The 2012 Bernard Moreau Chassagne Montrachet 1er Cru Grandes Ruchottes showed a lower acidity profile and slightly higher alcohol than the 2013 next to it. Fresh pineapples and ripe lemon with creamy reductive note on the mid-palate. Impressive minerality and richness on the palate, knocking on Grand Cru doors. (85/100)
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
In 12/13/14 vertical. Full, intense and appealing spice- and mineral-filled nose. The palate is bright and lively with good rich fruit. The balance is perfect. A wine of concentration, precision and cut. In harmony and my favorite of the vertical for right now.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Domaine Bernard Moreau Virtual Tasting with Alex and Martine Moreau (Planet Earth): In sensational 12/13/14 vertical, each getting a few hours of air before tasting. Apple and baked apple with both sweet and savory spice. Starts out rich and mostly ripe, but finishes with a long, bright, nearly tart finish. Very good now, still possibly further upside.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Chassagne, Red Label and Chave (S.K.Y.): Intense minerality in the nose. This is rich with fat with loads of dense, concentrated fruit. Pure and bright. Still a bit primary and I think a few years of cellar time will add nuance, but so enjoyable already.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
45th Birthday Celebration (Chez Nanda): Side-by-side with the Batard, which is showing early signs of oxidation. The Grandes Ruchottes was much more fresh with near Grand Cru depth. Delicious.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
"You only turn 45 once" (Chicago, IL): Had this next to the Bâtard, which was unfortunately showing slightly advanced. Fortunately, this bottle wasn't -- it was so crisp, with just the right balance of oak on the nose and palate. The fruit was ripe but not overdone, and there was a lovely mineral vein throughout. Really love these Moreau wines...
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
At Ma Cusine - A ripe almost buttery aroma with lovely baked apple pie notes. Round and richly textured in the mouth with nice depth of Macintosh apples & white pear. Delicately spiced with pretty white stone minerality. Drinking well now.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Dinner at Ma Cuisine (Ma Cuisine - Beaune): Apple and baked apple with a hint of peach. Both sweet and savory spice. Impressive density with the richness/ ripeness of the 2012 density yet also plenty of bright energy that keeps this engaging. Very good length. So good now, probably still with upside.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
It was quite ready to drink, very enjoyable, rich orchard and citrus fruits with great focused minerals and acidity. Clean and sharp, with good concentration. Grand Ruchottes is the oldest vineyard for Bernard Moreau, planted in 1930s.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
“Ruchotte” Dinner (Both Colors) (BlackSalt - Washington, DC): In 09/11/12 vertical. Apple and pear with background stone fruit. As ripe as the 2009 with even more concentration. Lots of backbone and energy through very long finish. Still a juvenile.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Same lot as the previous bottle. Nose has lemon zest, oak, minerals and hint of sulphur. Palate has medium acidity especially for the vintage. But it lacks density and stuffing for a ruchotte. The oak is still a bit prominent. The wine, like many 12 white, is starting to drink well. His 12 is aging much quicker than my initial accessment last year. One more bottle left for 2019 or 2020.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Chicago Wine Flock...Burgundy Al Asks "Is it Grand Cru?" (My home - Chicago IL): Served blind to the group in Grandes Ruchottes flight. Most correctly identified these as Burgundy 1er Cru. Peach and some ripe apple. Very good concentration, very mineral-driven finish. Consistent with another recent bottle in Burgundy earlier this summer.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Great minerality , big tropical fruit that's just gonna smack your face like a fruit bomb, along with that sharp acidity. Surprised by moreau's wines everytime i open it.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
21 Boulevard Dinner (Beaune): Rich apple and peach behind floral notes. Very good concentration, length and power. Comes across as slightly opulent to start, and while the most elegant vintage fornthis wine, it still retains excellent structure and textures, emerging mostly middle through finish. In its peak window now, best through 2022.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
A very good prem cru. Balanced and backward with high acidity. The minerality and fruit precision are lovely. It will gain weight with more time. Even with 3 hrs of aeration, the wine has not fully opened up tonight. This wine has a very promising future. Need 5 more years to unfold.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
My last note was accurate, except for underscoring! With more air this deepened in colour and substance. Utterly captivating, powerful and with real energy.... and very Chassagne. Better in 2yrs, this will age wonderfully. Drink 2019-2025. 95pts
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Very slight and controlled reduction on the nose. Paler than I expected with powerful fruit that is initially powerful lemon zest, but develops to pear across the palate. A big streak of acidity with hint of slate leads to a slight touch of struck match at the finish. This has tonnes of energy and needs another 3yrs to harmonise, being closed at the moment. With air this becomes very big and powerful but still without much butter. This should develop wonderfully, integrating and deepening - probably improving over the next 10yrs. Drink 2020-2035. 94++points
