($100, Kobrand): Also from purchased grapes, this Charmes Chambertin attests to the validity of the appellation contrôllée system. It has more of everything–complexity, length, and power–than the Petite Chapelle. 94 Michael Apstein Jul 22, 2005… Read more
Category Archives: France – Burgundy
Maison Louis Latour, Chambolle Musigny (Burgundy, France) 2002
($48, Louis Latour, Inc.): Here is a great village wine, fleshy and plump, with unexpected length. Delicious now. 90 Michael Apstein Jul 22, 2005… Read more
Nicolas Potel, Beaune 1er Cru (Burgundy, France) Clos des Vignes Franches 2002
($36, Frederick Wildman): The pure cherry-like fruit is packaged here in Potel’s signature silky suaveness. Tightly wound at this stage, I expect it will blossom beautifully over the next five years. I also put this one in my cellar. 90 Michael Apstein Jul 22, 2005… Read more
Bouchard Père & Fils, Beaune 1er Cru (Burgundy, France) Beaune du Châteaux 2002
($40, Clicquot, Inc.): This wine, which has been sold widely in France, made its first US appearance in 2002. A blend made exclusively from up to 16 of Bouchard’s 1er Cru vineyards in Beaune which are not bottled separately, such as Beaune Marconnets or Beaune Grèves, it’s a great buy.… Read more
Louis Jadot, Beaune 1er Cru (Burgundy, France) Boucherottes 2002
($36, Kobrand): This more muscular wine, also from a family owned vineyard on the border with Pommard, has great color and concentration without being overdone. Exceptionally long, it’s even bigger, but not necessarily better, than the Theurons. 92 Michael Apstein Jul 22, 2005… Read more
Louis Jadot, Beaune 1er Cru (Burgundy, France) Theurons 2002
($36, Kobrand): A bottling from a vineyard owned by the heirs of the Jadot family–Domaine des Héritiers Louis Jadot–this is a concentrated wine, rather big for a Beaune, with great texture and length. 92 Michael Apstein Jul 22, 2005… Read more
Maison Louis Latour, Beaune 1er Cru (Burgundy, France) Vignes Franches 2002
($46, Louis Latour, Inc.): Latour owns about a third–over 7 acres–in this prized vineyard from which he makes consistently excellent wine. The 2002 is glorious, concentrated and well structured. I would drink his Volnay En Chevrets while waiting for this one to evolve.… Read more
Louis Jadot, Beaune 1er Cru (Burgundy, France) Clos des Ursules 2002
($48, Kobrand): Jadot’s flagship Beaune from a portion of the Vignes Franches vineyard, the Clos des Ursules is always a winner. The 2002 is no exception. With more structure than their other Beaune 1er Cru, it should turn out very well.… Read more
White Marsannay is subtle and satisfying
White Burgundy, made almost exclusively from chardonnay, is one of the most sought-after wines in the world.
Despite tremendous advances in California and other New World locales with chardonnay, white Burgundy remains the benchmark for wines made from that grape. But buying Burgundy is not easy.… Read more