2002 Red Burgundy

Approximately 42 Burgundy producers held a special tasting of their wines in conjunction with Vinexpo. The tasting was held in Chicago and together with a number of other WS board members, I signed up for this free event. Both white and red wine was poured and they came from about 3-4 different vintages. Many 2002 Red Burgundy wines were poured and I tried to limit my tasting to these wines to get through as many of them as possible.

The 2002 Burgundy vintage has been heralded as outstanding. WS has rated the vintage at 92-96 points. WA has rated the Cote de Beaune at 90 points and the Cote de Nuits at 93 points. I tried these wines shortly before the WA article on the 2002 Burgundies came out. The wines poured at this tasting were just recently bottled for the most part. Although I do not have much experience with Burgundy, they tasted rather young with good acidity and tannins in my opinion. I have no opinion on how this vintage compares to prior years but it tasted like a fine vintage to me.

• 2002 Edmond Cornu & Fils Ladoix Vieilles Vignes 89 Points

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Ladoix

  This small estate was started in 1875 and owns 13.5 hectares in various communes. This is a full bodied wine with rich black cherry and berry notes. Rather complex with firm tannins. 89 points.

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• 2002 Pierre André au Château de Corton André Gevrey-Chambertin Champlain 92 Points

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Gevrey-Chambertin

  From one of the largest vineyards in the region. Rich red color. A bordeauxlike nose. Notes of black fruit with dry tannins which last on the finish. Medium to full bodied. Very nice. 92 points.

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• 2002 Maison Champy Pernand-Vergelesses 90 Points

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Pernand-Vergelesses

  This comes from a small commune in the Northern end of the Cote de Beaune. A light bodied wine and very elegant. Notes of subtle red fruit. 90 points.

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• 2002 Domaine Chofflet-Valdenaire Givry 85 Points

  France, Burgundy, Côte Chalonnaise, Givry

  The Chofflet family has been making wine for 5 generations on their small 12.35 hectare estate. This had a funky nose. Medium red color and a lighter body. Marinated fruit notes with some herbaceousness. 85-86 points.

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• 2002 Guilhem et Jean-Hugues Goisot Irancy Les Mazelots 90 Points

  France, Burgundy, Côtes d'Auxerre, Irancy

  Light purple color. A smooth wine with unique tropical fruit notes to go with the sweet candylike red fruit and raspberry notes. 89-91 points.

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• 2002 Dufouleur Père & Fils Gevrey-Chambertin 87 Points

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Gevrey-Chambertin

  A forward wine with simple fruit and a slightly moldy character. Medium bodied. Not sure what to make of this. 86-88 points.

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• 2002 Bouchard Père et Fils Gevrey-Chambertin 92 Points

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Gevrey-Chambertin

  Made from various vineyards in the Cote de Nuits. Young tasting. Full mouth feel with ripe fruit and dry tannins. An intense effort. 91-93 points.

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• 2002 Bouchard Père et Fils Santenay 91 Points

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Santenay

  Made from vineyards with chalky soil. Gripping tannins with berry and cherry notes. Long finish. 91 points.

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• 2002 Bouchard Père et Fils Monthélie 89 Points

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Monthélie

  Made from a 2.91 hectare property owned by this estate. Pierre Rovani gave this an 87-88. Ripe stewed fruit. Primarily cherry. Medium bodied. 89-90 points.

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• 2002 Louis Latour Aloxe-Corton Domaine Latour 90 Points

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Aloxe-Corton

  From various vineyards surrounding this town. Medium to light bodied. Moderately tannic with cherry and currant notes. Dry finish. 89-90+ points.

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• 2002 Paul Garaudet Monthélie 88 Points

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Monthélie

  45 year old vines from 3 parcels around this town. Vanilla nose. Medium bodied. A nutty character with currant and raspberry notes. 88+ points.

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• 2002 Jean-Philippe Marchand Gevrey-Chambertin Vieilles Vignes 92 Points

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Gevrey-Chambertin

  40+ year old vines from hillside sites. Despite its somewhat light color this is a deep and complex wine. Currant, nutty and oak notes. Well done. 91-92+ points.

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• 2002 Louis Latour Marsannay 86 Points

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Marsannay

  Good value. A light ruby red color. Smooth with cherry and smokey fruit notes. Light to medium bodied. 86-87 points.

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• 2002 Louis Latour Gevrey-Chambertin 89 Points

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Gevrey-Chambertin

  A medium red color. Moderately tannic with a medium body. Notes of red and black berry. Nice finish. 88-90 points.

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• 2002 Louis Latour Corton-Grancey 92 Points

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Corton Grand Cru

  The best of the 2002 Latour wines I tried but pricey. This is a monopole site for Latour. Aromatic wine. Notes of rich plum and black fruit with an underlying wet earthiness. Long finish. Medium to full bodied. 92+ points.