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Light golden color, clear. A bit of reduction at the beginning, but also immediately very expressive and classy. Bread, a hint of butter, herbs and citrus, is what comes to mind, but the whole package is beguiling and elegant. Power and complexity on the palate, with very high acidity which balances the high level of extract. Very, very long, it finishes on citrus fruit. The texture is chalky. Was still drinking very well on day two, but it had lost a bit of complexity. In any case, it seems to have a huge potential.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Alex Moreau's Grandes Ruchottes could easily be confused with a grand cru in 2012. A beautiful and vibrant bouquet of pear, citrus zest and spring flowers is followed by a large-scaled, deep and concentrated wine built around a tight, zingy core of acidity and minerality. A benchmark example of this great 1er cru.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Very savoury and complex, some herbal notes; very vibrant, lean racy and full of energy. Very young, acidity is very fresh. Closed and mineral. Needs time. 89-92+
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Alex suggested a great idea for a dinner. There are only 6 owners in Grandes-Ruchottes, so serving a couple of vintages from each, tasted blind. I will have to work on that.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
12/15/2020 - hprphf wrote: 93 Points
Superb energy and clarity, keeps going, spicy, baked apple, balanced fruit. 92-93
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/20/2020 - englishman's claret wrote: 89 Points
Meh - good, but nothing too special. Chiseled, stony, lemony, slightly grassy. Some speak of a likeness to Roulot but we certainly didn’t see any.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/29/2020 - Jammy Wine wrote: 85 Points
The 2012 Bernard Moreau Chassagne Montrachet 1er Cru Grandes Ruchottes showed a lower acidity profile and slightly higher alcohol than the 2013 next to it. Fresh pineapples and ripe lemon with creamy reductive note on the mid-palate. Impressive minerality and richness on the palate, knocking on Grand Cru doors. (85/100)
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/25/2020 - Nanda wrote: 93 Points
In 12/13/14 vertical. Full, intense and appealing spice- and mineral-filled nose. The palate is bright and lively with good rich fruit. The balance is perfect. A wine of concentration, precision and cut. In harmony and my favorite of the vertical for right now.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
4/25/2020 - Burgundy Al wrote: 93 Points
Domaine Bernard Moreau Virtual Tasting with Alex and Martine Moreau (Planet Earth): In sensational 12/13/14 vertical, each getting a few hours of air before tasting. Apple and baked apple with both sweet and savory spice. Starts out rich and mostly ripe, but finishes with a long, bright, nearly tart finish. Very good now, still possibly further upside.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
3/1/2020 - Nanda wrote: 93 Points
Chassagne, Red Label and Chave (S.K.Y.): Intense minerality in the nose. This is rich with fat with loads of dense, concentrated fruit. Pure and bright. Still a bit primary and I think a few years of cellar time will add nuance, but so enjoyable already.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
3/1/2020 - Burgundy Al wrote: 93 Points
Chassagne Grandes-Ruchottes Dinner with Some Giacosa and Chave (S.K.Y. Restaurant - Chicago IL): Apple and baked apple with good weight , better balance, and sneaky structure, especially for the vintage. The rare 2012 with upside from here.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/15/2019 - RayOB wrote: 88 Points
Drank at 67
Tight and acidic
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/9/2019 - Nanda wrote: 93 Points
45th Birthday Celebration (Chez Nanda): Side-by-side with the Batard, which is showing early signs of oxidation. The Grandes Ruchottes was much more fresh with near Grand Cru depth. Delicious.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/9/2019 - acyso wrote: 93 Points
"You only turn 45 once" (Chicago, IL): Had this next to the Bâtard, which was unfortunately showing slightly advanced. Fortunately, this bottle wasn't -- it was so crisp, with just the right balance of oak on the nose and palate. The fruit was ripe but not overdone, and there was a lovely mineral vein throughout. Really love these Moreau wines...
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/4/2019 - KenK wrote: 93 Points
At Ma Cusine - A ripe almost buttery aroma with lovely baked apple pie notes. Round and richly textured in the mouth with nice depth of Macintosh apples & white pear. Delicately spiced with pretty white stone minerality. Drinking well now.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/1/2019 - Burgundy Al wrote: 93 Points
Dinner at Ma Cuisine (Ma Cuisine - Beaune): Apple and baked apple with a hint of peach. Both sweet and savory spice. Impressive density with the richness/ ripeness of the 2012 density yet also plenty of bright energy that keeps this engaging. Very good length. So good now, probably still with upside.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
2/24/2019 - Ms. Bubblehead Likes this wine:
It was quite ready to drink, very enjoyable, rich orchard and citrus fruits with great focused minerals and acidity. Clean and sharp, with good concentration.
