2011 Burgs (Noize): First time trying this notorious producer. Tonight's most mature wine, with plenty of farmyard and some visible browning. Stereotypically 2011 in terms of structure, being bright and crisp and marked by its acidity - the opposite to the Felettig, say. I'd be drinking up if I owned this wine, but it was really quite nice on the night.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
More mid garnet than ruby. Nicely evolving nose with some sous bois starting to develop and a tiny hint of caramel at the edge. Vibrant red fruit, quite tart with good acidity. Middle weight here and more substance than the 2010. Decent length, persistent with a good line, the acidity giving focus. Just about ****
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Tasted over 2 hrs -med dark red mild bricking -expressive slightly burnt sickly sweet red fruit mild reduction -barely med acidity, med- weight faded dark red fruit faintly medicinal, med- tannins slightly astringent and some faint oak -not very harmonious and rather low acidity for the vintage, probably was better a couple years ago
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
This shows more density and concentration than the Mont Luisants of the same vintage but is by no means a powerful wine. More dilute than a recent (spectacular) bottle of the 10, but still in adolescence, elegant and easy to drink but not showing a huge amount of development. This is certainly ready to drink but will change and I think improve over a few years. *** 1/2
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
This bottle was fantastic right out of the gate. Light hazy ruby color with a bit of sediment. Cork in perfect shape. Lovely perfume of mixed berry pie and floral elements and only a slight hint of the smoky wood that used to be more prominent in the bouquet. The palate has a gentle entry and is a bit soft on acidity for my taste, but I am enjoying the earth and mushroom notes and a little bit of that indescribable Burgundy magic that I had hoped to get. I refuse to throw food at it for fear of overwhelming the subtle beauty I'm tasting, but maybe seabass or white-sauced pasta would work well. After 2 hours it's holding up ok, but I'll have to report back when this bottle is eventually kaput. Down to the final pours 6+ hours later and it’s held together very well, though I still don’t have confidence in it’s long term future. But it’s nice to get a good one. 5+12+17+7= 91
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Pretty consistent with what I tasted four years ago. Rusty garnet color, cork in good shape (always a concern with MI), no sediment. Enjoyable right from the pop with a light herbal, tobacco, creosote, and cherry bouquet. Palate still has good flavor but it’s lacking persistence and the longer it’s open, the more it starts to fade. I consumed this over 8 hours or so, but I think it shined the brightest early on. Quite good and enjoyable, and satisfies my lighter Burgundy itch, but it isn’t very special. 5+11+16++7= 89
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Let's not entirely put it down, it's a well made wine. It is very dilute in colour light ruby, with an very obvious orange tinged rim. It screams an age that vintage clearly does not have. I have to think of storage issues, but the cork is as it should be, some soaking for 5mm and tight, with no raised issues to show heat damage.
On the nose you get a lightest charring of wood peaking through the light floral scented fruit. There are green leafy tinges.
In the mouth light strawberry no more, it's simple, not acidic, but acidity in the medium finish. One can't say watery or dilute, but the danger is there. It's simple though, no complexity, no energy or verve.
In conclusion, I cannot see this as a premier cru wine, it represents it's village in a bad year. I'd peg it as a 92, it's that light. I suspect the issue here is the fruit, definitely not the first pick of the vineyard, more likely the dregs left for the likes of Walker to sweep up and what more discerning producers would put into Bourgogne Rouge or the village wine.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
An interesting example of many things done right and something just a little off, disjointed. Strong expression of place, although showing angularities. Perhaps a touch of brett. These should probably be drunk sooner than later. Food helps round the edges.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Maison Ilan @ Medlar: A little darker a little darker but still mid ruby with a hint of garnet. More savoury on the nose. Quite sweet-fruited. Plenty of interest. I like this. ****
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Pop and pour. A little Asian spice on the nose. Red fruit dominates on the palate. Enjoyable, though a bit simple. Drinks more like village than premiere cru.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Genuinely lovely nose, but like the other '11 Ilans I've had, the midpalate is a bit hollow and watery. Still, better than the bad reviews would lead you to believe, and quite enjoyable--just not true premier cru quality.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Something wasn't quite right, this bottle smelled and tasted like an over the hill Burgundy. Bought direct and stored in my cellar since release, I would have guessed improper storage if I had bought the wine later at retail. Below average 74
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Clear garnet in the glass. Big nose of black cherry tea and rooibos with a bit or rubber overlaid. Medium minus tannins and medium plus acidity lead a palate that is fruit forward -- black cherry, black tea, dried flowers -- by Old World standards, but by no means New World in style. Naturally, food is its friend. I had roasted duck breast. Another top notch effort by Ray Walker.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Notes after 4 hours open. Strong aromas of Dads Root Beer, poop, and reduction at the start. It settled down to a spicy cola, mushroom, ripe strawberry pie, and savory green herb kind of thing with medium intensity and shed most of the manure as it aired. The color is tawny ruby, about 60% opaque. Flavors seem aged beyond their years, which isn't necessarily a bad thing, I just think that this wine will taste 20 years old when it reaches ten. I wouldn't call the palate thin, but more a reflection of the vintage, however the not-so-neutral oak almost destroys the wine entirely. I also think there is some tannin bitterness that still should resolve and could make this a better drop in the future. Finish is quite long and smoky. The wine was profoundly more enjoyable with food (in this case, a steak sandwich) than on its own. 4+11+16+8= 89
