PoB - Grivot Richebourg vertical dinner (1992-2013)

Pearl of Burgundy, PoB, Hong Kong organized this wonderful tasting with Etienne Grivot present and ex domaine Magnums and bottles just before Asia went into the Covid-2019 shut down. I really love this producer and Cru. While there were two wines in the 90ies (98/96) that did not reach the elegance and fragrance of the rest, the Cru really sang that night with sublime aromas and elegant palate. The Grivot style of of today is more feminine than in the past, there is grace and refinement in the wines with lots of fragrance around autumn leaves, cured meat, cedar wood and subtle barnyard funk. As so often, once you dial down density, wines become more aromatic (Rayas, Soldera, Rousseau, DRC). Noteworthy in this tasting were also the performances in lesser vintages. With Grivot Richbourg prices having approached USD 1000, I have been looking for the less expensive Crus of this estate for some time and can particularly recommend the Chabolle Musigny Combe d'Orveau (Village), NSG 1er Les Boudots (neighbor of Malcosorts). Of course the three VSR 1ers Beauxmonts/Suchots/Reignots are also great but there we are already looking at USD 200-400. Cheers!

• 1992 Domaine Jean Grivot Richebourg 99 Points

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Richebourg Grand Cru

  From Magnum. First wine to be poured and what a start. This wine had it all and reminds us why we drink Burgundy despite the high prices and the many erratic bottles that dont end up showing as they should. Haunting nose of cured meat, spices, cedar, tobacco. Light on the palate, precise tannins. A Burgundy to die for.

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• 1996 Domaine Jean Grivot Richebourg 92 Points

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Richebourg Grand Cru

  From Magnum. This wine was very tannic still. Etienne Grivot who sat next to me mentioned that they have probably not caught the tannic ripeness at the optimal point vs other vintages. This and the 1998 were the only wines that did not fully convince in this magical tasting.

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• 1998 Domaine Jean Grivot Richebourg 93 Points

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Richebourg Grand Cru

  A dense wine as well, felt closed with some Maggi beef stock but not oxidative, on the rustic side. Phenolic ripeness not top here either. This and the 1996 were the only wines that did not fully convince in this magical tasting.

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• 2003 Domaine Jean Grivot Richebourg 95 Points

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Richebourg Grand Cru

  A nice showing for 2003. Of course not among the best tonight but they managed the inevitable ripeness well here. The wine is dense and compact, lots of tannis but not drying at the finish. Probably the best you could do in a Californian vintage like 2003.

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• 2004 Domaine Jean Grivot Richebourg 97 Points

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Richebourg Grand Cru

  From Magnum. Another stellar showing of this vintage. Yes, there are some green herbal notes here but the wine does not feel unripe. The nose is utterly captivating with cured meat, stalks, minerality, red fruit, stemmy DRC like aroma profile. What a wine for the vintage. I had this wine several times and tonight confirms my previous notes.

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• 2005 Domaine Jean Grivot Richebourg 99 Points

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Richebourg Grand Cru

  I think we have a 100 pointer in the making here, but dont even think of opening this before 2025. The wine was completely closed and the tell tale Grivot Richebourg aromas (for which you shell out top dollar) not yet on display. From the structure and balance you can see though that they managed this vintage well, not overly tannic like so many 2005. Etienne Grivot said that 2005 was the last great vintage where getting to optimal ripeness was a challenge, buy that he meant that there are plenty of 2005 with unripe tannins. In 2009/10/15 that was not a problem anymore in Burgundy due to global warming and better viticulture.

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• 2007 Domaine Jean Grivot Richebourg 98 Points

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Richebourg Grand Cru

  Wow, what a nose. Cured meat, farmyard, leather, cranberries, spices. Light on its feet, elegant. That is why we drink Burgundy. Stellar performance in this vintage.

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• 2010 Domaine Jean Grivot Richebourg 100 Points

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Richebourg Grand Cru

  The most complete wine of the evening. Still a bit closed with discrete nose of farmyard, raspberry, spices. The precision and elegance of the palate are stunning as with so many 2010. Awesome wine. Also here, dont open this before 2025.

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• 2013 Domaine Jean Grivot Richebourg 96 Points

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Richebourg Grand Cru

  From Magnum. The youngest wine in this tasting. Obviously more closed with primary aromas still. There is great promise here as the palate is well balance with good freshness and depth and good 2013 tannins. Looking how well Grivot has done in other lesser vintages like 04/07, I am very optimistic about this wine. 96-97

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A special thanks to PoB for organizing this magical evening.