Category: Burgundy

1982 Volnay 1er Cru “Les Caillerets”, Henri Boillot, Volnay, Côte d’Or, Burgundy, France. Henri Boillot is a famous winemaker in Burgundy. The Boillot family began to make wine in the early 1900s. Henri Boillot, grandfather to today’s senior winemaker Henri Boillot, created the winery. Henri Boillot (should I call him jr.?) joined the winery then run by his father Jean Boillot, in 1975. In 2000, they built a new winemaking facility in Meursault. So this 1982 Volnay 1er Cru “Les Caillerets” is from the former winery in Volnay.

It seems that Henri Boillot (jr.) has introduced quite a lot of improvements that have been the basis of today’s fame. His son Guillaume joined the winery in 2008, and they have been responsible for winemaking jointly ever since.

Grenade color. On the nose, the 1982 Volnay 1er Cru “Les Caillerets” shows mainly tertiary aromas, like leather, game, smoke and sous-bois and cigars, with some fruity nose of redcurrant and raspberry. On the palate, the wine is dry, with medium acidity, medium alcohol, tannins expressive but well integrated, and a good body. Initially, the finish was a bit short. This improved after the wine had been opened for more than an hour, the finish was rather long and pleasant. A wine that has passed its peak, probably was better about 10 years ago. TBM 89 points.

#vinho #vinhos #vinhotinto #winelover #winelovers #winelover🍷 #winelovers🍷#winestagram #winestagram #winestagram🍷 #tastingsbymichael #degustação #degustacao #degustacao#winetasting #winetastings #winetasting🍷#winetastingfun#sommelier #borgonha #burgundywine #burgundywines#volnay #volnay #volnay1ercru #henriboillot

2000 Charmes-Chambertin Grand Cru, Domaine Armand Rousseau, Gevrey-Chambertin, Côte de Nuits, Burgundy, France. Until now, I only tasted few wines of Armand Rousseau, a legend whose reputation hasn’t escaped me. Tonight we are tasting a masterwork of his, and yes, we are convinced it is a truly great wine.

Beautiful ruby color. On the nose, complex and lovely aromas – still some primary ones of red fruit (redcurrant, raspberry, red cherry), some notes of secondary ones (ceder, cigar box) and tertiary aromas like leather, game, mushrooms. On the palate, the 2000 Charmes-Chambertin Grand Cru is dry with medium+ acidity, showing off the aromas we found on the nose, medium alcohol, tannins well integrated but still noticeable, medium+ body. The finish is long and very pleasant. TBM 94 points.

#vinho #vinhos #vinhotinto #winelover #winelovers #winelover🍷 #winelovers🍷#winestagram #winestagram #winestagram🍷 #tastingsbymichael #degustação #degustacao #degustacao#winetasting #winetastings #winetasting🍷#winetastingfun#sommelier #sommeliers #sommelierlife #sommelierlife🍷#sommelierlifestyle #burgundy #burgundywine #côtedenuits#borgonha
#armandrousseau #charmeschambertin#charmeschambertin2000 #charmeschambertingrandcru

2019 Bourgogne Pinot Noir of Domaine Buisson-Charles is a wonderful red Burgundy. Patrick, Cathérine and Louis Essa are making superb wines in Meursault (see my notes on the 2020 Meursault Vieilles Vignes), partly from their own vines, partly from grapes purchased. This Bourgogne Pinot Noir comes from two parcels, especially the “Haute Couture” vineyard in Meursault and from Champans in Puligny-Montrachet. The winemaking process follows their standards for Premier Crus. 30% of the grapes are used completely, thus with stems. Since 2016 this wine can be called “Côte d’Or Pinot Noir”, also using the name of the parcel.

Plantation of the parcels is dense, 11.000 vines per hectare. The vines are old – 55 years or older. The yield is about 30 to 40 hl per hectare – quite low for a red wine at regional level. Manual harvest, with sorting already in the vineyards to eliminate minor quality fruit. Pneumatic press. No use of enzymes to clarify the must. Indigenous yeast for fermentation. Maturation using 25% new barrels and barrels five years old. No fining and no filtering before filling.

Purple color. RIch and complex aromas of red fruit in the nose, sour cherry, redcurrant, with hints of some violet flower. On the palate, the wine is dry, with nice freshness, silky tannins and a great mouthfeel. Long finish, very pleasant. The 2019 Bourgogne Pinot Noir is a truly great wine.

TBM 92 points.

2020 Meursault Vieilles Vignes is a marvellous white wine from Meursault, Burgundy. I admit that I am guilty of infanticide opening this bottle already. The wine is made from Chardonnay. The fruit comes from 7 parcels. The vines are between 55 and 110 years old (certainly, no question whatsoever whether they can be called old vines, or Vieilles Vignes!). The Vireuils et Meix Chavaux vineyards give freshness, the vineyards Marcausses, Vignes Blanches et Pellans give great body to the wine. Buisson-Charles is a winery run by the Essa family: Patrick Essa, his wife Cathérine and his son Louis Essa.

They cultivate organically their own grapes in Meursault. However, they also purchase some fruit from other regions, especially to make red wines. Grapes for the 2020 Meursault Vieilles Vignes are hand-picked. Maturation takes place for 17 months, one year in Burgundy “Pieces” barrels (20% of which are new). No clearing, no filtering. Low yields, 30-50 hl per hectare. This is a dense, great Meursault that will develop its full potential over the coming years. Only 7.950 bottles were produced. It took me quite an effort to convince Patrick Essa to give me one bottle, because they sell to subscribers and have a waiting list…

Golden straw colour. Notes of pear, quince, hazelnut, and a slight buttery note in the nose – very pleasant aromas. On the palate, this wine is dry, with medium acidity, a very round mouthfeel. The fruit is showing nicely. Great and pleasant finish. Obviously, with some more patience and a few extra years of maturation in the bottle, this wine will show fantastically. The 2020 Meursault Vieilles Vignes is already a great choice now, even in its infant stage.

TBM 93 points.