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.

Pale bright straw with a crystalline purity to the nose. Complex and delicate fruit jostling for position, a little lemon scented. Very pure follow through, perfect fruit and acid balance and very good length. Impressive texture too.
Jasper Morris MW, Fine Wine Buyer

Here the yields were particularly small and the wine exceptionally concentrated as a result. This year it includes grapes that usually go into the cuvée millerandée, a wine not bottled this year as there was too little made. This is spectacular wine from the Bret’s flagship vineyard. Magically intense, it has a dramatic mineral core and amazing persistence.
Jasper Morris MW, Burgundy Director

The three Bret Brothers are now presiding over an expanded cellar at their home base, Domaine de la Soufrandière, though this development is intended to give them better working facilities rather than because they want to grow the business dramatically. It is a particularly small crop this year as a result of some hail damage as well as the poor flowering experienced elsewhere. Despite this, the wines are exactly what the Bret’s like to produce – pure and crystal clear, with intensity more than weight.

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.

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.

Burgundy Vintage 2010 Best Buys - Affordable Gems
From the vines planted in the grounds of the château, this could really be a Puligny-Montrachet on the nose with its lifted aromas, energy and drive on the palate.
(Chris Pollington, Private Account Manager)

This is fine Bourgogne Blanc from what used to be the park in front of the château. It has an engaging nose where the fruit stands out immediately, good flesh on the palate and a fine long finish.
Jasper Morris MW, Burgundy Director

The exceptionally attractive nose of this wine is lead by touches of baked apples and some lifted floral notes. On the palate the flavours start gently, but then rapidly build in intensity before a fabulous finish.
Jasper Morris MW, Burgundy Director

Jean-Baptiste Bouzereau started picking early on 17th September in 2010, continuing over the following nine days as the vineyards ripened. His wines maintain their traditional status as excellent value for money, while the move to his new cellars two years ago has improved the consistency of the range and purity too. The aromatics of this 2010 vintage remind Jean-Baptiste of 2002, but perhaps with greater flesh.

Pleasingly gentle and graceful on the nose, with a just a little lemon and lime hints this is surprisingly more intense than fleshy on the palate, with a crystalline purity added to the finish.
Jasper Morris MW, Burgundy Director

Jean-Baptiste Bouzereau started picking early on 17th September in 2010, continuing over the following nine days as the vineyards ripened. His wines maintain their traditional status as excellent value for money, while the move to his new cellars two years ago has improved the consistency of the range and purity too. The aromatics of this 2010 vintage remind Jean-Baptiste of 2002, but perhaps with greater flesh.

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.

This Meursault has an incredible nose with an immense range of different flavours. There is massive concentration of fruit through the middle, yet still with a sense of discretion, despite the flamboyant white fruit and whole array of dancing floral notes.
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.

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.

The nose of this Corton-Charlemagne is rich and sun drenched with a touch of bananas, mirabelle plums and the occasional citric note. It is deliciously opulent on the palate with a fine rich finish.
Jasper Morris MW, Burgundy Director

After several years surrounded by building works, David Croix now has a smart new cellar to play with, as well as the three new vineyards from the hill of Corton which arrived just in time for the 2009 vintage. This year all the vineyard work has been done by Davids own team which has made a difference. It is a beautiful range of wines overall, everything delivering just a little bit more than the appellations suggest. The Beaunes were picked from September 21st to the 23rd, the Cortons the following week.

Exhibiting a lovely nose with lots of character and even a touch of menthol, this is a superb Bourgogne Blanc. It is full of life and lift, whilst also possessing good crunchy acidity, plenty of body and an attractive steely quality.
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).

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.

Pouilly-Vinzelles, Les Longeays is a beautiful vineyard next door to Les Quarts. It makes dense concentrated wine, with an extra dimension in 2010: grace, freshness and underlying power.
Jasper Morris MW, BBR Buying Director

The three Bret Brothers are now presiding over an expanded cellar at their home base, Domaine de la Soufrandière, though this development is intended to give them better working facilities rather than because they want to grow the business dramatically. It is a particularly small crop this year as a result of some hail damage as well as the poor flowering experienced elsewhere. Despite this, the wines are exactly what the Bret’s like to produce – pure and crystal clear, with intensity more than weight.

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.