinement from its addition of de-classified premier cru, this will be outstanding.”Jean Jacques Confuron Chambolle Musigny 2010 ($64.95)
$49 special 12+ bottles available
Burghound 87-90 points “A very pretty and perfumed nose features notes of raspberry, violets and cassis that are in keeping with the solidly ripe, rich and agreeably round flavors that possess good volume yet a delicate mouth feel, all wrapped in a broad and utterly delicious finish. This generous offering is very Chambollesque in character.”Jean Marc Millot Clos Vougeot Grand Cru 2010 ($149.95)
$133 special 1 bottle available
Burghound 91-94 points “This is the first wine in the range to display any appreciable wood influence as it mixes with, but does not dominate, the ripe purple fruit nose where additional breadth is present in the form of iron-inflected earth, spice and a floral hint. There is excellent intensity to the overtly muscular yet refined middle weight flavors that finish with plenty of the classic youthful Clos de Vougeot character of austerity. This beautifully persistent built-to-age effort is quite serious and is noticeably more backward than the Echézeaux.”
Dominique Laurent Bonnes Mares Grand Cru Vieilles Vignes 2010 ($329.95)
$269 special 5 bottles available
Stephen Tanzer 92-95 points “(from 100-year-old vines): Deep red with ruby highlights. Wild, slightly reduced aroma dominated by black raspberry. Sappy, saline and mouthfilling, with the black fruit flavors carrying through on the palate. Most impressive today on the extremely long aftertaste, which features substantial dusty tannins and strong soil tones. Has the material to handle its 100% new oak.”Dominique Laurent Grands Echezeaux Grand Cru 2010 ($399.95)
$329 special 3 bottles available
Stephen Tanzer 93-96 points “(from the same pinot material as the Echezeaux, with the vines owned by two cousins): Good bright, full red. Crushed black cherry and subtle earth tones on the pure, vibrant nose; more closed than the Echezeaux. Darker in fruit character, with distinctly rocky notes of minerals, violet and rose petal. Showing less obvious texture than the Echezeaux but this offers greater finesse. Very long and aromatic on the aftertaste, with tannins barely noticeable today. These vines are situated very close to Musigny, according to Laurent.”Domaine Rene Leclerc Griotte Chambertin Grand Cru 2010 ($149.95)
$119 special 12+ bottles availableT. Liger Belair Clos Vougeot Grand Cru 2010 ($179.95)
$149 special 4 bottles available
Burghound 94 points “This is tight to the point of being almost completely inexpressive and only aggressive swirling liberates the barest of fresh and cool red berry scents. By contrast, there is outstanding intensity to the energetic, pure and focused medium weight plus flavors that enjoy an abundance of tannin-buffering dry extract. The racy, linear and very firm finish is classically austere but seriously persistent. Impressive.”T. Liger Belair Nuits St Georges La Charmotte 2010 ($74.95)
$59 special 7 bottles available
Wine Advocate 90-92 points “The 2010 Nuits St. Georges La Charmotte is an intensely rewarding wine. Rich, powerful tannins provide the backbone for waves of expressive dark fruit. The Charmotte impresses for its depth and sheer muscle. It is perhaps just a touch rustic, but immensely pleasing just the same. Anticipated maturity: 2015-2025.”Meo Camuzet Clos De Vougeot Grand Cru 2010 ($349.95)
$279 special 1 bottle available
Burghound 92-95 points “This is slightly riper with hints of menthol to the densely fruited nose of cassis, plum and black berry liqueur aromas. There is a high degree of phenolic maturity to the structural elements that shape the very rich, mouth coating and hugely long finish. While this is not quite as youthfully austere as it usually is, it’s still going to require close to 20 years of cellar time so this is by no means forward. Once again, the quality is exceptional and this is another wine that could match, or even surpass, its 2005 counterpart.”Denis Mortet Gevrey-Chambertin 2010 ($119.95)
$89 special 7 bottles available
Wine Advocate 90-92 points “The 2010 Gevrey-Chambertin is a very serious wine at this level. It boasts incredible finesse and sheer energy in a polished, pure expression of Gevrey. Ripe red berries, minerals and licorice are some of the notes that inform the wiry, intense finish. The average age of the vines is 40 years. Anticipated maturity: 2015-2025.”Roty Gevrey Chambertin Clos Prieur Bas Premier Cru 2010 ($99.95)
$89 special 6 bottles available
Stephen Tanzer 91 points “Good medium red. Perfumed aromas of redcurrant, coffee, licorice, earth and flowers. Plush, supple and broad but also boasts excellent inner-palate tension. The flavors of redcurrant, raspberry and smoke show a distinct animal quality. Very long on the aftertaste. This comes across as richer and more pliant from bottle than it did from barrel a year ago.”Roty Gevrey-Chambertin Les Fontenys Premier Cru 2010 ($219.95)
$189 special 6 bottles available
Stephen Tanzer 93 points “Good dark red. Ripe, vibrant nose offers kirsch, redcurrant, cedar and a whiff of black pepper. At once silky-sweet and tangy, with lovely inner-mouth energy to the fine-grained red and darker fruit flavors. Notes of violet and minerals emerge with air. Finishes broad, lively and long, with harmonious acidity and ripe tannins giving the wine solid structure for aging. More refined than the 2011 version.”
