Tasted double blind. Impressive showing, deep, balanced, elegant and highly stimulating. This was probably not as fresh as prior bottles but still easily a 94/95pts wine.
TN: Expressive nose with smoke, flint, minerality and citrus notes. On the palate this has layers of aromas displaying lime, white and ripe peach, a strong salty backbone, crushed rocks. Round and harmonious and with a good acidity backbone which could be even more pronounced.
Decanting: Not decanted, good from the go. A short decant should be sufficient.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
A bombastic nose of popcorn, ripe peach fruit, pear, smoke and mineral notes of sea salt. There’s also a compelling feature of peppery spice. A consistently great bottle of wine having already popped 4 since 2020 so far. An intense and well-balanced palate with finely integrated wood, impeccable harmony.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Mostly Champagne & Burgs (VVF, Krug, DP, Rousseau, Fourrier,…): The only white wine in the lineup. I’ve had this wine six months ago with consistent results (96 pts). While it might be a bit too broad right upon opening, this get more harmonious, fresh as well as more layered the longer it sit in the glass. The highlights are the complexity and the perfect balance. This is a great wine in a great spot, well deserving the high praise here on Cellartracker.
TN: I’ve only tasted this on day two, the nose is rather muted but on the palate this is great. Ripe orchard fruit, some tropical fruit, especially mango, some citrusy aromas, some honey notes, a balancing layer of minerality and some herbs - all delivered in HD. This is sexy as f*ck with that extra Batard broadness but an superb acidity which cuts right through it, keeping it weightless.
Decanting: I would give it two hours in the decanter.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Tasted blind. Very intense, lots of energy, rich and ripe. A lot of acidity to balance the volume. We were battling between new and old world. At least we guessed the vintage right. This is a great Grand Cru Burg if you like it a bit richer but you still want the Burgundian acidity.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Tasted as part of a Champagne and Burgundy tasting (plus pirates). Rich and opulent, a few hints of caramel, pear and apple, but also ripe peach, some salty minerality, matchstick and popcorn. Slightly creamy texture, lots of acidity and not as balanced as previous bottles. But I can’t stress enough how amazingly this transitions from creamy to crisp adding spices and fresh apple flavors on the way.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Pretty deep golden color. Notes of citrus, some yellow fruit, sweet spices, nice minerality too, a touch of butteriness and popcorn too and some nuts. It‘s pretty full-bodied, almost opulent, it has medium-high acidity that is sneaking up on you and adding balance. Pretty long finish with good complexity. This wine was a little controversial at the table as some people found some almost Californian ripeness and opulence in this, I still think it managed to be Burgundian… but it‘s Bâtard and a warm year, so don‘t expect Chablis raciness. This might profit from another 2-3 years in bottle to open up more aromatically.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Birthday Wine Dinner: Powerful, with yellow fruit and some floral notes. Shows a little of the 2012 ripeness, but is well balanced. Quite good and my second favorite white of the evening. Should age well.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Tasted double blind. This is a great wine with its complexity paired with great precision as the highlights. As usual, Batard is quite powerful and ripe, so I was initially not 100% sure if it really is Burgundy and not a great Napa Chardonnay. While this is a profound and wonderful wine and easily deserves the 96 points, I prefer even more freshness and minerality.
TN: Expressive nose with a multitude of aromas with orchard fruits, yellow fruit, citrus and apple, some flower aromas. Very intriguing and inviting with a good precision. More powerful and dense on the palate with lots of yellow fruit, citrus, some tropical fruit, white flowers, cedar notes and a beautiful, intense layer of salt to balance all the fruit. It is very complex, ever evolving and highly precise. The structure is impeccable with a high and round acidity, superb tension and a creamy yet fresh and light enough texture. The finish is long and complex.
Decanting: Decanted for 1h. Good from the go.
