Knightsbridge Burgundy Tasting

There were a lot of wines open and Les and I drank every last one of them. We spit and took good notes but as we worked through it seemed we hit some palate fatigue in the latter hours.
Overall, outstanding showing. Mostly '06 and '07 and not a clunker in the bunch. Some were truly transcendent.
I did not enter this in all my individual notes but virtually all the reds exhibited cherry and earth and cranberry notes.
I will be interested to see whether I can discern some common likes/dislikes/characteristics/etc.
By the end I was spent. Palate fatigue. The whites, which I am sure were amazing, got short shrift sadly. As did the Chave Hermitage! Such a shame.
I was WAY hungover so I was not as sharp as I should have been, either.

• 2006 Jacques-Frédéric Mugnier Chambolle-Musigny

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Chambolle-Musigny

  Wine 1---
  Perfumed nose; good structure; nice fruit; has character; very solid.

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• 2007 Benjamin Leroux Nuits St. Georges 1er Cru Aux Thorey

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Nuits St. Georges 1er Cru

  Wine 3---
  Intriguing and subtle nose; spice and dried herb; fruit is reserved and wine is tight and full of grip.
  Not one of may favorites.

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• 2007 Benjamin Leroux Volnay 1er Cru Clos de la Cave des Ducs

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

  Wine 2---
  This was a favorite.
  Touch of Bret; young; light-bodied but with structure; nice red fruits; earthiness.
  This is good.

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• 2006 Louis Jadot Vosne-Romanée 1er Cru Les Suchots

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

  Wine 4---
  Floral and perfumed nose (at this point I noted that none of the wines thus far had really had an explosive nose).
  Full mid-palate; tight, not showing a ton of fruit.
  Long finish; needs time.
  That said, second taste showed a lot of flavor.
  Very good.

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• 2007 Domaine Denis Bachelet Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Cru Les Corbeaux Vieilles Vignes

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

  Wine 6---
  Intense fruit-driven nose, much more so than any wine so far.
  Fruit follows on the palate; most fruit yet. Tight but no more so than the others.
  Initially I dismissed it but on the finish complex savory notes emerged. Second taste revealed subtlety and structure.
  Damn good.

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• 2006 Maison Champy Clos Vougeot

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

  Wine 5---
  Intense nose with a faint chemical note (though not off-putting, certainly noticeable).
  Cherries.
  Full mid-palate; fairly tight but showing good fruit.
  Good but did not stand out.
  (at this point I noted al the wines were solid).

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• 2006 Claude Dugat Gevrey-Chambertin

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Gevrey-Chambertin

  Wine 7---
  Oak. First impression of much oak.
  Herbs, spice and wood.
  Fattest and fullest yet. Long finish. Oak, tannins and spice.
  A little broader and fuller than previous wines.

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• 2006 Maison Champy Chambertin-Clos de Bèze

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Chambertin-Clos de Bèze Grand Cru

  Wine 8---
  NOSE!
  This MotherFu**er just showed up.
  Christmas spice and dried flowers; explodes out of the glass; smoke; licorice.
  Fu**ing A. So good. Lively, rich, complex.
  Starts with a burst of fruit, then unfolds into savor.
  Coffee; oak that works.
  Young but balanced. Pure harmony.
  Wine of the day, hands down.

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• 2007 Olivier Bernstein Vosne-Romanée 1er Cru Les Suchots

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

  Wine 9---
  Unique nose - unlike any wine thus far. Bigger and with more fruit.
  Loads of fruit on the palate. Maybe a bit of a one-note Samba.
  Nose and palate are also both darker than wines thus far.
  Noticed a touch of South African style funk on the finish.

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• 2007 Olivier Bernstein Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Cru Les Cazetiers

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

  Wine 10---
  Quiet nose; hard to peg.
  Similar South African funk to No. 9.
  Big and spicy, fruit forward.
  Very intensely flavored.

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• 2006 Domaine Besson Givry 1er Cru Le Petit Prétan

  France, Burgundy, Côte Chalonnaise, Givry 1er Cru

  Wine 11---
  Superfunk - stinky nose.
  Almost minty on the palate.
  Nose is really fresh and zippy - like fresh basil and mint.
  Light bodied but intense.
  Really interesting - different.

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• 2006 Maurice Écard Savigny-lès-Beaune 1er Cru Les Peuillets

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Savigny-lès-Beaune 1er Cru

  Wine 12---
  Light nose; touch of fruit and oak.
  Crazy - palate was intense and spicy against a very delicate nose.
  Not that great.

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• 2006 Domaine Jean Garaudet Beaune 1er Cru Clos des Mouches

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

  Wine 13---
  Nice nose, good fruit and savory notes.
  Subtle notes of earth.
  I really like this nose.
  Damn good wine. Red fruit, some spice.
  Maybe a little one dimensional but so pleasurable.

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• 2006 Domaine Jean Garaudet Pommard Les Noizons

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Pommard

  Wine 14---
  Same subtle nose as the Clos de Mouches, though with more cherry.
  Soft on the palate, subtle fruit.
  Very good if a bit linear.

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• 2006 La Pousse d'Or Santenay 1er Cru Clos Tavannes

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

  Wine 15---
  Very nice nose. Less intense than Garaudet Pommard Noizons and similar in style to Champy Clos de Beze.
  Good balance of fruit and savor.
  Really good wine, nice complexity.
  Better than prior two.

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• 2006 La Pousse d'Or Volnay 1er Cru Les Caillerets

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

  Wine 16---
  Savory nose with a touch o funk.
  Not as good as Tavannes.
  Good, but not mind blowing.
  (I noted at this point in the tasting that there were no clunkers in the bunch).

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• 2006 La Pousse d'Or Volnay 1er Cru Clos de la Bousse d'Or

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

  Wine 17---
  Love this nose. Good fruit but had a soapy note to it.
  Very good. Complex, rich palate. Even better than Caillerets.
  Cherry, cranberry, earth.

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• 2007 Domaine Robert Groffier Chambolle-Musigny 1er Cru Les Hauts-Doix

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

  Wine 18---
  Yet another wonderful nose - dried herbs, savory notes, just whispers of fruit.
  Really good. Nice fruit on the palate; very lively palate, not heavy at all.
  Very open and giving it up. Drinking very well, not tight. Plenty of fruit but well balanced.

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• 2007 Domaine Robert Groffier Chambolle-Musigny 1er Cru Les Sentiers

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

  Wine 19---
  Love the nose - earthy, floral, sweet spice.
  Silky smooth but with great structure.
  Sweet fruit with cherry and cranberry notes, but again with balance.
  Long finish.
  Full bodied but so very lively.

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• 2007 Domaine Georges Mugneret-Gibourg Nuits St. Georges 1er Cru Les Chaignots

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Nuits St. Georges 1er Cru

  Wine 20---
  Another great nose. Licorice and herbs.
  Really tart, fruity entry; tight.
  In this field this wine shows like a fruit bomb.
  Almost sweet feeling on the palate.
  Enjoyable, good long finish.
  Would be even better after a few years.

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• 2007 Domaine Robert Chevillon Nuits St. Georges 1er Cru Les Chaignots

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Nuits St. Georges 1er Cru

  Wine 21---
  Fruit forward nose. Rich fruit and sweet vanilla.
  Same is true on the palate. Rich, fat, full, spicy.
  Loads of creamy fruit.
  Compared to the wines thus far this is a fruit bomb. I bet this next to an Oregon Pinot would seem dry and tart. But here..

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• 2006 Domaine Robert Chevillon Nuits St. Georges 1er Cru Les Chaignots

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Nuits St. Georges 1er Cru

  Wine 22---
  Still an intense nose like the '07 but with less obvious fruit.
  Prefer this to the '07.
  Pretty wound up and tannic but with lots of fruit.
  More in balance than the '07.
  In this field it stood out as a wine I might not normally like but it's hard to say in this field.
  I also think in time this could be a real beauty.

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• 2006 Domaine Robert Chevillon Nuits St. Georges 1er Cru Les Bousselots

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Nuits St. Georges 1er Cru

  Wine 23---
  Fairly pungent nose. Dark fruit. Slight chemical note.
  Lots of fruit and spice. All these Chevillon wines are big, intense.
  Not as much subtlety as many of the other more restrained styles today.
  Not sure I'd gravitate towards it but really well made and damn fine.

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• 2007 Domaine Robert Chevillon Nuits St. Georges 1er Cru Les Vaucrains

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Nuits St. Georges 1er Cru

  Wine 24---
  Completely different nose than the other Chevillons. Savory and bitter.
  Cherry and loads of cranberry.
  Grippy and firm.
  These are intense wines. All have full mid palates.
  My favorite of the Chevillons.

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• 2007 Domaine Anne Gros Echezeaux Les Loachausses

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Echezeaux Grand Cru

  Wine 25---
  Delicate subtle nose. Lovely.
  Strawberry more than cherry.
  Very pale - almost like deep rose.
  On the palate it is all strawberries and cream; intense flavor for such a delicate pale wine.
  Love it.
  Has a very pretty fruit entry, then just waves of flavor.
  Long, long finish.

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• 2007 Domaine Lignier-Michelot Clos de la Roche

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Clos de la Roche Grand Cru

  Wine 26---
  Pretty straightforward fruity, soft nose.
  Solid wine.
  Sees oak, shows some smoothness and creaminess.
  Not blown away but Ann Gros is a tough act to follow.

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• 2006 Serafin Père et Fils Charmes-Chambertin

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

  Wine 27---
  Fine subtle but touch funky nose.
  Tight and a little tart.
  Not giving me much but I think I am getting saturated.
  Hard to judge this one.

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• 2006 Domaine des Lambrays Clos des Lambrays

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Clos des Lambrays Grand Cru

  Wine 28---
  Unique nose. Almost a touch a hard alcohol. Not oxidized like with Sherry notes. Touch of Bourbon. Menthol/vapor.
  Palate is awesome. Good fruit balanced with savory notes, structure and acidity.
  A-1 Steak Sauce. What the hell?
  Enjoyably different.

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• 2006 Domaine Francois Lamarche La Grande Rue

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, La Grande Rue Grand Cru

  Wine 29---
  Nose of menthol/medicinal notes. Smells hard and tight.
  Palate confirms nose impression. Tart and juicy. Closed down, needs time.
  Hard to judge now.

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• 2006 Bernard Dugat-Py Gevrey-Chambertin Très Vieilles Vignes - Coeur de Roy

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Gevrey-Chambertin

  Wine 30---
  I really like this nose. Coffee and fruit.
  Light bodied but tannic and acidic.
  Tight and hard now. Closed down but shows much potential.

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• 2006 Domaine Fourrier Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Cru Clos St. Jacques Vieille Vigne

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

  Wine 32---
  Great complex nose. Little funk, beautiful sweet red fruit.
  Big and rich on the palate but not overweight. Plenty of acidity.
  Needs time but shows great potential.
  I dig this.

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• 2006 Domaine Dominique Mugneret Echezeaux En Orveaux

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Echezeaux Grand Cru

  Wine 31---
  Perfumed nose of cranberry and cherry.
  Palate gives sweet fruit.
  This is very smooth, very good.
  Balance of fruit and structure.
  In the final analysis I found it lacked complexity but remained a very good wine.

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• 2006 Serafin Père et Fils Gevrey-Chambertin Vieilles Vignes

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Gevrey-Chambertin

  Wine 33---
  Medium nose of nice red fruit.
  Pleasant.
  Soft fruit turning savory on the finish.
  Not really giving me much.

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• 2006 Patrice Rion Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Cru Lavaux St. Jacques

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

  Wine 34---
  Nose of strawberry jam.
  This is freaking good.
  Juicy and explosive but really balanced.
  Savory and fruity.
  Very nice.
  I dig this.

