2010 White Burgundy

This complex and exciting wine is a full primrose colour and yields aromas of yellow plum and verbena on racy bouquet. Immediately very powerful, and though quite closed it is clearly exceptionally intense, with layer on layer of fruit waiting to develop.
Jasper Morris MW, Burgundy Director

Drouhin reds are noted for being lightish in colour, perfumed and a little extracted. Their range of 2010s however show rather deeper colours and more structure – the team felt that the wines were responding very well to the period of maceration in the vats after the fermentation had been completed, so they extended this period. A small percentage of stems are often included to add a little seasoning, though the hallmark of the Drouhin style remains an absolute purity of fruit.

Slightly the palest colour of the three whites Immediate floral and mineral nose. Subtle and precise with some richer elements fleshed onto a fine-boned structure. Lovely elements suffuse the finish, fragrant lemon blossom. Long and fine and very persistent.
(Jasper Morris MW, BBR Buyer)

Showing a full pale yellow colour, this has a rich and exotic nose that includes some nuttiness and coconut notes. The fruit is superbly expressive on the palate, multi-layered and backed by the vital fresh acidity of the vintage.
Jasper Morris MW, Burgundy Director

The old order changeth slowly at Maison Louis Jadot. Veteran winemaker Jacques Lardire is still very much in charge, but his eventual successor Frdric is starting to play a more prominent role. Dont expect a revolution, but a little evolution is doubtless possible. The acidity of 2010 very much suits the Jadot white wine style, while their fullish extraction of Pinot Noir has worked notably well in several red cuves such as the Volnay, Clos de la Barre which we have selected for the first time this year. Where the wines come from one of the various Jadot domaines we supply the relevant information in brackets.

This is really classy in 2010, the first year with the name of the lieu-dit on the label. A beautiful floral nose, dancing fruit, charming and balanced, it possesses an excellent racy acidity and is altogether a great success.
Jasper Morris MW, Burgundy Director

The brand new winery is now fully up and running which will make life much easier for Benoît and Jean-Baptiste Bachelet who used to make their wine in a series of ramshackle cellars scattered around the hamlet of Gamay. The basic principles remain the same however. The wines see very little new wood and spend two winters in barrel, before being racked into tank in the spring and bottled in June or July of the second summer which is several months later than most producers. These are fine and stylish wines.

There is a lovely touch of floral aromatics on the nose here, but also the classical Meursault butteriness. There is huge concentration on the palate, with waves of fruit following one after the other. The beautifully defined fresh finish completes this extraordinary wine.
Jasper Morris MW, Burgundy Director

Arnaud Ente is always one of the first to pick. His meticulous vineyard work and low yields encourage early ripeness, so in 2010 he could start on 15th September. The yield is much the same as 2008 and Arnaud notes similar acidity readings, but with much more flesh on the palate and finer aromatics. The label has also been fine-tuned this year and is now exceptionally handsome. Overall, these are breath-taking wines.

Displaying just a touch of oak and lemongrass on the nose, this wine is certain to develop with age. A clue to the wines quality is the intense minerality of the palate, which is exceptionally long and refined.
Jasper Morris MW, Burgundy Director

The brand new winery is now fully up and running which will make life much easier for Benot and Jean-Baptiste Bachelet who used to make their wine in a series of ramshackle cellars scattered around the hamlet of Gamay. The basic principles remain the same however. The wines see very little new wood and spend two winters in barrel, before being racked into tank in the spring and bottled in June or July of the second summer which is several months later than most producers. These are fine and stylish wines.

This is the smallest crop to date from this fabulous vineyard, with just two-thirds of the volume made in 2009. As usual the nose is striking, almost floral and certainly with a steely edge. A full and rich, round mouthful with excellent balancing acidity to the generous finish.
Jasper Morris MW, Burgundy Director

Two recent trends which have been continued here by winemaker Pierre Vincent are a slight reduction in the amount of new oak, which now mostly comes from the local forest of Cîteaux, and a slight increase in the use of stems during vinification. The latter is subtly judged though, as there is very rarely any outright feel of the stems in the bouquet or on the palate. 2010 is a tiny crop here, averaging out at 24 hl/ha across the cellar but the wines are magically concentrated.

