Having been burned by more than a few Niellons over the years, there's always some trepidation when opening one. This bottle poured a rich golden color, which was initially indicative of the danger zone. Based on previous sound bottles, I gave this about an hour decant before serving, which proved to be not quite enough! A beautiful nose of peaches, white flowers and fresh baked pastry, shy at first, was coaxed out with some swirling. A slightly waxy mouthfeel rounded out into something much more plush, with gently firm acidity. I liked the body on this very much, and it had character to spare. An excellent match with a classic Blanquette de Turbot et St. Jacques. Next bottle gets another 30 min decant at least. When sound, this wine is in a great place and *should* have plenty of time ahead of it.
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A sound bottle which benefited from a couple of hours air. Not decanted, just opened at a restaurant, with the second half brought home and finished in front of the fire after dinner. A very nice bottle of white burgundy, if not a standout. My last bottle from this case was a little advanced, though drinkable, and this one was exactly age appropriate. We'll see where things go from here.
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An excellent bottle, perfectly fresh and really singing. I know it's a crap shoot - my Niellon 08 last week from Champs Gain was a wreck. This bottle was excellent. Fresh and pure on the nose, limestone and citrus oil and hints of damp underwood. Fresh, focused, complex, and just delicious wine.
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This was definitely over the hill. very golden color. slightly nutty. not horrible but just flabby without much precision. These wines are showing more variability with age. Not sure if worth saving the rest I have.
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I'm being really hard on this wine as it is effectively rotten but a sound bottle. This is a paradox because it doesn't suffer from cork taint or premox issues. In fact when I first poured it I was happy with the colour which suggested it had aged well. This will be the last Niellon wine I buy. It's very rare to see a white wine which has been impacted by Brettanomyces spoilage but I have now encountered it in my last two wines from this producer. It is a serious problem in many red wines, unacceptable in fact, but to see it in white wine is unforgivable. I make wine for a living and have encountered the problem of having Brett affected wines in the cellar. No matter how minor any Brett level if you have it present in your wine it is now looking less than 100% of what it should be. The sooner we all come to this realisation the better, it is unacceptable. Over time once you get more familiar with this insidious spoilage yeast and the damage it does you will not accept it either just like a corked or premixed wine isn't tolerated. For the moment this is not the case but as people become more discerning it will be. Do not buy this wine as it is crap. Domaine Niellon, buy a barrel steamer (about $4000 euros) and eradicate this problem you have in your cellar for I will not buy any more of your wines from this point on until there is evidence this problem has been addressed.
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Just a gorgeous bottle from the first taste and smell. The acidity has hit perfect note and the minerality stands out.. Best bottle yet. drank it too quickly but think it had a 2nd gear.
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Second Sunday Group: Produttori del Barbaresco Riservas (L's): Opened by Neil after the tasting while M worked on opening the Barolets. Bright youthful color with aromas of citrus, minerals and limestone. Chalk, mineral, lemon blossom and apple on the palate. The acidity is bright and fresh- if tasting blind I'd have guessed this was a current release. Precise, focused and dripping with minerality. Wonderful. 93+ pts.
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Just a bit behind the Maltroie, But the same story. Real purity and elegance with weight - rich chardonnay that doesn't really require a descriptive - anise, maybe a bit; citrus, maybe a bit, but rich pure burgundian chardonnay captures it best. As I plow through these 2008 white burgundies, Meursault, Puligny, Chassagne, the vintage is in a really exceptional way, reminiscent to me of 1985, presents beautifully definitive typcity/terroir - Puligny has a sort of astringent minerality, Meursault a creaminess that once you grasp it, is just so distinctive; but in my view great Chassagne is defined by its purity. No quality Meursault ever tastes like a quality Puligny, or a quality Chassagne, and vice versa. And in 2008 those distinctions are as well expressed in my view since, as I said, 1985. My thought is you need that bracing backboard to see these distinctions. I'm up to maybe sixty premier cru white burgundies for 2009, and I recognize why people like them, but I prefer the 2008's because of my comments here. The fatter white burgundy gets - the more the acid backbone fades - the more the distinctions between them fade.
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6/25/2020 - Raizes Likes this wine: 91 Points
酸甜的柑橘和杨桃，逐渐淡去的香料气息令矿物咸味越发突出，少许的黄油香气更让人食指大动。但是在入口后，这种愉悦性主导的感觉便让位于纯净感，而良好的酸度和纤细的骨架令味蕾更易感受到香气的层次，也令酒质显得比实际年龄更加年轻。
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5/13/2020 - NYC_Maenad Likes this wine:
Having been burned by more than a few Niellons over the years, there's always some trepidation when opening one. This bottle poured a rich golden color, which was initially indicative of the danger zone. Based on previous sound bottles, I gave this about an hour decant before serving, which proved to be not quite enough! A beautiful nose of peaches, white flowers and fresh baked pastry, shy at first, was coaxed out with some swirling. A slightly waxy mouthfeel rounded out into something much more plush, with gently firm acidity. I liked the body on this very much, and it had character to spare. An excellent match with a classic Blanquette de Turbot et St. Jacques. Next bottle gets another 30 min decant at least. When sound, this wine is in a great place and *should* have plenty of time ahead of it.