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• 2002 Domaine Lamy-Pillot Blagny 1er Cru La Pièce-sous-le-Bois Rouge 86 Points

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Blagny 1er Cru

  Located above Puligny-Montrachet and Meursalt. I wasn't happy with this wine. The fruit came of as overly bitter to me. Tannic. Perhaps time will help. 86 points.

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• 2002 Alain Roy Givry 1er Cru Clos de Choué 90 Points

  France, Burgundy, Côte Chalonnaise, Givry 1er Cru

  Located in the village of Russilly. A nose filled with grassy and herbal nuances. Rich ruby red color. A fruity wine with an edge of semisweet berry and currant notes. 90+ points.

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• 2002 Domaine Guy & Yvan Dufouleur Fixin 1er Cru Clos du Chapitre 89 Points

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

  This vineyard comprises 4.8 hectares on limestone soil. Interesting red and black fruit with a nutty character. Dry clean finish. 89 points.

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• 2002 Domaine Roger Belland Santenay 1er Cru Gravières 92 Points

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Santenay 1er Cru

  One of the better wines from this tasting. Rich blackberry, cherry and floral notes. Dry tannins and a long finish. 91-93 points.

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• 2002 Bouchard Père et Fils Beaune 1er Cru Grèves Vigne de L'Enfant Jesus 92 Points

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Beaune 1er Cru

  Affectionately known as "baby Jesus". This is a small 12 acre monopole vineyard owned by this producer. I liked this much better than Pierre Rovani who gave it an 86-88. A dynamite nose of fresh cut flowers. Elegant and well rounded. Subtle red fruit with soft tannins. Drinking very well for just being bottled. 92 points.

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• 2002 Domaine Anne et Hervé Sigaut Chambolle-Musigny 1er Cru Les Chatelots 91 Points

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Chambolle-Musigny 1er Cru

  47 year old vines are used to make this wine from this 18.2 acre family owned estate. A light red color. Elegant with silky tannins. What you would expect from a Burgundy. Black cherry and berry ntes with an earthiness. Medium bodied. 90-92 points.

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• 2002 Jean-Philippe Marchand Morey St. Denis 1er Cru Clos des Ormes 90 Points

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Morey St. Denis 1er Cru

  60 year old vines from a single parcel. This wine had a sharper edge than the "Faconnieres" which follows. Would be better with food. Red fruit with a nice finish. 90 points.

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• 2002 Jean-Philippe Marchand Morey St. Denis 1er Cru Les Faconnières 93 Points

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Morey St. Denis 1er Cru

  Another site with 60 year old vines. I liked this better than the previous wine. Smooth effort with good acidity and balance. Rich fruit. 92-93+ points.

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• 2002 Jean-Philippe Marchand Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Cru Lavaux St. Jacques 90 Points

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

  I'm not sure if this is a Premier Cru. Stewed fruit notes concentrating on blackberry and cherries. Dry finish. 89-90 points.

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• 2002 Louis Latour Beaune 1er Cru Vignes Franches 82 Points

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Beaune 1er Cru

  Earthy but not funky. However, it came off as dull or flat tasting and slightly on the acidic side. 82 points.

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• 2002 Maison Albert Bichot Chassagne-Montrachet 1er Cru La Maltroie Rouge 91 Points

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Chassagne-Montrachet 1er Cru

  This wine comes from the Southern end of the Cote de Beaune. Filled with smoky fruit and oak nuances. Starts sweet and finishes drier. Good red fruit. Medium bodied. 91 points.

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• 2002 Edmond Cornu & Fils Aloxe-Corton 1er Cru 91 Points

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Aloxe-Corton 1er Cru

  These wines are hand harvested, destemmed and aged in small barrels for 18-20 months. Fruitier and rounder than the Ladoix. Red berry and chery notes with some earthiness. Dry finish. 91 points.

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• 2002 Domaine Pierre Naigeon Bonnes Mares 92 Points

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Bonnes Mares Grand Cru

  This is one of only 2 Grand Cru vineyards sites in Chambolle Musigny and this vineyard is only a half hectare. A fruity deep wine with silky tannins. A lot going on in this wine. Medium to long finish. 92+ points.

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• 2002 Domaine Pierre Naigeon Charmes-Chambertin 91 Points

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Charmes-Chambertin Grand Cru

  One of 9 GC site in Gevrey Chambertin. Made from 50 year old vines. Interesting floral nose. Stewed red fruit and rather sweet with hard candy nuances upfront. Finishes with a mix of tomato and strawberry (how could I make that up). 90-91+ points.

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