Glass: Conterno Sensory
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
1h decant and I think that is about right at this point – should mention though that I have gone without decant in the recent past and that worked as well. Incredibly complex right from the onset. Popcorn, smoke, salty minerality, a bit citric, camomile tea, peach, apricots but also hints of more tropical elements (pineapple), grass, orange zest, lemon zest and I could go on and on (actually can't as have exhausted my sensory skills, but I'm sure somebody with a better trained olfactory organ could…). Round and so soft that it makes silk appear like sandpaper. Perfect texture, super fresh but with the acidity going by almost unnoticed. Despite Fontaigne-Gagnard being known for premox issues, I am happy to report that this is flawless bottle nr. 3 out of 3, purchased in 2 batches from different suppliers.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Deep golden colour. Expansive intensity, starting off a bit muted but capturing more and more of the air space around your nose. Nineral notes of granite stone, wood shavings, pear fruit, a bit of quince and stone fruit, lemongrass, very fine spicey notes. Somewhere in the distance there is also some faint nutty, marzipan flavours. On the palate tense with power, maybe just a touch too much oak initially, but that dissipated and otherwise super fresh and imposing. Textured in a creamy way which adds some „chew“ to the mouthfeel. The finish goes on and on. So much detail and ever-changing complexity. There is really nothing not to like and I‘m almost equally impressed as a couple of months ago. Drank over two days and I should mention on day 2 I would have taken the score down a couple of notches as some of the complexity got lost over night.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
First thought: Wow. Ultra-intense with mostly pear but also some tropical elements (banana) and stone fruit in the fruit profile, initially some sulfur and floral aromatics. But first and foremost mineral to the bone with flint stone, schist and fresh breeze full of sea salt. Fresh and crisp, firm but at the same time round. A magnificent beast.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
White burgs at Wu's.: White Burgs at Wu's. A really interesting counterpoint to the 11 Fontaine-Gagnard Criots served next to it. The nose on this has some honey, ripe orchard fruit and a touch of oak, and the body is big - this is broad, rich and powerful, but with a nice long finish with some slightly ripe apple. Between the Criots and the Batard, my preference from the Criots, but I really look for tension. For those who love Burgundy made in a slightly old school way, this is an absolutely terrific bottle of Burgundy that's drinking really well right now, but isn't in any danger of falling off (well, other than premox, obviously).
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
3/4/2023 - Cailles wrote: 95 Points
Tasted double blind. Impressive showing, deep, balanced, elegant and highly stimulating. This was probably not as fresh as prior bottles but still easily a 94/95pts wine.
TN: Expressive nose with smoke, flint, minerality and citrus notes. On the palate this has layers of aromas displaying lime, white and ripe peach, a strong salty backbone, crushed rocks. Round and harmonious and with a good acidity backbone which could be even more pronounced.
Decanting: Not decanted, good from the go. A short decant should be sufficient.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/2/2023 - sirpat00 wrote: 97 Points
A bombastic nose of popcorn, ripe peach fruit, pear, smoke and mineral notes of sea salt. There’s also a compelling feature of peppery spice. A consistently great bottle of wine having already popped 4 since 2020 so far. An intense and well-balanced palate with finely integrated wood, impeccable harmony.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/23/2021 - Cailles wrote: 96 Points
Mostly Champagne & Burgs (VVF, Krug, DP, Rousseau, Fourrier,…): The only white wine in the lineup. I’ve had this wine six months ago with consistent results (96 pts). While it might be a bit too broad right upon opening, this get more harmonious, fresh as well as more layered the longer it sit in the glass. The highlights are the complexity and the perfect balance. This is a great wine in a great spot, well deserving the high praise here on Cellartracker.
TN: I’ve only tasted this on day two, the nose is rather muted but on the palate this is great. Ripe orchard fruit, some tropical fruit, especially mango, some citrusy aromas, some honey notes, a balancing layer of minerality and some herbs - all delivered in HD. This is sexy as f*ck with that extra Batard broadness but an superb acidity which cuts right through it, keeping it weightless.
Decanting: I would give it two hours in the decanter.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/23/2021 - Collector1855 wrote: 95 Points
Tasted blind. Very intense, lots of energy, rich and ripe. A lot of acidity to balance the volume. We were battling between new and old world. At least we guessed the vintage right. This is a great Grand Cru Burg if you like it a bit richer but you still want the Burgundian acidity.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/21/2021 - sirpat00 wrote: 95 Points
Tasted as part of a Champagne and Burgundy tasting (plus pirates). Rich and opulent, a few hints of caramel, pear and apple, but also ripe peach, some salty minerality, matchstick and popcorn. Slightly creamy texture, lots of acidity and not as balanced as previous bottles. But I can’t stress enough how amazingly this transitions from creamy to crisp adding spices and fresh apple flavors on the way.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/21/2021 - NostraBacchus Likes this wine: 95 Points
Pretty deep golden color. Notes of citrus, some yellow fruit, sweet spices, nice minerality too, a touch of butteriness and popcorn too and some nuts. It‘s pretty full-bodied, almost opulent, it has medium-high acidity that is sneaking up on you and adding balance. Pretty long finish with good complexity. This wine was a little controversial at the table as some people found some almost Californian ripeness and opulence in this, I still think it managed to be Burgundian… but it‘s Bâtard and a warm year, so don‘t expect Chablis raciness. This might profit from another 2-3 years in bottle to open up more aromatically.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/15/2021 - B Paul wrote:
Birthday Wine Dinner: Powerful, with yellow fruit and some floral notes. Shows a little of the 2012 ripeness, but is well balanced. Quite good and my second favorite white of the evening. Should age well.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/23/2021 - Cailles wrote: 96 Points
Tasted double blind. This is a great wine with its complexity paired with great precision as the highlights. As usual, Batard is quite powerful and ripe, so I was initially not 100% sure if it really is Burgundy and not a great Napa Chardonnay. While this is a profound and wonderful wine and easily deserves the 96 points, I prefer even more freshness and minerality.