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12/1/2018 - NYC_Maenad Likes this wine:
A sound bottle which benefited from a couple of hours air. Not decanted, just opened at a restaurant, with the second half brought home and finished in front of the fire after dinner. A very nice bottle of white burgundy, if not a standout. My last bottle from this case was a little advanced, though drinkable, and this one was exactly age appropriate. We'll see where things go from here.
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4/16/2018 - brooklynguy Likes this wine:
An excellent bottle, perfectly fresh and really singing. I know it's a crap shoot - my Niellon 08 last week from Champs Gain was a wreck. This bottle was excellent. Fresh and pure on the nose, limestone and citrus oil and hints of damp underwood. Fresh, focused, complex, and just delicious wine.
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6/11/2017 - fatboi wrote:
This was definitely over the hill. very golden color. slightly nutty. not horrible but just flabby without much precision. These wines are showing more variability with age. Not sure if worth saving the rest I have.
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5/27/2017 - fatboi Likes this wine:
Good bottle of wine... great acidity and limes for days. precise and alive. Didn't show any sign of premox.
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2/13/2017 - fatboi Does not like this wine:
Just a muted dank bottle. Don't think it was Ox or should I say hope it wasn't ox.
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8/12/2016 - AJ72 wrote: 74 Points
I'm being really hard on this wine as it is effectively rotten but a sound bottle. This is a paradox because it doesn't suffer from cork taint or premox issues. In fact when I first poured it I was happy with the colour which suggested it had aged well. This will be the last Niellon wine I buy. It's very rare to see a white wine which has been impacted by Brettanomyces spoilage but I have now encountered it in my last two wines from this producer. It is a serious problem in many red wines, unacceptable in fact, but to see it in white wine is unforgivable. I make wine for a living and have encountered the problem of having Brett affected wines in the cellar. No matter how minor any Brett level if you have it present in your wine it is now looking less than 100% of what it should be. The sooner we all come to this realisation the better, it is unacceptable. Over time once you get more familiar with this insidious spoilage yeast and the damage it does you will not accept it either just like a corked or premixed wine isn't tolerated. For the moment this is not the case but as people become more discerning it will be. Do not buy this wine as it is crap. Domaine Niellon, buy a barrel steamer (about $4000 euros) and eradicate this problem you have in your cellar for I will not buy any more of your wines from this point on until there is evidence this problem has been addressed.
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4/30/2016 - fatboi Likes this wine: 93 Points
Just a gorgeous bottle from the first taste and smell. The acidity has hit perfect note and the minerality stands out.. Best bottle yet. drank it too quickly but think it had a 2nd gear.
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12/12/2015 - fatboi wrote:
Something was off….cork fell in.. Lemony with no evolution. Don't think it was ox … just an off bottle.
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3/8/2015 - AllRed wrote: 93 Points
Second Sunday Group: Produttori del Barbaresco Riservas (L's): Opened by Neil after the tasting while M worked on opening the Barolets. Bright youthful color with aromas of citrus, minerals and limestone. Chalk, mineral, lemon blossom and apple on the palate. The acidity is bright and fresh- if tasting blind I'd have guessed this was a current release. Precise, focused and dripping with minerality. Wonderful. 93+ pts.
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8/31/2014 - bobbubbabs wrote: 87 Points
Tres ordinaire....'resting' at the moment?
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12/1/2013 - BMG Wine Likes this wine: 92 Points
Admittedly not designed for breakfast but hey, it was vacation!
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7/21/2013 - Spencer wrote:
Fantastic young white Burg. Very mineral driven with great acidity. Very pure chardonnay. Should age beautifully (if it avoids premox).
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8/3/2012 - theusualsuspect wrote: 92 Points
Just a bit behind the Maltroie, But the same story. Real purity and elegance with weight - rich chardonnay that doesn't really require a descriptive - anise, maybe a bit; citrus, maybe a bit, but rich pure burgundian chardonnay captures it best. As I plow through these 2008 white burgundies, Meursault, Puligny, Chassagne, the vintage is in a really exceptional way, reminiscent to me of 1985, presents beautifully definitive typcity/terroir - Puligny has a sort of astringent minerality, Meursault a creaminess that once you grasp it, is just so distinctive; but in my view great Chassagne is defined by its purity. No quality Meursault ever tastes like a quality Puligny, or a quality Chassagne, and vice versa. And in 2008 those distinctions are as well expressed in my view since, as I said, 1985. My thought is you need that bracing backboard to see these distinctions. I'm up to maybe sixty premier cru white burgundies for 2009, and I recognize why people like them, but I prefer the 2008's because of my comments here. The fatter white burgundy gets - the more the acid backbone fades - the more the distinctions between them fade.
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