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
It took a while to open up, and even after 3 hours it was a bit light, but pleasant and we enjoyed it. I think that Ray's minimalist wine making approach doesn't end up producing the best product in a challenging year like 2011.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
This wine needed a lot of time to open up, and when it did there was something not quite right lurking in the background, that I could not identify, or shake. To be honest, if I tasted it blind I would not identify it as burgundy. My husband disagreed, and thought it was representative of the 2011 vintage albeit very green/vegital. Bring this one to your next blind tasting, it is sure to spark conversation and be controversial, and that may in some way justify the price and increase your enjoyment.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
note after I pulled the cork after removing two glasses via Coravin two weeks earlier. A bit of nail polish on the nose. Really nice strawberries and red fruits on the mid palate. However, it has a very stemmy, chemical finish. Hold the other bottles and hope for the best.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Popped and poured, drank over 4 hours. Enjoyed with roast chicken spuds veggies and gravy.
With all the hullabaloo thought it would be worth opening a bottle. On opening - lovely start, bit of depth not too astringent, lovely nose red fruits bit of forest floor - jolly enjoyable wine.
I can't remember whether it's Kolm or Nanson but some burg guru is very pro 11 at the moment - I'm certainly beginning to feel it....
After a few hours....
It's opening up - this is an excellent bottle. Hugely enjoyable - deliciousness reminiscent of Jouan but maybe with a little more substance and a little more polish.
This wasn't cheap but if other bottles are like this then a good buy.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Seems that something went wrong between barrel and bottle. An odd, funky aroma, which is also evident on the palate. While on palate entry it has a bright red fruit quality, it immediately turns on the mid-palate and seems very "old school" and somewhat clunky. A harsh, acidic finish.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
OK, this is better than the first wine. It has light cherry and slightly resiny pine box aromas followed by a cherry, earthy taste perceptions. For now, as it should be, it is firm and a little grumpy. My guess is that this wine will get better, but never please like the 2009 in the same model. Caveat: 2011 is certainly the worst vintage for me for the 2005-2012 run of pretty darn good to awesome years.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
This was quite disappointing. Only a hint of Morey odor could escape the stinky, funky, off-putting aromas that stuck around for two days. The wine was harsh as well.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Decanted at 3, served around 7. Decent nose, and the first of the 6 2011 MI wines that was even worth drinking. Tried again after 24 hours in the decanter with limited improvement.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Dinner in LA (b.o.s - Los Angeles, CA): Seemed a bit simplistic and overly acidic to me (and I LOVE acidic pinot). This did have really nice floral notes, but never seemed to reach the levels of the other Maison Ilan’s.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
10/12/2023 - NickA Likes this wine: 92 Points
2011 Burgs (Noize): First time trying this notorious producer. Tonight's most mature wine, with plenty of farmyard and some visible browning. Stereotypically 2011 in terms of structure, being bright and crisp and marked by its acidity - the opposite to the Felettig, say. I'd be drinking up if I owned this wine, but it was really quite nice on the night.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/9/2022 - SimonG wrote: 91 Points
More mid garnet than ruby. Nicely evolving nose with some sous bois starting to develop and a tiny hint of caramel at the edge. Vibrant red fruit, quite tart with good acidity. Middle weight here and more substance than the 2010. Decent length, persistent with a good line, the acidity giving focus. Just about ****
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
10/27/2021 - Cote d'Or wrote:
Tasted over 2 hrs
-med dark red mild bricking
-expressive slightly burnt sickly sweet red fruit mild reduction
-barely med acidity, med- weight faded dark red fruit faintly medicinal, med- tannins slightly astringent and some faint oak
-not very harmonious and rather low acidity for the vintage, probably was better a couple years ago
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/22/2020 - benhalton wrote:
This shows more density and concentration than the Mont Luisants of the same vintage but is by no means a powerful wine. More dilute than a recent (spectacular) bottle of the 10, but still in adolescence, elegant and easy to drink but not showing a huge amount of development. This is certainly ready to drink but will change and I think improve over a few years. *** 1/2
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
10/16/2020 - fingers Likes this wine: 91 Points
This bottle was fantastic right out of the gate. Light hazy ruby color with a bit of sediment. Cork in perfect shape. Lovely perfume of mixed berry pie and floral elements and only a slight hint of the smoky wood that used to be more prominent in the bouquet. The palate has a gentle entry and is a bit soft on acidity for my taste, but I am enjoying the earth and mushroom notes and a little bit of that indescribable Burgundy magic that I had hoped to get. I refuse to throw food at it for fear of overwhelming the subtle beauty I'm tasting, but maybe seabass or white-sauced pasta would work well. After 2 hours it's holding up ok, but I'll have to report back when this bottle is eventually kaput.
