Tasting at Ramonet (2004, 2003 and others)

Ramonet cellars
Tasted Thursday, November 17, 2005 by Will with 1,226 views

Introduction

Mike and I had the chance to go to Domaine Ramonet for a tasting of what we believed would be the 2004. However luck was with us again in the form of good friends of Noel Ramonet as well as a few ITB ppl. In the end many bottles were opened, including some truly amazing ones. The downside was that we unfortunately couldn't chat with Noel Ramonet as much as we would have liked, but that will be for another occasion. By the way Noel Ramonet is a real character and very fun to meet. We certainly had a great time there.

My notes are unfortunately not very developed as I was scribbling them as fast as I could on the corner of a cellar rack... but they should still give an idea of how the wines were showing that day.

Flight 1 - 2004 whites (6 Notes)

Flight 2 - 2003 whites (1er cru) (4 Notes)

Flight 3 - 2003 whites (grand cru) (3 Notes)

  • 2003 Domaine Ramonet Bienvenues-Bâtard-Montrachet

    France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Bienvenues-Bâtard-Montrachet Grand Cru

    Much better than the Chassagnes 1er cru tried before, more complex and interesting but still not totally convincing. Same kind of crème brulée aromas than in the Vergers. Clearly a step up but still slightly not quite there for a BBM from Ramonet.

    Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

  • 2003 Domaine Ramonet Bâtard-Montrachet

    France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Bâtard-Montrachet Grand Cru

    Again a clear step up but also again not performing at the expected level.

    Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

  • 2003 Domaine Ramonet Montrachet

    France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Montrachet Grand Cru

    Captivating nose with lots of spices, a bit green/acidic in the mouth with again the crème brulée aromas. Very complex but still some alcohol in the background that might detract from the whole showing. Superb finish and incredible (truly incredible) length. Clearly way way way above any other 2003 white from the same domaine, there is just no comparison. It is still not necessarily at the same level as other vintages from this fantastic wine and the style is quite peculiar.

    Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

Flight 4 - A couple of beauties (2 Notes)

Spitting - yeah, right... you can dream about it!

  • 2002 Domaine Ramonet Bâtard-Montrachet

    France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Bâtard-Montrachet Grand Cru

    Very tight (and I would stay shut tight) right now but the class is showing anyway with a superb balance, nice and well-integrated acidity, a lot of substance and density, homogenous, compact. This wine looks to me like a very intense and dense core that is currently very small and concentrated but that will with time expand and reveal itself to be incredible. The real stuff.

    Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

  • 1999 Domaine Ramonet Montrachet

    France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Montrachet Grand Cru

    Enormous toast on the nose for the moment, the wine is very very young and tight with an incredible substance and density, again a very tight sphere that is just impossible to attack because there are no cracks or weak points. A small sphere of perfection that will certainly prove to be mind-bogglingly good when it finally cracks open. (tasted blind, my guess was 99 BM)

    Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

Flight 5 - Premature oxydation... (2 Notes)

  • 1995 Domaine Ramonet Bienvenues-Bâtard-Montrachet

    France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Bienvenues-Bâtard-Montrachet Grand Cru

    Part of a mini-controversy with the 89 BBM tasted later on, this wine was showing signs of oxydation and is on a downward slope. Simply put, this bottle was doomed and bound to become worse and worse. The cork was showing a light blue, dusty tinge only a few millimeters deep (see TN for 89 BBM).

    Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

  • 1989 Domaine Ramonet Bienvenues-Bâtard-Montrachet

    France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Bienvenues-Bâtard-Montrachet Grand Cru

    Incredibly oxydised, the worst oxydised bottle I have ever had in my life. Smelled putrid and the mouth was even worse. Completely undrinkable. Showing the same light-blue, slightly dusty tinge than the 95 BBM but only deeper (about half a centimeter). In my opinion the difference between the 89 and the 95 was simply 6 years - basically the 95 we had would taste exactly like that 6 more years down the road.

    Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

Flight 6 - Some reds (2 Notes)

Closing

All in all the 2004 seemed nice although not one of the few dozens of vintages of the century (although I'm sure we're bound to hear a different tune from our friends ITB). I would definitely be interested in buying a few bottles (the 4 last wines in the 2004 flight were all worthy of consideration).

The 2003 seemed rather awful and I would definitely avoid this vintage although I'm sure many ppl would like this style. This is just not the ultra focused, superbly delineated, beautifully balanced wines we have come to expect from this producer.

Guillaume

×
×