Burgundy Vintage 2010 Best Buys - Outside the Box
Lovely ripe fruit engulfs the nose, which is deep, rich and complex with a mineral edge. A very big wine on the palate, with savoury fruit, long and complex on the finish with crisp acidity and hints of limestone.
(Chris Pollington, Private Account Manager)

This Merlin classic begins with lovely, gentle, plump fruit, though there are fresh apple and grapefruit notes mingling within. This is quite lovely and offers superb balance and weight, with fruit to the fore and acidity beneath.
(Jasper Morris MW, Burgundy Director)

The wizard of the Mâconnais has produced a great range of wines in 2010 from his 14 hectare domaine, supplemented by some purchased grapes from certain appellations such as Pouilly-Fuissé. There are few more reflective and meticulous producers in the Mâconnais than the Merlins, who form a great partnership with Olivier’s nervous energy supported by Corinne’s unflagging calm.

Though Maison Louis Jadot dont own the vines from the Chassagne side of the vineyard, they certainly know what to do with the grapes. Wave after wave of fruit bursts across the palate and there is majesty throughout, especially in the aftertaste.
Jasper Morris MW, Burgundy Director

The old order changeth slowly at Maison Louis Jadot. Veteran winemaker Jacques Lardire is still very much in charge, but his eventual successor Frdric is starting to play a more prominent role. Dont expect a revolution, but a little evolution is doubtless possible. The acidity of 2010 very much suits the Jadot white wine style, while their fullish extraction of Pinot Noir has worked notably well in several red cuves such as the Volnay, Clos de la Barre which we have selected for the first time this year. Where the wines come from one of the various Jadot domaines we supply the relevant information in brackets.

There are two plots at opposite ends of the vineyard that contribute to the making of this complete Folatières. The nose is dense, opaque and backward, but the palate is stylish, pure and concentrated with some white peach notes. This needs time in the cellar, but could become a really great Puligny-Montrachet.
(Jasper Morris MW, Burgundy Director)

Sauzet is such a quiet and understated domaine, but they have been making brilliant wines for some time now, abetted by a seemingly seamless transition from Gérard Boudot to the next generation, daughter Emilie and son-in-law Benoit Riffault. The domaine is now farmed entirely organically with some biodynamic methods being used. They began picking on 17th September, finishing before the rains of Friday 24th – even so some sorting was necessary. The difficult flowering, especially higher on the slope, has led to very small yields giving exceptionally concentrated wines.

Noticeably aromatic with an apple and pear mix, this is refreshing on the finish too, and after notable weight and plenty of energy.
Jasper Morris MW, Burgundy Director

This is such a quiet and understated domaine, but they have been making brilliant wines for some time now, abetted by a seemingly seamless transition from Gérard Boudot to the next generation, daughter Emilie and son-in-law Benoit Riffault. The domaine is now farmed entirely organically with some biodynamic methods being used. They began picking on 17th September, finishing before the rains of Friday 24th – even so some sorting was necessary. The difficult flowering, especially higher on the slope, has led to very small yields giving exceptionally concentrated wines.

For all the classical style Fuissé and the minerality of Vergisson, this may well be the finest of the three. There is a harmonious, deluxe feel, while the fruit is well knit with plenty of muscle.This is a beautiful Pouilly-Fuissé to savour.
Jasper Morris MW, Burgundy Director

The wizard of the Mâconnais has produced a great range of wines in 2010 from his 14 hectare domaine, supplemented by some purchased grapes from certain appellations such as Pouilly-Fuissé. There are few more reflective and meticulous producers in the Mâconnais than the Merlins, who form a great partnership with Olivier’s nervous energy supported by Corinne’s unflagging calm.

Bonneau du Martray sets  the benchmark for Corton Charlemagne and the 2010 has a complex, intense flavour profile that continues to develop in the glass. It is very tight and primary at the moment with notes of green apples, lemons and wet stones. Its finesse, fine wood tannins and fresh acidity with its dense flavour intensity promises a real beauty in ten years...I can't wait!

