Bouchard Pere et Fils

Glowing a fine light purple, this is very stylish, attractive and concentrated. Cherry kernel comes into prominence on a very long finish. An extremely successful Monthélie in 2011.
Jasper Morris MW, Berrys' Burgundy Director Bouchard picked from 29th August to 10th September in 2011 and Philippe Prost, his head winemaker, thinks that there is a clear stylistic difference in 2011 between the up slope wines which are in a modern, fruit forward style, and the denser, more structured lower slope bottlings. Either way, the key was to avoid green tannins and to limit new oak: 20-25% for lesser Premier Crus, 30-50% for senior versions and a maximum 65% for Grand Cru of either colour.

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This is the outstanding wine from the appellation of Beaune, made from a great site with a good proportion of 55-year-old vines. It has a beautiful, deep mid-red colour, and a very poised nose of concentrated – but not unduly powerful – fruit. Quite weighty in a good way, with plum and blueberry fruit, well-judged tannins and excellent length.
Jasper Morris MW, Burgundy Wine Director

In response to the very small concentrated berries which characterise the fruit in 2012, Philippe Prost, head winemaker, has opted for more whole bunch fermentation this year, up to 25% per cuvée. The wines are exceptionally intense, so a little leavening by the inclusion of some stems makes sense. The white wines are bursting with energy, clearly amongst the successes of the vintage.

East-facing below the Charlemagne holding, this was one of the last wines to be picked. Intense purple in colour, this displays a fresh nose – clear cut and mineral. It is very intense but not too muscular, good with grape tannins and fresh hillside acidity. Very persistent.

Frédéric Weber has taken over prime winemaking responsibilities from Philippe Prost. He shares with his predecessor the ability to talk eloquently about his wines, with an excellent knowledge of each terroir. One change here is the increasing use of whole bunches during fermentation, though more in the Côte de Nuits than Côte de Beaune this year. Overall, these are excellent wines.

Rich, imperial purple with a huge, generous nose, this is exciting. A vast bundle of ripe dark fruit, some plums, some cherries, really very stylish indeed, and excellent length.  Very good weight, still lively and very long. 
Jasper Morris, MW - Wine Buyer

The 2013 grapes were picked between 30th September and 11th October. The white skins were fragile so pressing was very gentle, the reds more robust and capable of a good proportion of whole bunch fermentation. Most wines are now in tank with bottling a little earlier than usual. An exceptional range of reds in particular from Bouchard this year.

Although not a domaine wine, this is harvested from the same 1ha plot each year. It offers a pretty, medium-deep purple colour, with an attractive but discreet nose. It begins delicately, then opens out to a significant volume of fruit, with just a touch of pepper behind. This is graceful yet intense with amazing persistence. Excellent.

Frédéric Weber has taken over prime winemaking responsibilities from Philippe Prost. He shares with his predecessor the ability to talk eloquently about his wines, with an excellent knowledge of each terroir. One change here is the increasing use of whole bunches during fermentation, though more in the Côte de Nuits than Côte de Beaune this year. Overall, these are excellent wines.

At this early stage the oak is more evident than for the straight Chevalier-Montrachet, perhaps hiding the fruit a touch on the nose. However, in the mouth the fruit shows incredible weight and energy, with opulent peaches and nectarines, all in a coating of expensive wood. 
Jasper Morris, MW - Wine Buyer

The 2013 grapes were picked between 30th September and 11th October. The white skins were fragile so pressing was very gentle, the reds more robust and capable of a good proportion of whole bunch fermentation. Most wines are now in tank with bottling a little earlier than usual. An exceptional range of reds in particular from Bouchard this year.