TN: Expressive nose with a multitude of aromas with orchard fruits, yellow fruit, citrus and apple, some flower aromas. Very intriguing and inviting with a good precision. More powerful and dense on the palate with lots of yellow fruit, citrus, some tropical fruit, white flowers, cedar notes and a beautiful, intense layer of salt to balance all the fruit. It is very complex, ever evolving and highly precise. The structure is impeccable with a high and round acidity, superb tension and a creamy yet fresh and light enough texture. The finish is long and complex.
Decanting: Decanted for 1h. Good from the go.
Glass: Conterno Sensory
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/24/2021 - sirpat00 Likes this wine: 97 Points
1h decant and I think that is about right at this point – should mention though that I have gone without decant in the recent past and that worked as well. Incredibly complex right from the onset. Popcorn, smoke, salty minerality, a bit citric, camomile tea, peach, apricots but also hints of more tropical elements (pineapple), grass, orange zest, lemon zest and I could go on and on (actually can't as have exhausted my sensory skills, but I'm sure somebody with a better trained olfactory organ could…). Round and so soft that it makes silk appear like sandpaper. Perfect texture, super fresh but with the acidity going by almost unnoticed. Despite Fontaigne-Gagnard being known for premox issues, I am happy to report that this is flawless bottle nr. 3 out of 3, purchased in 2 batches from different suppliers.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/25/2020 - sirpat00 Likes this wine: 97 Points
Deep golden colour. Expansive intensity, starting off a bit muted but capturing more and more of the air space around your nose. Nineral notes of granite stone, wood shavings, pear fruit, a bit of quince and stone fruit, lemongrass, very fine spicey notes. Somewhere in the distance there is also some faint nutty, marzipan flavours. On the palate tense with power, maybe just a touch too much oak initially, but that dissipated and otherwise super fresh and imposing. Textured in a creamy way which adds some „chew“ to the mouthfeel. The finish goes on and on. So much detail and ever-changing complexity. There is really nothing not to like and I‘m almost equally impressed as a couple of months ago. Drank over two days and I should mention on day 2 I would have taken the score down a couple of notches as some of the complexity got lost over night.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/20/2020 - sirpat00 Likes this wine: 97 Points
First thought: Wow. Ultra-intense with mostly pear but also some tropical elements (banana) and stone fruit in the fruit profile, initially some sulfur and floral aromatics. But first and foremost mineral to the bone with flint stone, schist and fresh breeze full of sea salt. Fresh and crisp, firm but at the same time round. A magnificent beast.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/6/2020 - Nicephoras wrote:
White burgs at Wu's.: White Burgs at Wu's. A really interesting counterpoint to the 11 Fontaine-Gagnard Criots served next to it. The nose on this has some honey, ripe orchard fruit and a touch of oak, and the body is big - this is broad, rich and powerful, but with a nice long finish with some slightly ripe apple. Between the Criots and the Batard, my preference from the Criots, but I really look for tension. For those who love Burgundy made in a slightly old school way, this is an absolutely terrific bottle of Burgundy that's drinking really well right now, but isn't in any danger of falling off (well, other than premox, obviously).
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/21/2020 - csteets Likes this wine: 96 Points
Young. Powerful. Great wine ! Needs 5 to 7 more years. No premox.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/1/2019 - Tavastgatan wrote: 95 Points
Yeah, this is as good as they get!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/16/2016 - Tavastgatan wrote: 95 Points
Better prematur than premox!
But yes, it's way too young and completely shut down. 95 potential.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/28/2016 - Rupert wrote:
Dinner at Sebastian's (Barnes, London): Broad, ripe, concentrated. Lovely big Bâtard.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment