Third Thursday Does More Red Burgundy

Red Burgundy was again selected as the theme for our third Thursday tasting group, and everyone again delivered some wonderful bottles. This tasting provided me with some of my more memorable experiences with full tannins in Pinot Noir that work very well with the rest of the experience.

• 1998 Antonin Guyon Corton-Clos du Roy 91 Points

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Corton Grand Cru

  The nose is on the austere side, showing leather and cherry pit scents along with the cherry fruit. A bit of the age is starting to show on the cherry scents as well. This has a very nice mouth feel. It's subtle, and light on contact with an enjoyable evolution into cherry fruit, again with the pit intact. Dark strawberries set in later, as well as a floral component. The acidity does show up, but it takes a loooonnng time to get there. The tannins are balanced, and the texture is gentle overall. Very enjoyable and tasty right now!

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

• 2002 Domaine Jean Grivot Nuits-Saint-Georges 1er Cru Les Roncières 91 Points

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Nuits-Saint-Georges 1er Cru

  The nose is full of dark cherries with skins, and bright notes of hibiscus and grapefruit show in the background. It's clean with minerality showing fully all across the palate. The hibiscus and grapefruit flavors from the nose really pop on the mid palate, and they linger long onto the finish. The acidity is full, and it keeps the experience clean. I like how it lingers with the fruit on the finish while letting the wine maintain a delicate touch from beginning to end.

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

• 2000 Domaine Guy & Yvan Dufouleur Fixin 1er Cru Clos de la Perrière 88 Points

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Fixin 1er Cru

  The nose is full of dark cherries, edging on overripe. Faint roses and a mineral note show some aromas behind the cherry scents. The cherries are juicy on the palate, and accompanied by plum skins. Some lighter acidity allows a creamy sensation to show as the tannins dry slowly on the mid and back palate. 88-

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

• 1998 Maison Alex Gambal Vosne-Romanée 1er Cru Les Suchots 91 Points

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Vosne-Romanée 1er Cru

  This smells refreshing and reminds me of spring air and a plate of freshly sliced cherries served alongside a lightly grilled steak dusted with black pepper. Dark cherries and cranberries show immediately on the palate, and full acidity and even, tasty tannins set in later. The fruit is clean, clear, and of high quality. The wine has a gentle touch, and the cherries linger long on the finish. Yum!

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

• 1997 Domaine Georges Mugneret-Gibourg Echezeaux 92 Points

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Echezeaux Grand Cru

  The nose is meaty, suggesting a dry steak. I also get something that reminds me a lot of Dr. Pepper, without the syrupy sweetness that would seem to imply. Some deep cherry scents linger underneath these other two elements. Cherry flavors are delicate and clean as the wine runs long across the palate. The structure is gentle and even, with the tannins settling gracefully on the sides of the palate. I actually noticed a second bloom of fruit flavor late on the finish! The structure remains gentle and persistent while the fruit goes through a wonderful evolution. The length and texture on this is just wonderful! 92+

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

• 2000 Hubert Lignier Morey-Saint-Denis 1er Cru Vieilles Vignes 93 Points

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Morey-Saint-Denis 1er Cru

  Some bright citrus scents with a floral note and some dark strawberries show on the nose, along with some funky grilled notes. It has a lovely and delicate touch on the palate, with fantastic dark cherry flavors. The cherries evolve to become brighter in character on the mid palate, eventually blending with lime flavors. All along dark cherry skins linger on the sides of my palate. The acidity is wonderful here, keeping the wine clean and pure. The length is impressive here, and this wine is entirely delicious right now!

  Post a Comment / 1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No

• 1999 Domaine Leroy Vosne-Romanée 1er Cru Les Beaux Monts 92 Points

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Vosne-Romanée 1er Cru

  The nose is full of fruit, with plums, apples, and strawberries delivering lovely scents backed by a bit of leather. The tannins are full on the palate, and they are entirely enjoyable! They provide support for decadent strawberries that persist for a long time. The fruit delivers fully, and a hint of minerality strikes on the mid palate. This is good for slow sipping and contemplation. 92-

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

• 1999 Domaine Robert Chevillon Nuits-Saint-Georges 1er Cru Les Saint Georges

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Nuits-Saint-Georges 1er Cru

  The aromas on this wine are dark, showing leather along with earth and smoke. Fruit scents remind me of very ripe and dark plums. It's dense and complex on the palate. I got flavors of leather and cherries, and something like red earth. The acidity lingers well on the finish. There was too much conversation while I was tasting this for me to decide on a score.

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

• 1990 Serafin Père et Fils Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Cru Fonteny 94 Points

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Cru

  Spicy and fruity notes work well together on the nose, with bright and dark cherry skins mixing with scents of apple pie, and black pepper. I would never have considered putting black pepper on my apple pie, but this nose makes me think that it may actually work! Cherry flavors roll out onto the palate and the fruit is full and long. Killer tannins gently swirl around and fill the mouth with a gentle squeeze. Great cherry and strawberry flavors with dark character linger out through the finish. Notes of bright fruit dance in the background, and the tannins remain balanced throughout the entire experience. That's a long time too, this finish is well over 20s, and it's lovely through the entire experience! This is a killer bottle of wine!

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