Excellent, clear and bright, there is very little nose at this early stage but sublime fruit on the palate, with a mineral core and exceptional persistence. It offers intensity rather than weight, with maybe a little pear and white peach fruit leading to a fabulous finish. Grand vin.
Jasper Morris MW, Burgundy Wine Director

In response to the very small concentrated berries which characterise the fruit in 2012, Philippe Prost, head winemaker, has opted for more whole bunch fermentation this year, up to 25% per cuvée. The wines are exceptionally intense, so a little leavening by the inclusion of some stems makes sense. The white wines are bursting with energy, clearly amongst the successes of the vintage.

The 2013 Le Montrachet Grand Cru has a very reserved bouquet, a light marine influence coming through with aeration of shucked oyster shells and a smidgen of orange rind. The palate is fresh and crisp, compact, more austere than the two Chevaliers at the moment, with very laconic, tight-lipped finish compared to others that I have tasted. Let’s see...this is giving away zilch at the moment! 
Neal Martin - Wine Advocate - eRobertParker.com - Dec 2014

With a real depth to the nose this is very impressive. There is a magnificent weight of fruit here, swelling across the palate, and everything is perfectly in place. White fruit, gorgeous taffeta texture plump yet fine and very long. 
Jasper Morris, MW - Wine Buyer

The 2013 grapes were picked between 30th September and 11th October. The white skins were fragile so pressing was very gentle, the reds more robust and capable of a good proportion of whole bunch fermentation. Most wines are now in tank with bottling a little earlier than usual. An exceptional range of reds in particular from Bouchard this year.

From three separate plots covering different parts of the Perrires vineyard. There is a touch of honey alongside some apple compte notes, while the wine in the mouth starts full and fleshy but finishes on lively minerals. Complete and complex.
Jasper Morris MW, Burgundy Director

Philippe Prost, long-time winemaker at Bouchard Pre & Fils, is less flamboyant than his veteran opposite number at Jadot, but he still has firm opinions and he knows the detail of all his vineyard sites inside out. He clearly prefers his 2010 whites to the previous vintage, though we rather liked those too, while the fresh finish of the vintage has brought his excellent 2010 reds to life.

Startling, stunning and striking with great energy, fresh minerality and perfectly judged oak, this Chevalier-Montrachet has extraordinary intensity whilst also maintaining freshness and vigour. A magnificently perfumed finish lingers on and on. This can be drunk from 2012 but will be even better after longer.

The bouquet of this wine starts discreetly but there is so much energy behind that it rapidly bursts onto the palate. You can taste both the sunshine and the Charlemagne minerals side by side, and there is a really long aftertaste into the bargain. Superb.

The bouquet of this splendid Chambertin Clos de Bze from Bouchard suggests new wood, magical perfume, deep rich plums and ultra opulence, yet on the palate it is seamless with energy right through to the back. It has an amazing intensity and endless length. This may be glorious to drink even in its youth though it should equally live to a ripe old age.

Rich purple with some blacker tints, some glossy new oak shows, although only 40 percent was used. This has the same sense of inky luxury which pervades the Bouchard reds this year, but is underpinned by a long thread of classy, stylish fruit. With superb length, this is really very chic. Drink 2026-2040.
Jasper Morris MW, Wine Buyer

Picking began on 3rd September, not before, as the whites were not phenologically ripe earlier, and the acidity was stable. For the reds many more whole bunches have been used this vintage, given that the grapes were perfectly ripe. The reds are every bit the standard you would expect, but we were completely bowled over by the brilliance of the white wines here this year.

Spicy, exuberant flavours with nice purity and sweet spices in the persistent finish. A very well made Clos de Beze that focuses on intense fruit and vibrant flavours. The finish has a salty minerality. Only 300 cases produced in 2012.
Jeannie Cho Lee - Master of Wine

Clean, bright and fresh in all departments, this Corton-Charlemagne from Bouchard is positively linear after the broad-based Meursaults but it has the typical 2009 quality of a fine rich finish, and sensational length.

This Meursault Perrires from Bouchard is tightly wound at first but grows into an ample finish, working in complete harmony with several layers of flavour building. It has a beautiful fleshy texture but with a mineral streak through the middle.