Down to the final pours 6+ hours later and it’s held together very well, though I still don’t have confidence in it’s long term future.
But it’s nice to get a good one.
5+12+17+7= 91
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
6/28/2020 - fingers Likes this wine: 89 Points
Pretty consistent with what I tasted four years ago. Rusty garnet color, cork in good shape (always a concern with MI), no sediment. Enjoyable right from the pop with a light herbal, tobacco, creosote, and cherry bouquet. Palate still has good flavor but it’s lacking persistence and the longer it’s open, the more it starts to fade. I consumed this over 8 hours or so, but I think it shined the brightest early on. Quite good and enjoyable, and satisfies my lighter Burgundy itch, but it isn’t very special.
5+11+16++7= 89
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
1/27/2020 - FreekSuijver wrote: flawed
Undrinkable
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/16/2019 - Dids Does not like this wine: 84 Points
Let's not entirely put it down, it's a well made wine. It is very dilute in colour light ruby, with an very obvious orange tinged rim. It screams an age that vintage clearly does not have. I have to think of storage issues, but the cork is as it should be, some soaking for 5mm and tight, with no raised issues to show heat damage.
On the nose you get a lightest charring of wood peaking through the light floral scented fruit. There are green leafy tinges.
In the mouth light strawberry no more, it's simple, not acidic, but acidity in the medium finish. One can't say watery or dilute, but the danger is there. It's simple though, no complexity, no energy or verve.
In conclusion, I cannot see this as a premier cru wine, it represents it's village in a bad year. I'd peg it as a 92, it's that light. I suspect the issue here is the fruit, definitely not the first pick of the vineyard, more likely the dregs left for the likes of Walker to sweep up and what more discerning producers would put into Bourgogne Rouge or the village wine.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
4/28/2019 - xwine wrote:
No better than the last bottle, but looks and smells about ten years older. Not good.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
1/31/2019 - Motz wrote: 90 Points
An interesting example of many things done right and something just a little off, disjointed. Strong expression of place, although showing angularities. Perhaps a touch of brett. These should probably be drunk sooner than later. Food helps round the edges.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
7/5/2018 - SimonG wrote: 91 Points
Maison Ilan @ Medlar: A little darker a little darker but still mid ruby with a hint of garnet. More savoury on the nose. Quite sweet-fruited. Plenty of interest. I like this. ****
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
4/4/2018 - Charlie Carnes Does not like this wine:
Another flawed 2011 Ilan.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
1/27/2018 - cookie7 wrote:
Pop and pour. A little Asian spice on the nose. Red fruit dominates on the palate. Enjoyable, though a bit simple. Drinks more like village than premiere cru.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
6/25/2017 - rc@ughey wrote: 88 Points
Genuinely lovely nose, but like the other '11 Ilans I've had, the midpalate is a bit hollow and watery. Still, better than the bad reviews would lead you to believe, and quite enjoyable--just not true premier cru quality.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
2/6/2017 - Tpety wrote: 74 Points
Something wasn't quite right, this bottle smelled and tasted like an over the hill Burgundy. Bought direct and stored in my cellar since release, I would have guessed improper storage if I had bought the wine later at retail. Below average 74
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
1/27/2017 - iByron Likes this wine: 90 Points
Clear garnet in the glass. Big nose of black cherry tea and rooibos with a bit or rubber overlaid. Medium minus tannins and medium plus acidity lead a palate that is fruit forward -- black cherry, black tea, dried flowers -- by Old World standards, but by no means New World in style. Naturally, food is its friend. I had roasted duck breast. Another top notch effort by Ray Walker.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
1/16/2017 - isaacjamesbaker wrote: 90 Points
Double-blind Tasting (Weygandt Wines - Washington, D.C.): Vibrant yet concentrated. Pretty cherry with roses, earth, hints of broth. Firm but tart, still quite young.
