Vosne-Romanée Premier Cru
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Domaine Guyon,
For laying down,
Mid purple and a lifted, smoky, red cherry scented nose with a touch of toast. The real Vosne signature of power and grace is evident on the palate, with an abundance of sapid red fruit supported by silky tannins and a discreet oak note. A very pure and lingering finish complete the picture for this classy 1er Cru. Give this time in the cellar.
Fergus Stewart – Private Account Manager
Fergus Stewart – Private Account 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 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.
For laying down,
Attractive mid-purple colour, with a beautiful, sensual perfume, the oak working well in support but not too much in evidence. A really classy nose and equally fine fruit on the palate completes the best Lamarche Chaumes to date. Nicole has discovered that the aromatics really come out at the end of the fermentation process and has adjusted her techniques accordingly.
Jasper Morris MW, Burgundy Wine Director
Jasper Morris MW, Burgundy Wine Director
Nathalie Lamarche recalls that the harvest began on 22nd September with acceptable yields in the Vosne-Romanée vineyards, about the same as for 2011. In vinification Nicole Lamarche uses a small proportion of whole bunches, while the amount of new wood in the barrel cellar has been reduced to a maximum of 50% for the Grands Crus. This is the best selection of wines that Nicole Lamarche has produced since taking control of the winemaking in 2007. In short, a really fine range.
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.
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.
Maison Roche de Bellene,
Ready, but will improve,
Most Exciting -Best Value Burgundy Red - vintage 2008
This is the essence of Vosne: darker, more brooding but cool, precise and inviting on both the nose and palate. Really charming with a rewarding follow-through, this is very tasty indeed for reasonably early drinking.
Simon Staples, Sales Director
Nicolas Potel’s Maison Roche de Bellene excels at creating very classy wines from top vineyards at affordable prices. Fine, clear and light, yet bright in colour, this Vosne-Romanée has a fine red fruit nose, a mix of raspberry and redcurrant, with the lightness of touch from these hillside vineyards. Far from a blockbuster, this delivers elegance with an ethereal touch, fair intensity of flavour and a clean, pure, balanced finish. It is approachable now to 2018
Jasper Morris MW, Burgundy Wine Director
This is the essence of Vosne: darker, more brooding but cool, precise and inviting on both the nose and palate. Really charming with a rewarding follow-through, this is very tasty indeed for reasonably early drinking.
Simon Staples, Sales Director
Nicolas Potel’s Maison Roche de Bellene excels at creating very classy wines from top vineyards at affordable prices. Fine, clear and light, yet bright in colour, this Vosne-Romanée has a fine red fruit nose, a mix of raspberry and redcurrant, with the lightness of touch from these hillside vineyards. Far from a blockbuster, this delivers elegance with an ethereal touch, fair intensity of flavour and a clean, pure, balanced finish. It is approachable now to 2018
Jasper Morris MW, Burgundy Wine Director
Domaine Sylvain Cathiard,
Ready, but will keep,
"This presently shares the reserved and backward personality of the Reignots with only glimpses of highly complex earthy dark berry fruit aromas laced liberally with spice and tea notes but in contrast to the former wine's emphasis on finesse, here the flavors run toward the robust with powerful, intense and muscular full-bodied flavors underpinned by a firm tannic spine and noteworthy grip that is completely buffered by buckets of pinot sap. Finishes with superb intensity and stunning depth and completely coats and stains the palate. This is flat out marvelous with striking energy and you don't want to miss it." 91-93/100 points (Alan Meadows - Burghound - Jan 2006)
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
Domaine Sylvain Cathiard,
For laying down,
There is competition for the Malconsorts crown but, while making wines of this quality, Sylvain Cathiard has few challengers. Theres a sense of majesty that pervades the whole wine from the imperial purple colour right through to the impressive finish. Its difficult to believe one wine can contain so much sensuality and elegance at the same time. Drink 2010-2020+.
These are concentrated wines at Domaine de Bellene this year, and the vintage reminds Nicolas Potel of 1991. The wines came in with correct sugar levels, around 12.5 percent, and perfect acidities; they were vinified for a full month with minimal intervention, using whole bunches for the senior wines. The wines were due for bottling in early December.