Pinot Noir 2010: Switzerland vs Burgundy

• 2010 Domaine David Clark Bourgogne Passetoutgrains

  France, Burgundy, Bourgogne Passetoutgrains

  Served to "enviner" the wine glasses, given its modest appellation, but with the aim to surprise the friends at the table. I didn't take a TN, but the wine was lovely, still young and refined as you wouldn't expect from a Passetoutgrain. At the end of the tasting this was one of the three empty bottles.

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Or Lafarge vs his admirer

• 2010 Domaine Michel Lafarge Volnay Vendanges Sélectionnées

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Volnay

  The first sniff gave a hint of oxidation, but it dissipated quickly. Nice red fruit with herbs. On the palate it is classy, fresh, very elegant.
  The group wasn't particularly impressed, but at the end of the tasting this was one of the three empty bottles.

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• 2010 Weinbau Markus Ruch Pinot Noir Hallau Ganztraubengärung

  Switzerland, Eastern Switzerland, Schaffhausen, Hallau

  Unicorn bottle (label actually): this is the first vintage of what later became the Haalde. Dark ruby tending to garnet.
  Smoky on the nose, dark fruit, but more roasted (coffee?) notes. On the palate it is dark too, deep mineral notes finishing almost bitter. It was not very approachable during the tasting (and was not much liked by the group) but it improved on day two and three: the smoky, roasted notes became very mild and nice red fruit together with a touch of mushrooms emerged. On the palate the concentration and deep mineral notes were balanced by lively energy. A hint of coffee on the finish.
  To be tasted again in several more years.

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• 2010 Domaine Chandon de Briailles Pernand-Vergelesses 1er Cru Ile des Vergelesses

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Pernand-Vergelesses 1er Cru

  A hint of oxidation at first but it dissipated quickly. Beautiful fruit, fresh cherry, and the impression of stem presence. Very nice on the palate, beautiful progression, underlying minerality. Perhaps not too lively.
  It drank well and improved on day two and three. Showed a bit of evolution on the nose (mushrooms, undergrowth), and a very beautiful, perfectly balanced palate. Classy.

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• 2010 La Maison Carrée Pinot Noir Le Lerin

  Switzerland, Three Lakes, Neuchâtel, Auvernier

  The nose shows a note of geranium, which is typical. A bit off-putting at first, but it integrates better with time in the glass, evolving towards roses and integrating better with the red fruit. The palate starts fresh and energetic, progresses nicely towards deeper mineral notes, but a touch of green emerges on the finish.
  It improved on day two and three, but never fully convinced.

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Actually the plan was to have two villages first and then move up to 1er and then grand cru, but by mistake the 2nd village and the 1er cru were switched.

• 2010 Domaine Dujac Morey St. Denis

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Morey St. Denis

  Beautiful nose, more flowers than red fruit, delicate and elegant.
  Lovely, fresh, light tannin but with a certain firmness, lively, direct and lean.
  A pleasure to drink.
  One of the three bottles empty at the end of the tasting, so no impressions from day two...

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• 2010 Weingut Eichholz Pinot Noir Eichholz

  Switzerland, Eastern Switzerland, Graubünden, Jenins

  Garnet, very dark, almost impenetrable.
  A touch of mushrooms, oak, fruit in the background.
  Very concentrated, powerful, but forced and heavy.
  I followed it over three more days, but it did not really improve.

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• 2010 Domaine Anne Gros Echezeaux Les Loachausses

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Echezeaux Grand Cru

  This is aromatically the most complex. Elegant nose, with intense flowers intertwined with fruit, cherries. On the palate impressive concentration, but not forced, though it feels as if the wine is still closed and needs more time to relax and express itself fully.
  Better on day 2, but there remained just a few sips.

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• 2010 Gantenbein Pinot Noir

  Switzerland, Eastern Switzerland, Graubünden, Fläsch

  The nose starts with oak and a smoky note, fruit in the background. Dark tones on the palate, powerful, but also a good freshness, even a surprising note of blood oranges. It improved on day two, the oak had dissipated and the palate was better integrated. Overall nice to drink.

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This was not served alone, but rather served at the end of the second flight and was drunk all along.

• 2010 Ata Rangi Pinot Noir

  New Zealand, North Island, Wairarapa, Martinborough

  This was the pirate in the tasting and somebody thought about the other emisphere (Australia, rather than New Zealand), but also Germany was mentioned. Much on the fruit, but starting to show evolution on the nose. High concentration, lacking grace.

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Well, Burgundy won, but what else could have one expected?