Guess: 2010 Cote de Nuits 1er Cru.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
10/8/2016 - fingers wrote: 89 Points
Notes after 4 hours open. Strong aromas of Dads Root Beer, poop, and reduction at the start. It settled down to a spicy cola, mushroom, ripe strawberry pie, and savory green herb kind of thing with medium intensity and shed most of the manure as it aired. The color is tawny ruby, about 60% opaque. Flavors seem aged beyond their years, which isn't necessarily a bad thing, I just think that this wine will taste 20 years old when it reaches ten. I wouldn't call the palate thin, but more a reflection of the vintage, however the not-so-neutral oak almost destroys the wine entirely. I also think there is some tannin bitterness that still should resolve and could make this a better drop in the future. Finish is quite long and smoky. The wine was profoundly more enjoyable with food (in this case, a steak sandwich) than on its own. 4+11+16+8= 89
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
9/22/2016 - jswine15 wrote: 89 Points
It took a while to open up, and even after 3 hours it was a bit light, but pleasant and we enjoyed it. I think that Ray's minimalist wine making approach doesn't end up producing the best product in a challenging year like 2011.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
8/27/2016 - JenMiami Does not like this wine:
This wine needed a lot of time to open up, and when it did there was something not quite right lurking in the background, that I could not identify, or shake. To be honest, if I tasted it blind I would not identify it as burgundy. My husband disagreed, and thought it was representative of the 2011 vintage albeit very green/vegital. Bring this one to your next blind tasting, it is sure to spark conversation and be controversial, and that may in some way justify the price and increase your enjoyment.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
8/19/2016 - cookie7 wrote:
note after I pulled the cork after removing two glasses via Coravin two weeks earlier. A bit of nail polish on the nose. Really nice strawberries and red fruits on the mid palate. However, it has a very stemmy, chemical finish. Hold the other bottles and hope for the best.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
8/15/2016 - Charlie Carnes Does not like this wine:
There is obviously either or both a provenance or wine making issue here.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/14/2016 - khmark7 wrote: 85 Points
Opens a little with air time. Still rather thin and lacking character that i was expecting. Overly rustic and dull.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
1/24/2016 - lozatron Likes this wine: 91 Points
Popped and poured, drank over 4 hours. Enjoyed with roast chicken spuds veggies and gravy.
With all the hullabaloo thought it would be worth opening a bottle. On opening - lovely start, bit of depth not too astringent, lovely nose red fruits bit of forest floor - jolly enjoyable wine.
I can't remember whether it's Kolm or Nanson but some burg guru is very pro 11 at the moment - I'm certainly beginning to feel it....
After a few hours....
It's opening up - this is an excellent bottle. Hugely enjoyable - deliciousness reminiscent of Jouan but maybe with a little more substance and a little more polish.
This wasn't cheap but if other bottles are like this then a good buy.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
10/29/2015 - Diane (LI) wrote:
It started out okay, but soon became disjointed, and never came together. Very odd.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
10/7/2015 - Charlie Carnes wrote: flawed
Like the Corbeaux, this was beautiful, pale light red. Alas! The cork was soaked through and solidly corked. 0-2 on Ilan tonight.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
6/12/2015 - xwine wrote:
Seems that something went wrong between barrel and bottle. An odd, funky aroma, which is also evident on the palate. While on palate entry it has a bright red fruit quality, it immediately turns on the mid-palate and seems very "old school" and somewhat clunky. A harsh, acidic finish.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
3/8/2015 - Charlie Carnes wrote:
OK, this is better than the first wine. It has light cherry and slightly resiny pine box aromas followed by a cherry, earthy taste perceptions. For now, as it should be, it is firm and a little grumpy. My guess is that this wine will get better, but never please like the 2009 in the same model. Caveat: 2011 is certainly the worst vintage for me for the 2005-2012 run of pretty darn good to awesome years.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
3/3/2015 - Charlie Carnes wrote: flawed
This was quite disappointing. Only a hint of Morey odor could escape the stinky, funky, off-putting aromas that stuck around for two days. The wine was harsh as well.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/5/2014 - Chuck Miller wrote:
Decanted at 3, served around 7. Decent nose, and the first of the 6 2011 MI wines that was even worth drinking. Tried again after 24 hours in the decanter with limited improvement.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
5/28/2014 - tooch wrote: 87 Points
Dinner in LA (b.o.s - Los Angeles, CA): Seemed a bit simplistic and overly acidic to me (and I LOVE acidic pinot). This did have really nice floral notes, but never seemed to reach the levels of the other Maison Ilan’s.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
9/17/2012 - tthomas wrote:
Barrel sample. More going on here than with the Monts Luisants. Very nice medium body burg that should provide much pleasure.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
9/8/2012 - sethmorgenlong wrote:
Barrel sample:
Blue, very mineral, savory, dense and spiced. Bright, distinct and beautiful. Nice complexity, grace and direction.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
5/8/2012 - xwine wrote:
Tasting at Maison Ilan with Ray Walker (Nuits-Saint-Georges): Barrel sample. Terrific palate presence, even though it was a bit awkward and gassy on the finish. The second barrel sample was a bit reduced. Hard to evaluate today.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment