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Knightsbridge Annual Wildman Burgundy Dinner
Trump International Hotel - Chicago IL
Tasted February 8, 2013 by Burgundy Al with 677 views
Introduction
This is one of my favorite wine events of the year in Chicago. We start with an opportunity to taste some of the upcoming releases (in this cases mostly 2011s) that were poured at the afternoon trade tasting, then follow with dinner with several of the great producers Wildman distributes in Chicago. I have certainly becomes more attached to several producers I have gotten to know at these dinners and met the people behind these wines. Tonight I was fortunate to sit next to Cyrielle Rousseau, the next generation starting in the family business.
Flight 1 - Dinner Whites (6 notes)
White
2010 Domaine Christian Moreau Père et Fils Chablis 1er Cru Vaillon
Apple and pear aromas and flavors, somewhat subdued. Ok length, good energy, close to ready.
White
2010 Domaine Christian Moreau Père et Fils Chablis Grand Cru Les Clos
93 points
Lemon curd, lemon peel, ripe apple aromas with some floral hints. Similar on palate, perhaps less citrus, more apple/pear with lots of power and concentration, expanding with more time in glass. This will continue improving for at least 5 more years.
White
2010 Jean-Jacques Vincent Pouilly-Fuissé Château de Fuissé Tête de Cru
86 points
Apple and lemon with good acidity and minerality start to finish. Moderate length and intensity, slightly simple at very end.
White
2009 Jean-Jacques Vincent Pouilly-Fuissé Château de Fuissé Vieilles Vignes
90 points
Apple, lemon and lemon custard aromas. Similar on palate, very forward and ripe with good density.
White
2010 Olivier Leflaive Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru Les Pucelles
91 points
This is Olivier Leflaive's negociant Pucelles (vs. the domaine bottling from the plot they just took back from their cousins). Clove, allspice aromas with ripe apple. Long and fat with big, rounded fruit flavors.
White
2010 Olivier Leflaive Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru Les Folatières
88 points
Apple, lemon aromas. More lemon on palate, slightly austere but nicely lean and precise. Pucelles was more forward, this will need more time in cellar.
Flight 2 - Dinner Reds (6 notes)
Red
2010 Faiveley Mercurey 1er Cru Clos des Myglands
88 points
Black and red cherry aromas with a bit of tarragon and some liqueur aromas. Slightly simpler flavors, still ripe, very nicely balanced and textured.
Red
2010 Faiveley Corton-Clos des Cortons Faiveley
94 points
This was the 5th or 6th time I've had this wine in the past year and it has been consistently sensational, amazingly accessible and charming today but with the substance, concentration and dry extract to age and improve for decades.
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Comment
Red
2009 Domaine Jacques Prieur Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Cru
91 points
100% young vines Chambertin. Lots of black cherry aromas and flavors with an intense, attractive gamy character. Lots of spice mostly on palate, very well textured and incredibly balanced into long finish. I don't ever recall having this wine before and it is one I will seek out. Very good.
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Comment
Red
2010 Domaine Jacques Prieur Clos Vougeot
90 points
Black fruit aromas and flavors, lots of density. Modest spice coming through across the board, this comes across as somewhat backward, less accessible than I recall from when last tasted at this same event one year ago.
Red
2004 Domaine Armand Rousseau Père et Fils Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Cru Lavaux St. Jacques
89 points
Red cherry and boysenberry aromas without any green elements today. Very accessible and enjoyable today, this seems much nicer than I recall from a few years back. Moderate depth and intensity, so probably right at its peak today.
Red
2008 Domaine Armand Rousseau Père et Fils Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Cru Lavaux St. Jacques
90 points
Red fruit aromas with some floral hints, then red and black fruit flavors with moderate intensity and depth. Very clean and energetic. Still needs a few more years in the cellar.
Flight 3 - Some bonus bottles dinner attendees brought (8 notes)
Red
1995 Domaine Armand Rousseau Père et Fils Clos de la Roche
89 points
Forest floor aromas equally balance blackberry and background woodsy spice. Identical on palate with still firm tannins. Showing more age and balance than many 1995s today, but this is at a very good point right now and it's time to drink up in the next decade.
Red
1992 Faiveley Chambertin-Clos de Bèze
90 points
Black cherry and mushroom aromas in good balance. Same profile on palate with moderate density for a Grand Cru but exceptional for the vintage. Nice structure helps provide lift and length, with some spice hints emerging at end.
Red
1986 Faiveley Corton-Clos des Cortons Faiveley
91 points
Black fruit with sous bois aromas, faint spice hints. Similar on palate with good depth and concentration. If tasted blind, I never would have thought this over 25 years old and would have thought it from a better vintage as well.
Red
1969 Faiveley Nuits St. Georges 1er Cru Clos de la Maréchale
Great color, great fill. Popped and poured. Needed 30-45 minutes for some muddy, dirty aromatics to dissipate. Once they were gone, this wine was still entirely earthy and sous bois driven with no real fruit but good spice. Lots of charm.
Red
2003 Domaine Armand Rousseau Père et Fils Chambertin
93 points
Open approx one hour before served, this would have benefited from more air. Blackberry and black cherry aromas with a bit of Gevrey sauvage, then flavors of black and red cherry. Very charming for the vintage and surprisingly open now, but at the same time this has the density to age and drink well for decades.
Red
2007 Domaine Armand Rousseau Père et Fils Chambertin-Clos de Bèze
94 points
The first time I can recall trying this wine, it is one of the best 2007s I have had. Slightly floral with an alluring brown spice mix along with black cherry and boysenberry. Nuanced and lush fruit on palate, seemingly very forward but with sneaky power and concentration that leads to a long, long finish supported by silky structure.
Red
2002 Domaine Armand Rousseau Père et Fils Charmes-Chambertin
91 points
Open a few hours before served. Slightly floral start with red fruit. Red cherry and strawberry are very fresh, no surprise given its youth, but also nicely balanced and textured.