Roty Gevrey Chambertin 2010 ($79.95)
$69 special 2 bottles available
Stephen Tanzer & Burghound 89 points “A mild application of oak allows the red currant and wild red berry fruit liqueur aromas to shine. There is impressive richness to the seductively textured and mouth coating flavors that possess fine mid-palate concentration before terminating in a dusty, firm and well-balanced finish. A very good villages by any standard as the sheer persistence is most impressive.” BHLaurent Roumier Chambolle Musigny 2010 375ml ($39.95)
$33 special 12+ half-bottles available
Laurent Roumier Hautes Cotes Nuits 2010 ($39.95) $33 special 12+ bottles availableArmand Rousseau Chambertin Grand Cru 2010 ($1795.95)
$1699 special 1 bottle available
Stephen Tanzer 98 points “Medium red, a bit less saturated than the Clos de Beze. Pungent aromas of wild red berries, smoke, earth, iron and wild herbs. Almost shockingly silky in the mouth, but with crushed-stone minerality lending force to the blackberry, licorice and earth flavors. Incredibly sappy but edge-free wine with an explosive, endless finish that titillates the salivary glands. Longer than the Clos de Beze but that wine is a bit sweeter today, with darker, more exotic flavors. This Chambertin is not yet showing its flesh but if it puts on weight with extended bottle aging, which I expect it to do, it may eventually merit a perfect score. A monument of the vintage.”Armand Rousseau Charmes Chambertin Grand Cru 2010 ($499.95)
$399 special 1 bottle available
Burghound 91-93 “This is much more deeply pitched than usual with notes of earth and violets and while there are traces of red berry aromas, this hails more from the dark berry side of the fruit spectrum. There is excellent volume to the very rich and round middle weight plus flavors that possess a velvety mouth feel on the focused and impressively long finish. This also exhibits more depth of material than it usually does and this is one of the better Rousseau Charmes of recent years.”
Armand Rousseau Chambertin Clos De Beze Grand Cru 2010 ($1999.95)
$1499 special 1 bottle available
Stephen Tanzer 97 points “Bright, saturated deep red. Incredible multidimensional nose combines cherry, raspberry, gunflint, crushed rock, flowers and oak spices; youthfully reserved but already remarkably complex. Thick but magically light on its feet, with penetrating red fruit flavors framed and carried by explosive salty minerality. This wonderfully vibrant, refined wine is showing no sign of shutting down but it’s hard to imagine that it won’t go through a sullen stage on its way to peak maturity in 12 to 15 years. The sweet but firmly structured finish saturates the palate with red fruits, minerals and spices.”Armand Rousseau Ruchottes Chambertin Grand Cru 2010 ($799.95)
$619 special 4 bottles available
Wine Advocate 95-97 points “The 2010 Ruchottes-Chambertin is an intensely cool, reticent wine. The bouquet recalls the Mazis, but then the firm Ruchottes tannins set in. Ultimately the Ruchottes is built on purity, definition and nuance. The chiseled aromas and flavors possess stunning detail, but it will be some time before the 2010 is ready to drink. Still, I very much like the energy and drive. Bright, floral notes add lift and vibrancy on the finish. Anticipated maturity: 2025-2045.”