Quite restrained on the nose and with a touch of lime blossom, this is excellent village Meursault. There is a real core of intensity through the middle, it is fresh and dynamic, whilst showing some attractive flesh at the back.
Jasper Morris MW, Burgundy Director

Antoine Jobard started picking on Sunday 19th September and hurried through so as to finish before the rains, announced for the following Friday, arrived. The wines have the same concentration as in Franois Jobards time but a greater purity. There is little emphasis on new oak, with an average of 20% new barrels across the range, leaving the wines to speak for themselves. Everything was fully ripe in 2010 but nothing exceeded 13.3% alcohol, so the balance is certainly there.

Light pale yellow. Fresh apple aromatics with impressive density behind. The Drouhin team report how good the plant material is in this vineyard and it shows in the quality of the palate: there are many subtle touches despite the evident concentration. Very engaging.
Jasper Morris MW, Burgundy Director

Drouhin reds are noted for being lightish in colour, perfumed and a little extracted. Their range of 2010s however show rather deeper colours and more structure the team felt that the wines were responding very well to the period of maceration in the vats after the fermentation had been completed, so they extended this period. A small percentage of stems are often included to add a little seasoning, though the hallmark of the Drouhin style remains an absolute purity of fruit.

There were only 100 cases of this new wine produced in 2010, which is a shame at it provides terrific, elegant Meursault. Pure, clean and bright with a very chiselled, mineral nose, it is crunchy on the palate before it fattens out. The whole is suffused with a floral perfume.
Jasper Morris MW, Burgundy Director

The former Domaine René Manuel has been purchased by investors, the vineyards being split between Domaine des Comtes Lafon and Domaine Roulot while Dominique Lafon himself has moved production of his own label wines to the Manuel cellars in Meursault, as well as gaining some Bourgogne Blanc vines. Though Dominique operates officially under the status of negociant, all the wines are domaine grown and bottled except the Bourgogne Blanc, which will be next year.

Only one barrel of this wine, from Benjamins own property at the top of the vineyard on the Chassagne side, was produced in 2010. A scintillating nose awaits that is brooding with intensity and moves onto an ever increasing volume of fruit on the palate, perfect oak integration and extraordinary persistence.
Jasper Morris MW, Burgundy Director

Benjamin Leroux has managed to produce almost as much wine in 2010 as he did in 2009. Some of his grape contracts were short because of the low crop in 2010, but he has been able to compensate with some new sources of supply. 2010, Benjamins fourth vintage, looks to be a great success in both colours here. Included in this selection is a cuve of Volnay Santenots from the Hospices de Beaune whose lvage we entrusted to Benjamin.

Succulent yellow plum fruit dominates the nose here, before a big rich Meursault mouthful takes over, fully of weighty, ripe Mirabelle fruit that absolutely covers the structure before an extremely long finish.
Jasper Morris MW, Burgundy Director

The 2010s here come in various slightly different styles according to the picking date. Bourgogne Oligocene was picked early, most of the Meursaults the following week while Tte de Murger came in last with extra ripeness in the grapes. Plans are taking place for the future though Patrick has no intention of retiring yet. One daughter, Marion, has been working with him for several years and he has now been joined by son-in-law Pierre-Emmanuel Lamy (no relation to Olivier).

This is very backward compared to lesser cuves, showing power and concentration rather than the detail of the fruit.
Jasper Morris MW, Burgundy Director

Jean-Philippes crop is down from 30 to 40% after the cold and wet flowering, but he is very happy with the quality. He started picking on Sunday 19th September and had finished before the rains came the following Friday. This is a domaine which has been consistently reliable in recent years, delivers excellent value for money and enjoys much deserved success.

Presenting itself with a fine clear and pale colour, with just a little touch of oak on the nose, this wine shows exceptional class throughout. There is plenty of fresh acidity here but it is seamlessly integrated into the flesh of the fruit.
Jasper Morris MW, Burgundy Director

Arnaud Ente is always one of the first to pick. His meticulous vineyard work and low yields encourage early ripeness, so in 2010 he could start on 15th September. The yield is much the same as 2008 and Arnaud notes similar acidity readings, but with much more flesh on the palate and finer aromatics. The label has also been fine-tuned this year and is now exceptionally handsome. Overall, these are breath-taking wines.