BOURGOGNE CÔTE DE BEAUNE : LA SELECTION

Excellent Auxey-Duresses Premier Cru red Les Grands Champs 2005, of beautiful intense red color, with the nose delivering of the aromas of strawberry of wood and spices, very full and rich with the nose as in mouth, of good evolution like Auxey-Duresses red 2005, of intense robe, with the very characteristic nose prevailed by the macerated fruits, of beautiful matter, robust and full mouth. Auxey-Duresses Premier Cru Les Duresses red 2005, typified by this particular soil, rich, is coloured and robust, quite robust, with the perfume of overripe red fruits, very good evolution. Beautiful Meursault Clos des Luchets 2005, Chardonnay old selection massale of the time, a powerful wine, with mineral notes and white flowers, complexes, of a long final. White Auxey-Duresses Vieilles Vignes 2005 is once again very attractive, with the subtle hazel nut and fresh, very well-balanced fruit scents, very rich with the nose. Excellent Pommard Les Vignots 2005, intensely coloured and very scented (grooves, leather and violet), powerful with the nose as in mouth, with tannins present and very elegant at the same time, of complex mouth, promising.

Also classified very well. A family winegrowing of 12 ha vines including 50% of old vines, on ground argilo-limestone, which practices the reasoned fight. Beautiful Auxey-Duresses Premier Cru 2005 cuvée Stéphane, vines 40 year old, collects picked off, carefully sorted, cold pre-fermentation, fermentation and long maceration 15 to 20 days with control of the temperatures, final hot. The wine is rich and persistent, with the dry fruit nose with subtle floral notes. L' Auxey-Duresses Premier Cru Le Val 2004, 40 year old vines, on a ground argilo-limestone, a wine of beautiful matter, with firm tannins, with the nose characteristic of red fruits, spices and undergrowth, very typified. The Volnay 2004, 30 year old vines, is concentrated, with the undergrowth and cherry perfume, of a large aromatic smoothness.

A family estate of 13 ha, on ground argilo-limestone. The wines are matured for the majority out of barrels of oak including new wood 25%. The whole explains this Chassagne-Montrachet Premier Cru Clos-Saint-Jean red 2006, tasty, combining structure and roundness, scented well (morello cherry) with the nose as in mouth, rich color as in aromas, very slightly spiced. The 2005 is tasted very well, with the nose marked by blackberry scents, full, very persistent, very delicate, with supple and powerful tannins at the same time, of very good guard. Saint-Aubin Premier Cru Charmois is quite as attractive, rich and delicate at the same time, of powerful and tasty mouth.

Property of the same family since 1834. It is in old cellars of XIIIe century, located under the fermenting room, which barrels 18 to 24 months put back, the wines are tapped twice and bottled by gravity, without filtration. Winegrowing of 13 ha. Splendid Corton Clos du Roy 2003, of beautiful intense red color, with the nose marked by aromas of blackberry and liquorice, a full wine, very persistent stops some, very full, of slow evolution. Corton Bressandes, of robe intense crimson, very marked by its soil, is elegant, with the nose prevailed by the ripe fruits, the violet and liquorice. White Pernand-Vergelesses Premier Cru Iles des Vergelesses 2006, a mineral and elegant, with the notes of white flowers and brioche, dense and harmonious wine, of a long final. The 2005, charmer, rich and delicate at the same time, with the subtle notes of spices, toast and citrus fruits and tasty mouth. Taste Savigny-lès-Beaune Premier Cru Aux Fourneaux 2006, with this spice point and this at the same time rich and supple structure in the palate, and this Corton Grand Cru Les Maréchaudes 2006, a wine with matter, of intense robe, with the nose prevailed by the macerated fruits, rich and distinguished at the same time, of fleshy and generous mouth, to uncork on a loin of lamb.

At the top of First Classified Great wines. Here, one proposes only wine with maturity, with an exceptional quality-price-typicité ratio. Not easy to resist this splendid Meursault Premier Cru La Pièce Sous le Bois 86, complex and scented, unctuous in mouth, with hazel nut and fresh, very well-balanced, the subtle very rich fruit notes with the nose, of slow evolution, to enjoy on a pike. Meursault Premier Cru Perrières 90, a mineral wine with almond notes, dry fruits and of honey, associates nervousness and suppleness in mouth, a very fresh, superb wine really. With their sides, this Meursault Premier Cru la Pièce sous le Bois red 95, a wine typified well as it should be, with notes of prune and truffle, attractive and intense mouth. Puligny-Montrachet Combettes 95 is of mouth rich and scented (honeysuckle, fresh almond…), full and persistent. Very tasty Volnay Premier Cru Santenots 76, once again the prototype of the ideal evolution of the Burgundian great wines (the 79 is currently always remarkable), quite robust, with tannins firm and molten at the same time, persistent in mouth. There is still this Savigny-Lès Beaune 92, Blagny La Pièce Sous le Bois 76, with the notes of liquorice and crystallized strawberry, a beautiful complex wine, intense, of a long final, or this Auxey-Duresses Ecusseaux Premier Cru red 94, which is in the line, with ripe and complex aromas of dried red fruits and liquorice. Beaune Clos de Roi red 93 is all in perfumes, of a beautiful color crimson, marked by aromas of fruits black, spices and of torrefaction, tasty like Pommard 90 with the subtle nuances of humus, blackberry and spices, delicate and powerful at the same time.

