Third Friday Burgundy Group

This was my first invitation to this tasting group. A number of familiar faces were in attendance. The theme for the evening was 1996 (or older) red Burgundies. All of the wines were served blind. Some bread and cheeses were available throughout the tasting. Seven of us were in attendance. The evening started with two blind whites. After this we started in on the seven reds. Finally, we ended with a blind dessert wine and apple strudel.

Two Bâtard-Montrachet's served blind! The bar was being set high right at the start. At least I wasn't guessing Hawaiian Pineapple wine! A most generous gesture from our host.

• 1995 Louis Latour Bâtard-Montrachet

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Bâtard-Montrachet Grand Cru

  The other blind "starter" wine for the evening. While we all guessed that the host was serving two white Burgundies, these two could not have been further apart. As first opened, and cold, this appeared to be the more expensive wine -- a bigger presence. This one seemed to have an austere, maybe oxidized quality. As it warmed up it improved. But the Leflaive stayed ahead of it throughout the night.

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• 1995 Domaine Leflaive Bâtard-Montrachet

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Bâtard-Montrachet Grand Cru

  One of two blind "starter" bottles. What a treat. Most guessed the host was keeping with the theme of 1996 or older red Burgandies, by choosing a 95 or 96 white Burg. This one tasted like it might be younger. A great citrus quality. If it hadn't been for the dessert wine, this would have been the WOTN.

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I was struck by the fact that none of these wines, with the exception of the Serafin, were drinking well on their own. They all seemed to need food. After I tried to be as critical as possible, and went to the bread, and then the cheese, these wines all showed much better. Even for Burgundies, they were showing a mouthful of tannins.

• 1993 Philippe Rossignol Gevrey-Chambertin Vieilles Vignes

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Gevrey-Chambertin

  I noticed a little barnyard on this one. Not much else on the nose. A non-descript palate that wasn't very enjoyable when first opened, it improved with time to be average. My 5th place wine, the groups 6th place.

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• 1993 Domaine Daniel Rion et Fils Nuits-Saint-Georges Les Lavières

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Nuits-Saint-Georges

  My fourth place wine, the groups 5th place. I didn't notice much on the nose. I found the palate to be best as opened. After an hour, this one was dying. It showed some bricking. However, it did seem to revive slightly right near the end of the tasting. Not outstanding.

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• 1995 Domaine Georges Mugneret-Gibourg Nuits-Saint-Georges 1er Cru Les Chaignots

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

  All of these wines were tasted right after opening. I found this one to have more barnyard than I like. This barnyard blew off to some extent as the night progressed. I thought it show a little to much acid, but had a nice finish. My 6th place wine, but the groups 4th.

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• 1991 Domaine René Engel Clos Vougeot

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Clos Vougeot Grand Cru

  This was the groups 3 place wine, and mine. It showed a strong acid backbone and was clearly older than the others. Not much on the nose, but a very nice palate and finish.

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• 1996 Serafin Père et Fils Gevrey-Chambertin 92 Points

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Gevrey-Chambertin

  The clear winner out of seven. Five people had it as number one and two as the second wine. Of the seven this was the one with the best nose. The palate showed a nice balance of fruit and acid. The tannins were smooth and in the background. A nice long finish.

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• 1996 Jacques Cacheux & Fils Echezeaux Flawed

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Echezeaux Grand Cru

  Corked!! My contribution for the evening, and I could only manage one taste. Seven of us, and five thought it corked and rated it at the bottom. Two thought it the best wine of the night and saw no cork?! Oh well...

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• 1995 Remoissenet Père et Fils Echezeaux

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Echezeaux Grand Cru

  My second place wine, the groups 2nd place. A pleasent nose as opened. The palate was rough at first. This was a wine with significant tannin. It rounded out during the evening, and was drinking nicely by the end of the evening. I think it would have been helped with a couple of hours of breathing time, but a wine that deserved its second place finish.

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Even the brown paper bag couldn't hide one outstanding bottle!! Great by itself, great against homemade apple strudel. Clearly the WOTN for me.

• 1986 Château Coutet Cuvée Madame 98 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Sauternais, Barsac

  Served blind with some homemade apple strudel. Everybody guessed Sauterne, and most guessed 1990 or before. A number of us were guessing d'Yquem. Spectacular wine that most felt was at its peak, with one dissenting vote saying it should have been consumed 5 years before. Great lemon/citrus honey nose, with a long lasting pineapple finish. Not quite as thick/unctuous as it could be is the only nit pick.

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A delightful evening of interesting to great wines, and stellar company. I hope to get invited back!!