Vosne-Romanée Premier Cru
Hide All Details
Domaine Guyon,
For laying down,
This high vineyard is always full of tension and energy. Jean-Pierre has aged this in 100 percent new oak and its presence is not felt at all. There is a delicious floral top note and its altitudinous minerality is luminous, all the while retaining its intrinsic Guyon character. Drink 2022-2028.
Jean-Pierre Guyon tasted his berries on 8th September and was not impressed. He waited for the rain that weekend and was among the last to harvest on 15th September. He got lucky, but his assiduous vineyard work must also have helped the astonishing transformation. It’s an hugely impressive range, better than 2016 in Jean-Pierre’s view, and certainly one of the best addresses this year. He has smart new labels as well, with vin biologique proudly to the fore. There is more terroir definition this year, and Jean-Pierre will bottle a little earlier.
Jean-Pierre Guyon tasted his berries on 8th September and was not impressed. He waited for the rain that weekend and was among the last to harvest on 15th September. He got lucky, but his assiduous vineyard work must also have helped the astonishing transformation. It’s an hugely impressive range, better than 2016 in Jean-Pierre’s view, and certainly one of the best addresses this year. He has smart new labels as well, with vin biologique proudly to the fore. There is more terroir definition this year, and Jean-Pierre will bottle a little earlier.
Maison Roche de Bellene,
Ready, but will improve,
Medium deep, bright purple with a healthy heady nose, the use of some whole bunches adds a touch of zest. There follows good, ripe, berry fruit, lively and attractive, more raspberry than strawberry in flavour. The acidity is well harnessed, and the finish admirably persistent. This offers remarkable value in 2014.
“A vintage of pure happiness,” enthuses Nicolas Potel. He rightly retains enthusiasm for Burgundy as a whole and his own wines in particular, though his life has been made more difficult by the explosion of prices for grapes on the open market. However these cuvées make sense to us: we tasted a wide range and picked out the plums.
“A vintage of pure happiness,” enthuses Nicolas Potel. He rightly retains enthusiasm for Burgundy as a whole and his own wines in particular, though his life has been made more difficult by the explosion of prices for grapes on the open market. However these cuvées make sense to us: we tasted a wide range and picked out the plums.
Domaine Guyon,
For laying down,
This parcel is situated right next to the border with Chambolle, it therefore comes as no surprise to find piercing red fruit right through this wine. Stunning poise and finer, more lifted then the Brûlées, this is a fantastic Vosne of the very highest quality. The choice between this and the Brûlées is really a personal preference over the style you look for.
Matthew Tipping – Fine Wine Sales Manager
Matthew Tipping – Fine Wine Sales Manager
Domaine Sylvain Cathiard,
For laying down,
Because the malolactic fermentation was very late, this is the most backward wine in the cellar. Nonetheless it shows a brilliant, dense, purple colour, with a brooding bouquet, huge weight of fruit on the palate and excellent structure, but it will take more time for everything to fall into place, which will surely happen.
In the vineyard Sébastien has been moving towards an organic approach. In the cellar, while vinification remains broadly similar, much less new wood is being used during élévage: the village cuvées have been reduced to 50 percent and the crus to two thirds, with a slightly lighter toast being employed in the barrels. All the wines are so much more elegant with less new wood. The 2014 vintage is lovely here.
In the vineyard Sébastien has been moving towards an organic approach. In the cellar, while vinification remains broadly similar, much less new wood is being used during élévage: the village cuvées have been reduced to 50 percent and the crus to two thirds, with a slightly lighter toast being employed in the barrels. All the wines are so much more elegant with less new wood. The 2014 vintage is lovely here.
Domaine Sylvain Cathiard,
For laying down,
Brilliant pure purple, this is a dramatic, singing wine, with real lift and exuberance up front which then continues across the palate. Having intensity without undue weight, this has a beautiful aromatic profile of dark red fruits, and a lovely finish. Very impressive.
In the vineyard Sébastien has been moving towards an organic approach. In the cellar, while vinification remains broadly similar, much less new wood is being used during élévage: the village cuvées have been reduced to 50 percent and the crus to two thirds, with a slightly lighter toast being employed in the barrels. All the wines are so much more elegant with less new wood. The 2014 vintage is lovely here.
In the vineyard Sébastien has been moving towards an organic approach. In the cellar, while vinification remains broadly similar, much less new wood is being used during élévage: the village cuvées have been reduced to 50 percent and the crus to two thirds, with a slightly lighter toast being employed in the barrels. All the wines are so much more elegant with less new wood. The 2014 vintage is lovely here.
