Maison Champy Wine Dinner

The owner of Maison Champy was in attendance and talked about many of the harvest years for his wines as well as his use of oak and some history of the Maison. All of the wines tasted this evening are from his vineyards in the Beaune. A reception wine was served, along with four pairings and an unpaired desert course.

• 2007 Maison Champy Bourgogne-Aligoté 79 Points

  France, Burgundy, Bourgogne-Aligoté

  1st Wine at Bonne Soirre Masion Champy Wine Dinner, served at the reception. Tart, sour lemon zest overwhelmed much of the wine. Almost no finish though the lemon persists on the midpalate. Servers added Creme de Cassis to this wine to make traditional Kir though I was not a big fan of either. Needs more body to help balance out the tartness but in fairness Burgundy producers do not put as much effort into Aligote as they do their Chardonnay. Style & Quality Rating: C. At $25/pop this is a definite pass, especially if you are going to make Kir out of it.

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• 2009 Maison Champy Puligny-Montrachet 92 Points

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Puligny-Montrachet

  2nd Wine at Bonne Soirre Maison Champy Wine Dinner, served with quenelles of fish with shrimp. Bottled July 2010 with the 2009 vintage showing excellent ripeness and lush fruit in the Beaune. Bright nose of apples, pineapples, and butterscotch followed by pineapples and lemon zest on the palate with a lemon cream and buttered toast finish. Great depth of flavors but slightly lower acidity, though this is not a criticism (speaks to vintage and terroir). Only criticism is that the buttery oak has a bit too much influence, but seeing as how this wine was bottled 4 months ago as of this note, I am sure it will integrate better given more time. Excellent pairing as well; the dish was subtle while the wine was vibrantly contrasted. Expensive though; $70 - $80 / bottle. Style & Quality Rating: A-.

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• 2008 Maison Champy Saint-Romain Blanc 86 Points

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Saint-Romain

  3rd wine served at Bonne Soirre Maison Champy wine dinner; paired with mushroom & crispy chicken thigh risotto. Spicy toast and vanilla cream on the nose. Complex, creamy palate with spice and apple sauce that coats the mouth. The oak is definitely featured here but isn't buttery or burnt. Good mouth-feel; would like to see a bit more fruit and acidity shine through. ~$40 / bottle. Style & Quality Rating: B.

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• 2008 Maison Champy Chorey-les-Beaune 90 Points

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Chorey-les-Beaune

  4th wine served at the Bonne Soirre Maison Champy wine dinner, paired with home-cured bacon wrapped freshwater trout, caramelized onions, and buerre rouge. Explained as 15 months in oak, 1/3 new. Interesting nose; rich cherries, black fruits, spice, smoke, and black tea. Bigger bodied for a pinot with ample black cherry and smoky cherry cola on the palate. Hints of vanilla, anise, and loam as well. Good depth; acidity slightly overshadowed by the oak. A bit more restraint on the wood would grant a higher rating but overall a very enjoyable wine. After trying the 2006 Gevrey Chambertin, I have a feeling that the oak will integrate better in the Chorey-les-Beaune with a little more time in the bottle. Smokiness of the bacon and the wine complemented, though the heaviness of the bacon did overpower the fruit in this wine. $35 - 40 / bottle. Style & Quality Rating: A-

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• 2006 Maison Champy Gevrey-Chambertin Vieilles Vignes 92 Points

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Gevrey-Chambertin

  5th wine served at the Bonne Soirre Maison Champy wine dinner, paired with roasted quail stuffed with foie gras, chestnuts, and prunes on a bed of crispy lentils. Easily the most complex and my favorite wine of the night. Deep cassis, black cherries, kola nut, plums, and spice followed by lush baked cherries and pomegranate on the palate with undertones of dried fruit and herbal notes. 30 second length with good body, acidity, and well integrated oak. Not as strong on the finish as I was expecting; a little more oomph warrants an A rating. The rich fruit of the wine was the perfect complement to the foie gras. 80 American dollars per bottle. Style & Quality Rating: A-.

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Great food as always with Bonne Soirre! DotN was the risotto followed closely by the bacon-wrapped fresh water trout.