September 6, 2023 - Weightlessly powerful, mixed red and dark fruits with prevalent smoky and leather however lacks the depth one may expect from the producer/vintage/terroir combination.
December 15, 2022 - To commemorate the start of the last month we opened this Bonnes-Mares Mugnier 2002. Seductive Chambolle nose, a little earthy and floral still. Weightless body, so light yet intense and expressive. With 20 years of age in a perfect place. I am wondering if blind I would have guessed Musigny rather than BM, but the slight earthiness possibly points to BM.
October 24, 2021 - A compelling and serious nose with lots of savory and earthy red cherry. Palate is pretty but a little lightweight for Grand Cru and in the context of the the line up. From relatively young vines at this time, I am told.
October 24, 2021 - Nice bright delicate styled red fruits with nuanced floral tones and good spice. Lighter weight BM especially for the vintage and next to the Le Moine BM '02,. Quite good, although my expectations were higher regarding complexity and depth.
October 24, 2021 - A Birthday / Burgundy Dinner (The Bristol): Bright red fruit with the weightless textures I find most commonly in the best of Chambolle. Less layered or nuanced vs the best of Bonnes Mares, seemingly borderline Grand Cru density.
December 31, 2020 - Last bottle opened in 2020. Ending the year I will never forget, with a wine I will never forget: 2002 Mugnier Bonnes Mares.
Feels like drinking a Rembrandt, while reflecting upon a war we are just about to win - but nobody wants to declare victory prematurely and jinx us all. So I will just keep admiring this Old Master and biding my time.
I adore the 2002 vintage for red Burgundy, and Mugnier is one of my favorite producers. Even still the sum is greater than the parts here, this wine bewitched me the first time I tasted it. I was lucky enough to source a case after the first taste - will I ever see a whole case of Mugnier again? This was my last bottle and all 12 were well and truly exquisite. This grand encore thrilled me.
I love the sweetness of the fruit and flowers, juxtaposed with the dry and stemmy nuances. Juicy black fruit and clean, precise red fruit.
The sauvages brings it over the top. The fruit is majestic, the aromas are elegant, it bursts with flowers and exotic spice. But that hint of stemmy animale is what brings it to genius level brilliance. It’s the slight crookedness of Mona Lisa’s smile.
I am really going to miss this wine. But I don't think I will miss 2020 😬
June 14, 2020 - surprising that this is a Bonne Mares and not a Musigny - so elegant and refined, with beautiful flowery scent. Still some red fruit. Serene.
March 7, 2020 - La Paulée de New York Gala Dinner (Pier Sixty, Chelsea Piers - New York NY): Late night small our. Red cherry and berry with bits of savory spice and earth. Good weight with sneaky power emerging on long-ish finish. Very good now.
March 7, 2020 - La Paulee 2020 - Gala Dinner (Pier 60): This is shyer and more weighty than 02 Amoureuses and Musigny, but the wine is great. Vintage killer acid and elegance. 93+
November 16, 2019 - Showing at its finest. This wine is my jam, everything I want in a Burgundy. Supremely seductive and elegant aromas were complemented by an expansive and silky palate. Gliding along in the mouth, classic iron fist in velvet glove. There were cheers around the table.