Grand Ruchottes is the oldest vineyard for Bernard Moreau, planted in 1930s.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
10/5/2018 - Burgundy Al wrote: 93 Points
“Ruchotte” Dinner (Both Colors) (BlackSalt - Washington, DC): In 09/11/12 vertical. Apple and pear with background stone fruit. As ripe as the 2009 with even more concentration. Lots of backbone and energy through very long finish. Still a juvenile.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/26/2018 - Burgnick wrote: 89 Points
Same lot as the previous bottle. Nose has lemon zest, oak, minerals and hint of sulphur. Palate has medium acidity especially for the vintage. But it lacks density and stuffing for a ruchotte. The oak is still a bit prominent. The wine, like many 12 white, is starting to drink well. His 12 is aging much quicker than my initial accessment last year. One more bottle left for 2019 or 2020.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
9/8/2017 - Burgundy Al wrote: 93 Points
Chicago Wine Flock...Burgundy Al Asks "Is it Grand Cru?" (My home - Chicago IL): Served blind to the group in Grandes Ruchottes flight. Most correctly identified these as Burgundy 1er Cru. Peach and some ripe apple. Very good concentration, very mineral-driven finish. Consistent with another recent bottle in Burgundy earlier this summer.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
9/6/2017 - DonBurg Likes this wine: 94 Points
Great minerality , big tropical fruit that's just gonna smack your face like a fruit bomb, along with that sharp acidity. Surprised by moreau's wines everytime i open it.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
6/28/2017 - Burgundy Al wrote: 93 Points
21 Boulevard Dinner (Beaune): Rich apple and peach behind floral notes. Very good concentration, length and power. Comes across as slightly opulent to start, and while the most elegant vintage fornthis wine, it still retains excellent structure and textures, emerging mostly middle through finish. In its peak window now, best through 2022.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/4/2017 - Burgnick Likes this wine: 92 Points
A very good prem cru. Balanced and backward with high acidity. The minerality and fruit precision are lovely. It will gain weight with more time. Even with 3 hrs of aeration, the wine has not fully opened up tonight. This wine has a very promising future. Need 5 more years to unfold.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
10/20/2016 - JulianSkeels Likes this wine: 95 Points
My last note was accurate, except for underscoring! With more air this deepened in colour and substance. Utterly captivating, powerful and with real energy.... and very Chassagne. Better in 2yrs, this will age wonderfully. Drink 2019-2025. 95pts
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
10/7/2016 - JulianSkeels Likes this wine: 94 Points
Very slight and controlled reduction on the nose. Paler than I expected with powerful fruit that is initially powerful lemon zest, but develops to pear across the palate. A big streak of acidity with hint of slate leads to a slight touch of struck match at the finish. This has tonnes of energy and needs another 3yrs to harmonise, being closed at the moment. With air this becomes very big and powerful but still without much butter. This should develop wonderfully, integrating and deepening - probably improving over the next 10yrs. Drink 2020-2035. 94++points
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
6/14/2016 - Burgundy Al wrote: 93 Points
Blind White Tasting: Chassagne-Montrachet 1er Cru Grandes Ruchottes (The Blanchard - Chicago IL): Served blind in what turned out to be 2012 Ruchottes flight. Nicely floral with rich fruit on nose and palate, but ending with an intense minerality. Very good now, better in a few more years.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
10/17/2015 - gilrbo Likes this wine:
Light golden color, clear.
A bit of reduction at the beginning, but also immediately very expressive and classy. Bread, a hint of butter, herbs and citrus, is what comes to mind, but the whole package is beguiling and elegant.
Power and complexity on the palate, with very high acidity which balances the high level of extract. Very, very long, it finishes on citrus fruit. The texture is chalky.
Was still drinking very well on day two, but it had lost a bit of complexity.
In any case, it seems to have a huge potential.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/16/2015 - William Kelley Likes this wine: 95 Points
Alex Moreau's Grandes Ruchottes could easily be confused with a grand cru in 2012. A beautiful and vibrant bouquet of pear, citrus zest and spring flowers is followed by a large-scaled, deep and concentrated wine built around a tight, zingy core of acidity and minerality. A benchmark example of this great 1er cru.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/3/2014 - vespasian Likes this wine: 91 Points
Very savoury and complex, some herbal notes; very vibrant, lean racy and full of energy. Very young, acidity is very fresh. Closed and mineral. Needs time. 89-92+
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/12/2014 - Burgundy Al wrote: 94 Points
Tasting (Mostly) 2012 and 2013 at Domaine Bernard Moreau (Chassagne-Montrachet): Tasting at domaine. Incredible fruit, subtle floral and spice notes. Incredible density and minerality. Long and powerful. Excellent.
Alex suggested a great idea for a dinner. There are only 6 owners in Grandes-Ruchottes, so serving a couple of vintages from each, tasted blind. I will have to work on that.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment