Sitting in the office on a sunny day catching up on some articles before the trip goes to Burgundy next week. The spring is here ... and the Rhino is barking in the garden - either to greet the new warmer season - or to warn the neighbour - don't … [Read more...]
Vintage Report – 2015 white Burgundies – update
I have updated the vintage chart for white Burgundies with the 2015 vintage and adjusted the rating for the 2009 vintage - see the full Vintage Chart for White Burgundies here White Burgundies - the 2015 vintage - rich but charming The 2015 … [Read more...]
Terroir Insight: Comte Liger-Belair NSG Clos des Grandes Vignes
One of my favorite parts of Burgundy is Premeaux - and since I seem to be the only one to think that Premeaux should have its own appellation - l think its fair to assume that it will continue to be a part of Nuits-Saint-Georges for now. I have … [Read more...]
Update regarding Laurent Ponsot leaving Domaine Ponsot
The story about Laurent Ponsot leaving Domaine Ponsot seems rather never ending without adding much clarity at this point. The latest article from Bourgogne Aujourd'hui have a bit of news regarding the vineyards but also it brings yet but is very … [Read more...]
Visit Domaine Arlaud – tasting of the 2015s from cask
Domaine Arlaud is producing some magnificent wines - and despite they are both Biodynamic and improving quality each year they still are somewhat under the radar. In my view they certainly don't get the deserved credit and acclaim. In a sense the … [Read more...]
What we know: Laurent Ponsot to leave Domaine Ponsot
I'm an old and rather sentimental guy at times ... and the Ponsot news was a deep cut in my Bungundy roots. The first Grand Cru Burgundies I bought were two bottles of Clos de la Roche 1988 from Domaine Ponsot and some of the next were two bottles of … [Read more...]
Breaking News – Laurent Ponsot to leave Domaine Ponsot
It seems like Laurent Ponsot is going to leave the family business Domaine Ponsot - and start his own estate together with his son. Photo: Domaine Ponsot Update to article The development of this story does not currently provide a stable … [Read more...]
Insight 2015 – avoid the effects of water stress
The 2015 vintage was a hot vintage - and a dry vintage during the summer, and even though rain came in August some vineyards and especially younger vines seem to have suffered from lack of water. Some vines apparently got stressed by the lack of … [Read more...]
Winehog – blatherings and jibber-jabber about Visits?
07/03/2017# - Sometimes we all tend to take wines to seriously - perhaps due to the value they represent these days - but in the end it is just grape juice stored in a bottle! I have now been full-time wine writer for 6 months or so ... and many … [Read more...]
Visit Domaine Julien – tasting of the 2015s from cask
Cheerful, relaxed and yet intrigued ... this are the emotions one gets when visiting Étienne Julien at Domaine Julien in Comblanchien. This also apply to the wines made here - they are energetic and vibrant with an effortless hedonistic note of … [Read more...]
Visit Domaine Pernot-Belicard – tasting of the 2015s from cask
Burgundy is fascinating as you can explore the wines of the region for decades and visit the villages for years and yet new estates and new names appear on your radar all the time. Domaine Pernot-Belicard is one of the new estates on my radar … [Read more...]
The return the Musigny Blanc from Comte Georges de Vogüé
Making wine in Burgundy is not work for the impatient ... replanting a vineyard is easily a 25 years project from uprooting of the vines to the first vintage made from the new vines. This has been the case for the Musigny Blanc from Domaine Comte … [Read more...]
Vistit Domaine Y. Clerget – tasting of the 2015s from cask
I was parking the car in the center of Pommard almost in front of the shop Appellation Chocolat .. on my way to taste the 2015s at Domaine Y. Clerget further down the street - and then I recalled the name Clerget from a great bottle moment … [Read more...]
Terroir Insight: Domaine Arnoux-Lachaux Aux Reignots
Charles Lachaux has made tremendous progress at Domaine Arnoux-Lachaux, winemaking is now done with a lighter hand - less oak and less extraction and furthermore a high percentage of whole cluster is now used. While the top wines have always been … [Read more...]
Visit Domaine Lamarche – tasting the 2015s from cask
Preconceptions and old habits sometimes or even often leads to mistakes and this is also the case in Burgundy - especially in times of change. A lot of estates in Burgundy are taken over by new generations and this often leads to a change of style … [Read more...]
Vineyard Insight: Latricières-Chambertin
The Gevrey-Chambertin appellation is large with quite a lot of rather large Grand Crus generously allocated when the current classification was established. Not all plots of the Gevrey Grand Crus are of high standard, and yet still they are famous in … [Read more...]
Visit – tasting of the 2015s from Domaine Dujac
Domaine Dujac is an old favorite ... one of the first estates I visited in Burgundy back in the 1990s. A lot of wine has passed the palate since then - but Dujac is sort of a safe haven quality and aromatics wise. The tasting at Dujac was this … [Read more...]
The test of time and the fruits of patience
These days most Burgundian wines are consumed well before they are mature or even before they begin to mature. This is really sad, as many consumers miss the complexity a great Burgundy can develop after 20 or 30 years in the cellar. In fact quite … [Read more...]
Terroir Insight: Domaine Arnoux-Lachaux Latricieres-Chambertin
In my view Latriciere-Chambertin is one of the overlooked and slightly misunderstood terroirs ... and the 2015 vintage has really shown what this terroir can offer in both refinement and greatness. I have tasted excellent Latriciere-Chambertins … [Read more...]
Visit Maison Harbour, Tasting of the 2015s
The fragrance of delicacy .... sometimes you never know what a producer visit in Burgundy will bring ... and this was the case with Maison Harbour in Savigny-Les-Beaune. To be honest I always fear these visits - as I hate being put in a situation … [Read more...]
Visit Domaine Arnoux-Lachaux, tasting of the 2015s
During the last year or so I have heard from many that Charles Lachaux has made tremendous progress at Domaine Arnoux-Lachaux - the style has changed to a lighter and more floral style - with less oak and less extraction. I must say that I was … [Read more...]
Visit Domaine Roulot – tasting of the 2015s from cask
One of the highlights of the year is the tasting of the latest vintage from Domaine Roulot in Meursault. The wines of Domaine Roulot is a benchmark for the whites in my view, as they always are among the best wines in each vintage - and furthermore … [Read more...]
The overlooked Corton Charlie from Domaine Simon Bize.
I taste only a few Burgundies here and there .. but still I normally I have most of the best wines from region on my snout-radar. But especially the Corton hill has a lot of hidden - disapointments and luckily a few gems as well. One of these … [Read more...]
Visit Domaine Hubert Lamy – tasting of the 2015 vintage
I always love to taste the wines from Oliver Lamy, as they offer lovely and very dependable enjoyment .. vintage after vintage. I have visited Lamy several times - always a great experience and treat - se articles from earlier visits can be seen … [Read more...]
Visit Domaine de la Romanée-Conti – tasting of the 2015s from cask
Sitting in my car writing these tasting notes, while I'm overlooking La Tâche .. -7.5 Celsius .. but with a inner warmth of the aftertaste of Romanée-Conti 2015 .. a truly memorable moment of Burgundian beauty. Just out from a lovely tasting of … [Read more...]