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• 2006 Domaine Dominique Mugneret Vosne-Romanée 1er Cru Les Chaumes

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

  Wine 35---
  Lovely nose of strawberries, flowers and earth. Damn.
  Palate is delicious - strawberry jam, lively and rich.
  Still a touch tight but I think this will be great with some time.

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• 2006 Domaine du Comte Liger-Belair Vosne-Romanée

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Vosne-Romanée

  Wine 36---
  Sharp, punchy nose - raspberry, minerality, touch of funk.
  So alive. Really good, damn good.
  Juicy, smooth, tart, open, bright, lots of red fruit.

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• 2006 Maison Champy Clos Vougeot

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

  Wine 38---
  Big nose but also subtle, nuanced.
  Great structure. Lots of earth and umami.
  Needs time but it's all there.
  Absolutely gorgeous.
  Damn.

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• 2003 Maison Champy Echezeaux

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Echezeaux Grand Cru

  Wine 37---
  Big fragrant nose.
  Wow. Big and fruit filled and balanced.
  Explosive. Almost sweet. Still needs time.
  Sick, sick wine.

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• 2007 Domaine Servin Chablis Grand Cru Les Clos

  France, Burgundy, Chablis, Chablis Grand Cru

  White Wine 1---
  After all those reds this is almost sweet!
  Apple, lemon, lime, even a touch of funk.
  Pink bubble gum, mineral.
  Delicious. Rich, zesty, saline.
  Super.

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• 2006 Maison Champy Puligny-Montrachet Les Enseignères

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Puligny-Montrachet

  White Wine 2---
  Ripe apple.
  Very crisp Chard.
  Some oak; no malo?
  Good.
  Man, I am spent. We're at 40 wines or so. This is god but it is getting short shrift.

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• 2007 Yves Boyer-Martenot Meursault

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Meursault

  White Wine 3---
  Parmesan cheese.
  Tart.
  2 was better.

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• 2006 Domaine Comtesse de Cherisey Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru Les Chalumeaux

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

  White Wine 4---
  Green apple.
  Really acidic but shows nice fruit, oak and creaminess.
  Best white yet.
  SO different from Cali Chards.

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• 2007 Domaine Sylvain Langoureau Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru Les Chalumeaux

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

  White Wine 5---
  All these noses (except Chablis) seem a bit muted.
  Biggest palate yet. Full oak and malo. Balanced with ample acidity.
  Good.

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• 2007 Paul Pernot et ses Fils Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru Folatières

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

  White Wine 6---
  Nutty nose.
  OK, these whites just showed up. Best white yet.
  Rich and full but balanced with nice acidity.
  Damn good.

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• 2007 Benoit Ente Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru Les Champs-Gain

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

  White Wine 7---
  Muted nose.
  Very concentrated. Similar to 6 but more tart, little less balance.

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• 2006 Château de la Maltroye Chassagne-Montrachet 1er Cru Les Chenevottes

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

  White Wine 8---
  Minerality and funk. Apples.
  Very savory. High acid. Good, touch out of balance.

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• 2006 Vincent Dancer Chassagne-Montrachet 1er Cru La Romanée

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

  White Wine 9---
  Fresh nose, rich and full bodied with stone fruit and vanilla.
  Very rich and creamy. Concentrated.
  New best white!

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• 2005 Domaine François Mikulski Meursault 1er Cru Charmes

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

  White Wine 10---
  Intense nose of ripe apple, touch of nut.
  Tart but rich and concentrated.

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• 2006 Domaine Jean-Louis Chave Hermitage

  France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Hermitage

  Thrown in at the Knightsbridge Burgundy Tasting.
  Oak and dark fruit.
  Muted nose.
  Some body funk.
  Full bodied.
  So hard to deal with in a field of Pinot. Plus, I am shot.

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Through the hangover, a sour gut, palate fatigue, and tannin overload I had a blast and learned a lot. What a day.