2010 White Burgundy

There is immediate power on the nose here and it is broad-shouldered but less evidently aromatic in its youth than the other cuvées. There is however a spectacular weight on the palate and a huge density of fruit that just needs time to show. One to put at the back of the cellar for longer-term enjoyment.
Jasper Morris MW, Burgundy Director

Caroline l’Estimé (née Gagnard) has been ploughing her vineyards since 2000 to avoid the use of herbicides and switched to full organic farming from 2010 with certification beginning from 2011. Noted soil scientist Claude Bourguigon is consulting. The 2010s were picked quickly (not many grapes alas) between 21st and 24th September, with any rot resulting from the famous storm having dried out or turned noble.

This wine is produced from Petit Clos and may be labelled as such in the future to reflect its origin in the upper part of the Morgeot grouping of vineyards. Lively and lifted on the nose with a hint of greengage, the fruit builds briskly to the back of the palate. Rich, but not over ripe it has a lovely finish.
Jasper Morris MW, Burgundy Director

Caroline lEstim (ne Gagnard) has been ploughing her vineyards since 2000 to avoid the use of herbicides and switched to full organic farming from 2010 with certification beginning from 2011. Noted soil scientist Claude Bourguigon is consulting. The 2010s were picked quickly (not many grapes alas) between 21st and 24th September, with any rot resulting from the famous storm having dried out or turned noble.

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)

The wines of Saint Romain are much undervalued, yet the vineyards are located to the west of some of the most famous vineyards of the Cote de Beaune, in an enclosed valley on the road that runs from Meursault and Volnay through Auxey Duresses and then on to the village of Saint Romain. This appellation merits much more attention, as the steep slopes create excellent exposure for the vineyards, creating cool temperatures and hence a slower, more controlled growing conditions. The wines demostrate freshness and well defined fruit flavours.  Ch. de Puligny-Montrachet is one of the finest source of St Romain wines, offering outstanding value.

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.

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.

Always a very special wine, with an extremely stylish nose this 2010 doesnt disappoint and shows the vintages apple theme here again, ripe but not cooked. Gracious on the palate, it is a complex wine too with a little touch of liquorice at the back.
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 Grard 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.

Showing deliciously fresh hillside fruit and ripe apples this wine is precise and well chiselled. There is an excellent weight behind, and an unusual concentration given the low yield. This wine really is quite exceptional.
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.

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.

In contrast to the more aromatic style of Les Tillets, the En la Barre bottling is more about body and texture. There is impressive weight here, a classical lower slope Meursault with rounded body.
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.

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.

From the Pernand-Vergelesses side, this superb wine ticks all of the boxes. It has the richness of Grand Cru, a bundle of minerals behind and plenty of weight.
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, Benjamin’s fourth vintage, looks to be a great success in both colours here. Included in this selection is a cuvée of Volnay Santenots from the Hospices de Beaune whose élévage we entrusted to Benjamin.

Burgundy Vintage 2010 Best Buys - Premier Crus
Leroux' Chassagne-Montrachet Tête du Clos is one of the most balanced and charming Chassagnes we’ ve tasted from 2010. It offers a toasty oak character with a touch of orange blossom, racy acidity, stony minerality and lime on the finish. (Berrys’ Fine Wine Team)

An incredible nose is offered here, with magical white fruit that is very concentrated but not fat and heavy. This Chassagne-Montrachet is beautifully long, very pure and exceptionally special.
(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, Benjamin’s fourth vintage, looks to be a great success in both colours here. Included in this selection is a cuvée of Volnay Santenots from the Hospices de Beaune whose élévage we entrusted to Benjamin.

Glowing a beautiful and pristine primrose colour this has a slightly more opulent nose than the Meursaults, with blossom notes and a summer meadow feeling. It offers a wondrous multi-dimensional mouthful too with a brilliant fleshy finish.
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.

Lovely pale lemon colour; a remarkably stylish nose with all the class of really top Puligny. Very linear but with lots of subtle nuances dancing around the core. Fresh acidity brings up a long finale.
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.

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.

Brilliant, pure and clear, this wine is also immensely stylish and joyous, yet has precision too! Very backward because it is so concentrated, every sip of this wine still shows its class and balance. An exceptional level of quality.
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.

A fresh and lively bouquet with notes of lime blossom greet the nose here. It builds beautifully on the palate, being graceful as well as exceptionally intense, tightly wound and long.
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.

With a lovely suave nose, this exemplary Bourgogne Blanc is undeniably pretty, yet shows very good weight for a generic Burgundy. It is very pure and possesses an excellent, fine long finish too.
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.