The father and the daughter manage this beautiful winegrowing of 20 ha and mature this beautiful Pernand-Vergelesses Clos Berthet Monopole white 2004, with the notes of lime and musk, a sure value, which associates fleshy and consistency in mouth, very charmer, to discover on a white meat with the cream. Their Pernand-Vergelesses Village Clos Berthet monopoly red 2006 is very typified, of a great classicism, of beautiful brilliant robe, a wine with tannins silky, solid, of very well-balanced structure, a beautiful harmony. Pernand-Vergelesses Premier Cru Île des Vergelesses red 2004, typified, of intense robe, is scented, of a beautiful complexity where the blackcurrant, the cherry and the undergrowth are harmonized, of cordial mouth. Very tasty Pommard Épenots Premier Cru 2006, of a beautiful clear red with aromas of fruits crunching, an ideal wine on a waterfowl.

At the top. Pierre and Eric Marey take care with love on their nice vineyard of 10 ha. The wines are maturing in oak barrels and are followed by a laboratory during all their evolution. The wines are mainly sold with the winegrowing near faithful customers of private individuals, and the remainder is dispatched with the restoration, at cellars with wine, in France like abroad. Envoûtant Corton-Charlemagne 2006, where the sweetness is combined with a freshness of a great intensity, with mineral and floral scents complex, of beautiful evolution, a wine which agrees as well with shellfish as on a veal escalope to the cream. Corton Grand Cru 2006, with the aromas of leather, spices and raspberry, with supple but very well-balanced tannins, is of unctuous mouth, at the same time delicate and powerful, of fort beautiful evolution. The 2005 are a great wine with silky, solid and fleshy tannins, of a beautiful harmony, very full, mouthfull. Beautiful Pernand-Vergelesses Les Fichots Premier Cru red 2006, of color intense crimson, with rich and tasty tannins, very scented (ripe, spices…), associating fleshy and intensity, of good guard. The 2005, a great success in this exceptional vintage, are a wine spiced, rich and complex, mouthfull, agreeably robust, of guard of course like this other red Pernand-Vergelesses Les Belles Filles 2006, with tannins present, rich and scented, marked well by its soil, with these crystallized, combining structure and subtle velvety prune notes stops some, full and fleshy, of guard. Taste also Pernand-Vergelesses Sous Frétille white Premier Cru 2006, with aromas of fern and fruits fresh, rich, tasty and full, typified well.

At the top. A winegrowing directed by the 5th generation (Odile and Michel Meuzard, and their collaborator David Jeanjean), which extends on some 6 ha and 9 different appellations, including 2/3 in Premier Crus. Very beautiful Pommard Premier Cru the Clos des Épenots 2006, of a beautiful dark red shining, with rich and silky tannins at the same time, of intense mouth where the prune and the violet prevail, of excellent evolution. The 2005 are concentrated and scented, with the typical undergrowth and blackberry connotations, of beautiful structure. Remarkable Volnay 2006, smoked, spiced, structured and suave mouth, with delicate and elegant tannins, very dense, a beautiful length, with concentrated notes of cooked fruits and violet, of powerful and fullbodied mouth, a still young wine, of beautiful evolution like this Beaune Premier Cru Épenottes 2001, with subtle notes of humus and overripe red small fruits (blackcurrant, black cherry), a beautiful fleshy and firm wine, all in seduction. Pommard Premier Cru Saussilles 2005, coloured, scented (ripe, spices), powerful with the nose as in mouth, with tannins present and ripe at the same time, is a wine of persistent mouth and excellent evolution, ideal on a roast meat. Excellent Beaune Premier Cru Petit Clos des Montremenots 2006, mouthfull, marked well by its specific soil, which releases from the nuances of overripe fruits and spices, mixing smoothness and structure, harmony and richness.

Charming and impassioned, Dominique Uny-Prieur can be proud of his vintages. With her son Guillaume (8th generation), to his sides (it brilliantly obtained the diploma of the commercial academy international and continued his studies at the national college of business of Dijon), it directs this vast domain of 20 ha on the Côte De Beaune which is largely anchored to Santenay-le-Haut. Enjoyed on the spot, this superb Volnay Premier Cru Santenots 2006, a beautiful concentrated wine, with the perfume of violet, plum and undergrowth, a large aromatic smoothness, very good guard. Chassagne-Montrachet Morgeot 2006 is a sure value, charmer, round, complex with the nose as in mouth, with subtle scents, very persistent, mouthfull like Meursault Charmes 2006, with the grilled almond and hazel nut aromas, of beautiful pale yellow robe to the gold reflections, a wine fleshy, full, powerful and elegant at the same time, a great success. The 2005 are a wine with the connotations of fresh white flowers and fruits, unctuous in mouth, very harmonious, to discover on morels. Very beautiful Meursault 2006, with these notes of fresh yellow fruits and brioche, nice dyed, intense with the nose as in mouth, full, distinguished, associating promptness and sweetness, matured very well, of a great aromatic richness. Remarkable Pommard Platières 2006, coloured, of powerful mouth, with melted tannins, with these notes quite characteristic of ripe small fruits (currant, strawberry of wood), with a slightly spiced final, a wine which requires a little time to melt itself. Santenay Maladière Premier Cru 2006 is a success, of a nice dark crimson, with the pronounced musk aromas, of truffle and undergrowth, a full, powerful and very elegant wine as it should be. Intense, the Bâtard-Montrachet,, where one finds all the force of his soil, of a beautiful complexity of aromas (almond, toast), a fleshy, elegant and typified great wine, of unctuous mouth, to envisage on caviar. Excellent Beaune Clos du Roy 2006, a wine very well-balanced, mouthfull, very traditional like this other Santenay Maladière cuvée Claude, of color intense crimson, with full tannins, very scented (ripe, spices…), mixing fleshy and intensity, a rich and supple wine at the same time, of very good structure.

Beautiful sure value with this Pommard Premier Cru Rugiens 2006, of garnet-red robe deep, with the nose complexes where the very ripe fruits red and liquorice prevail, slightly spiced, mouthfull and very subtle as we like them, a quite fleshy, ideal wine on a guard, waterfowl very good like this nice Volnay Cros-Martin 2005, of beautiful matter, with full tannins, the nose characteristic of red fruits, spices and undergrowth, typified well. Taste Auxey-Duresses Les Rugnes 2006, of beautiful robe crimson, with these aromas of currant, violet and musk, a rich, full, silky wine. Beaune Premier Cru Clos des Mouches 2006, with intense cinnamon and overripe fruit notes, is a wine of very good mouth, full and robust, of beautiful color, with rich and harmonious tannins, of excellent evolution.

A likeable and talented vine grower (maturing out of barrels of oak with 1/3 of new barrels). Beautiful Pommard Premier Cru Clos des Arvelets 2005, very tasty, rich, complex and coloured, with the concentrated aromas of ripe red small fruits, violet and undergrowth, quite firm in mouth, of beautiful evolution. Excellent Pommard Premier Cru Les Chanlins-Bas 2005, very well-balanced, with these connotations characteristic of the soil, powerful, full, with tasty and rich tannins at the same time, of guard as attests this 98, remarkable, intense and cordial, quite robust, coloured and scented, with the scents of truffle and morello cherry blackberry, mouthfull. Meursault Premier Cru Charmes 2005, of a very large smoothness, of beautiful harmony, where intermingle with the nuances of honeysuckle, ripe apple and of lemongrass, of a persistent elegance in mouth, is a very aromatic wine, very well-balanced, suave with what it is necessary of acidity. Excellent Beaune Clos de l’ Ermitage Monopole (a hermit lived there in a cellar from where its name), with round tannins, with the nose complexes where prevail the ripe fruits, very attractive.

At the top. Family winegrowing of 9 ha, founded in 1889, where the wine makings are done out of tanks of oak, open during ten days. The wines are matured out of barrels approximately 18 months. It should be noted that with a specialist in Burgundian tourism, they develop a wine activity of tourism, which is an excellent idea. Superb Santenay Clos Bellefond red 2005, resulting from poor grounds of an old career, powerful and coloured, very typified, very well-balanced, with firm but silky tannins also, all in perfumes prevailed by the red fruits and humus, of very good evolution. The 2004 is tasted particularly well, very delicate but rich in macerated fruit aromas, of mouth suave like the 2003, of beautiful intense red color, with the nose marked by blackberry aromas, full, very persistent, very delicate, with supple and rich tannins at the same time. At its sides, Santenay Premier Cru Comme 2003 is of a nice dark red, with the notes of liquorice and of morello cherry, associating structure and smoothness, fleshy and tasty, of persistent mouth, a wine of excellent guard (the 2001 and 1999 are remarkable today). Red beautiful Chassagne-Montrachet Premier Cru Morgeot 2005, very typified a wine, resulting from deep and argillaceous grounds, scented (plum and grooves), with tasty tannins, of subtle mouth, with the notes of red fruits, humus and of liquorice. Volnay-Santenots Premier Cru 2005, is rich with the nose, with these subtle connotations. Pommard Premier Cru Platière 2005, resulting from stony grounds, is of beautiful intense, with the powerful red fruit notes, very full robe like Santenay Premier Cru Passetemps 2004, a wine with tannins silky, solid, of warm mouth.

Classified very well with this Savigny-lès-Beaune Premier Cru Aux Serpentières red 2006, very well-balanced, with the nose bewitching of truffle and violet, spiced, fullbodied, of intense mouth, a very promising, at the same time supple and fleshy wine. Red Savigny-lès-Beaune Les Grands Picotins 2006, is a wine structured, full, with rich tannins and which are based well, of the quite ripe fruit aromas (blackcurrant, morello cherry…), of a beautiful persistence. Excellent white Savigny-lès-Beaune Les Dessus des Golardes 2006, resulting from a well directed slope, a quite well-balanced wine where Pinot white brings vinosity and Chardonnay its aromas and the smoothness, of full and floral mouth.