Domaine Guyon,
For laying down,
This wine has extraordinary finesse, delivering fruit and flowers together on the nose, very silky red-purple fruit. The tannins here are beautifully covered by the flesh and an enormously persistent finish. What amazing elegance: this is truly fabulous, cool, precise, and floral.
We discovered Jean-Pierre Guyon’s amazing wines last year, just in time to offer his 2013s in the summer, so this is his first entry in our en primeur offering. This is a domaine worth discovering, producing intense wines with layers of complexity waiting to unfold. There is no question about the concentration here in 2014 – these are certainly wines for keeping.
We discovered Jean-Pierre Guyon’s amazing wines last year, just in time to offer his 2013s in the summer, so this is his first entry in our en primeur offering. This is a domaine worth discovering, producing intense wines with layers of complexity waiting to unfold. There is no question about the concentration here in 2014 – these are certainly wines for keeping.
Domaine Sylvain Cathiard,
For laying down,
Rich purple, boasting explosive fruit on the nose along with a touch of toast. It’s immense though it is holding something back at this stage. Whilst already displaying a burst of brilliant damson fruit, along with ripe dark cherries and superb length, this will surely develop even further from this rather raw embryo.
Jasper Morris MW, Burgundy Wine Director
Jasper Morris MW, Burgundy Wine Director
Sébastien Cathiard began his second vintage in charge on 22nd September. He has made approximately the same volume of wine in 2012 as 2011, except in the Nuits-St Georges vineyards, but, alas, 2013 will be even less. There are no significant changes to his father’s style, except some progress towards organic viticulture. Sébastien currently uses 2/3 new wood for village wines and 100% for most Premiers Crus. The grapes are entirely de-stemmed before vinification. Note how many cuvées have the benefit of old vines. but fabulous quality.
For laying down,
A very intense, bright purple, showing an absolutely concentrated core of fruit. There must be a very good Pinot selection here because, even though the bunches are never small, the results are great. This has a core of brilliant pure fruit, not a heavyweight but very fine. Great length.
Jasper Morris MW, Burgundy Wine Director
Jasper Morris MW, Burgundy Wine Director
Thibault’s two domaines, based in Moulin à Vent and Nuits-St Georges, both returned paltry yields of 16 hl/ha in 2012. Among the Côte d’Or appellations, the Hautes Côtes, Nuits and Gevrey-Chambertin suffered in particular. All of which is a great shame, given the quality of the wines which have been made. Even where Thibault purchases grapes (Aloxe-Corton and Chambolle- Musigny), Thibault makes the major decisions in the vineyard management. His own vines are farmed biodynamically, with ploughing by horse.
Maison Roche de Bellene,
For laying down,
Lovely bright mid-purple with a very stylish nose, including plenty of new wood. Exuberant on the palate, with the oak showing a bit, but it also has lift and class. Alpine strawberries and raspberries abound. A delicious wine from a great vineyard.
Jasper Morris MW, Burgundy Wine Director
Jasper Morris MW, Burgundy Wine Director
Nicolas Potel has retained the majority of his regular contracts in 2012, though a couple are missing after the hail. Like everybody else, he has had to pay more for his grapes though, especially at the top end of the hierarchy. But as ever there are some delicious wines in the range, and at the lower end the prices are thoroughly competitive.
Domaine d'Eugenie,
Ready, but will keep,
Also tasted shortly after bottling, this wine was the antithesis of the village Vosne: the bouquet is for the moment hidden but there is a wealth of silky fruit on the palate. Full, intense and exciting. Unsurprisingly, from one of the most exciting new producers in Vosne Romanée - a huge effort here. Living up to its name the Brulées has a distinct black pepper and spiced edge to it; which when supported by more brooding notes of blackberry, cloves and earth; followed by an contrastingly delicate structure with well integrated acidity and silky mouthfeel, will leave you reaching for another sip. Perfect with pheasant or sirloin.
Fine Wine Team
Fine Wine Team
Jean-Pierre Guyon tasted his berries on 8th September and was not impressed. He waited for the rain that weekend and was among the last to harvest on 15th September. He got lucky, but his assiduous vineyard work must also have helped the astonishing transformation. It’s an hugely impressive range, better than 2016 in Jean-Pierre’s view, and certainly one of the best addresses this year. He has smart new labels as well, with vin biologique proudly to the fore. There is more terroir definition this year, and Jean-Pierre will bottle a little earlier.