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.

Fine, fresh pale colour with attractive, ripe fruit note. Plenty of flesh on the palate in a sweet fruit style yet with good backing acidity.
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.

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)

This is a tiny cuve from Maison Louis Jadot and a superb one at that. As is usual with wines from this vineyard, the fruit swells right across the palate with a bounding sense of energy, assisted by a fresh acidity. Overall it is a lovely and lively Puligny-Montrachet.
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.

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.

Weighty and ripe with a touch of verbena adding spice to the nose, this is smart wine for the money. The fruit steadily grows in the mouth before the impressive finish that shows hints of lemon grass.
Jasper Morris MW, Burgundy Director

Production has recently moved to a new facility on the outskirts of Beaune, which is making life much easier for the Roche de Bellene team. The philosophy stays the same: work with excellent grape sources and get the wines out into the market at competitive prices. The reds have had an excellent following for many a year now, while recently the whites have shown the same impressive price to quality ratio that makes this such a good address.

In its youth this Criots-Bâtard-Montrachet wine speaks much more on the palate than the nose. There is real weight here with a sensationally silky taffeta texture and plenty more waiting in the wings.
Jasper Morris MW, Berrys' Burgundy Director

Maison Roche de Bellene Production has recently moved to a new facility on the outskirts of Beaune, which is making life much easier for the Roche de Bellene team. The philosophy stays the same: work with excellent grape sources and get the wines out into the market at competitive prices. The reds have had an excellent following for many a year now, while recently the whites have shown the same impressive price to quality ratio that makes this such a good address.

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.

A stylish nose of spring flowers gives way to a beautifully poised palate where lovely fruit emerges at the back, the acidity is perfectly integrated and the whole is in excellent balance.
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.

There were seven separate pickings across the vineyard to ensure that each plot was picked at the optimum moment and it has produced something special. Apples, pears and spices on the palate all combine with a dancing acidity that produces a simply magical wine.
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.

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!

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.

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.

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.

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.

A hauntingly fine bouquet greets the nose of this wine and the massive intensity of fruit is matched by a razor-like acidity. The ensemble is inspirational, Arnauds finest Goutte dOr to date. The fruit keeps building on the palate too, but always with absolute precision.
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.

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).

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.

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.

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.