Trip to the south of Burgundy

This time we started our journey with the walk to the rock of Solutré and to the Atrium in Solutré to taste once more the collection of the different villages of Pouilly-Fuissé that gives (together with the view from the rock) a nice overview on the Appelation. The wines were from the hot vintage of 2015 and therefore the differences between the villages were smaller than in previous years, especially compared with the collection from 2013.

We tasted the typical Mâcon Chaintré 2016 that was rather on the fat side, Saint Véran "Arpège 2016" (fresh, fruity and sustainable) with a very good PQR and from Pouilly-Fuissé "Alliance 2016", "En France 2015", "La Verchère 2015" and "Sur La Roche 2015", all on a very high level that shows why this appelation aims to be classified as premier cru for its best vineyards. Below my short notes on my two favourites.

• 2015 Daniel & Julien Barraud Pouilly-Fuissé Sur la Roche

  France, Burgundy, Mâconnais, Pouilly-Fuissé

  (10/16/2017)

  Very closed today, on the mineral side, nice bitter note, good concentration, requires additional two or more years of cellaring, big potential.

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• 2015 Daniel & Julien Barraud Pouilly-Fuissé La Verchère Vieilles Vignes

  France, Burgundy, Mâconnais, Pouilly-Fuissé

  (10/16/2017)

  Less closed than "En France" or "Sur la Roche", fresh, mineral and elegant, nice bitter note, requires an another year to enter its drinking window.

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The rich and opulent wines from Viré-Clessé and especially from Thévenet are the pure opposite of the wines from Vergisson with their minerality but not less excellent. Unfortunately it was not possible to taste Domaine Roally, as the vintage 2015 was not ready yet.

• 2014 Domaine Emilian Gillet (Thévenet) Viré-Clessé Quintaine

  France, Burgundy, Mâconnais, Viré-Clessé

  (10/17/2017)

  Flowery nose, good acidity and concentration. Quite mineral for a Quintaine from Thévenet, but according to Gautier Thévenet this will change within the next two years (same happend with previous vintages). 90 - 92+.

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• 2012 Domaine de la Bongran (Thevenet) Viré-Clessé Cuvée E. J. Thevenet

  France, Burgundy, Mâconnais, Viré-Clessé

  (10/17/2017)

  Good concentration but very closed today, requires additional one or two years of cellaring, has for sure big potential (similar to 2010).

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We tasted Fleur de Chardonnay, Arôme de Gamay Petillant, the basic Juliénas from 2015 and 2016, Juliénas Cuvée Prestige 2014 and 2015 and Juliénas Tête de Cuvée 2014. Cuvée Prestige 2015 and Tête de Cuvée 2014 show a very high quality level for a very good price. Ones more, it showed that 2015 was a great year in this region.

• 2015 Michel Tête Juliénas Domaine du Clos du Fief "Cuvee Prestige"

  France, Burgundy, Beaujolais, Juliénas

  (10/16/2017)

  Great value from a very good vintage, but it is better to wait one or two years, earthy, black berries, good structure, can last 8 to 10 years, 89-90+.

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• NV Michel Tête Arôme de Gamay Petillant 87 Points

  France, Burgundy

  (10/16/2017)

  7.5%. Red berries, fresh, light and slightly sweet, makes fun, it's not for cellaring, drink it in its youth.

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Nice Restaurant with traditional, regional kitchen on quite high level. The wine collection is focused on Beaujolais and especially on Julienas, unfortunately there are not many aged crus available.

• 2015 Domaine de la Verpaille Viré-Clessé Harmonie 90 Points

  France, Burgundy, Mâconnais, Viré-Clessé

  (10/16/2017)

  La Rose, Julienas. Opulent, slightly sweet but with enough acidity to be not dull but harmonic. Requires further cellaring to gain in complexity, 90-91.

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• 2013 Château de Juliénas Fleurie Les Moriers 90 Points

  France, Burgundy, Beaujolais, Fleurie

  (10/16/2017)

  La Rose, Julienas. Velvety and mouth filling, prune and chocolate, good freshness, medium length, may improve with further aging, drink now or during the next 6 years, 90+. Excellent with filet de boeuf (beef).

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• 2016 Château Thivin Beaujolais-Villages Blanc Marguerite 89 Points

  France, Burgundy, Beaujolais, Beaujolais-Villages

  (10/15/2017)

  La Rose, Julienas. Quite restrained, needs time to open, on the nose tropical fruits (mango or pineapple?), on the palate medium acidity, nice bitter note, good concentration, medium length. Very young, better wait one or two years, 88 - 90+.

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• 2014 Bouchard Père et Fils Mercurey 85 Points

  France, Burgundy, Côte Chalonnaise, Mercurey

  (10/15/2017)

  La Rose, Julienas. Nice elegant pinot nose with red berries but quite simple on the palate. Ok with the excellent coq au vin.

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After the second trip to the south of Burgundy this year I am sure that 2015 was an excellant year not only for the red wines but also for the white wines though it was a very hot summer. The best white wines are very closed now (this is the reason that my notes are very short) but they will have a bright future.