The 2012 vintage is soon going to be bottled and the hype of this lovely new vintage is already starting to build up.
In connection with my second day at Grands Jours de Bourgogne I had the opportunity to taste a wide range of wines from Vosne-Romanee, Flagey-Echezeaux and Vougeot. Most of the best producers were there … with a few exceptions.
These tastings and retastings confirmed my very positive initial impressions of the 2012 vintage – this is a outstanding and sometimes even extraordinary vintage for the reds in Cote de Nuits. There is however a bigger variation in quality than I initially expected.
Impressions – Red Burgundy 2012
The overall impressions of the 2012s reds are very positive indeed. The wines are rich and expressive with a wonderful vibrant and intense fruit – they have nerve, they are transparent, they have loads of airy fruit and they are first and foremost delightful to drink.
The fruit is rich – but also very nuanced and complex in it’s expression – with a very interesting tension between sweet red fruit and acidity, and between the delicate red fruit and the more weighty dark fruits. There is a very good positive energy in the wines.
The 2012s are also surprisingly transparent and nervy … despite the quite rich fruit. The tannins are ripe and finely grained and offer fine support – just as the quite vibrant and energetic acidity is providing a lovely tension and nerve to the wines.
They are bigger and more rich than the 2011s, and they offer in my view better balance, transparency and freshness than the 2009s. They do however seem to lack some of the ultimate focus and intensity found in the extraordinary 2010 vintage.
The quality is in the delicate fruit, and here extraction becomes a key factor. The producers who have extracted too much in 2012 have in my view killed the virtues and qualities in the vintage. The extracted wines are not bad wines … if you like the style … but they are in my view lacking transparancy, the delicate refinement in the fruit and the nerve and energy in general.
Bottom line: The red 2012s show a quite remarkable and delightful balance between rich nervy fruit, complexity and transparancy. They are quite rich and extrovert – but still offer true Burgundian style with a clear expression of the terroir. A classic vintage in the making.
A word of warning the variation in quality is perhaps bigger than expected … and in my view one should try to avoid the producers who employ high extraction. I would argue this in many vintages but the point is evne more important in a delicate cvntage like the 2012s.
Tasting notes – Red Burgundy 2012 – tasted from bottle
- Benjamin Leroux, Clos Saint Denis 2012
- Bouchard Pere et Fils, Beaune Greves Vigne l’Enfant Jesus 2012
- Bouchard Pere et Fils, Bourgogne Pinot Noir Reserve 2012
- Bouchard Pere et Fils, Le Corton 2012
- Bouchard Pere et Fils, Monthelie Les Duresses 2012
- Bouchard Pere et Fils, Volnay Caillerets 2012
- Bruno Clavelier, Chambolle Musigny La Combe d’Orveaux 2012
- Bruno Clavelier, Vosne-Romanee La Combe Brulee 2012
- Chateau de la Tour Clos de Vougeot Vieilles Vignes 2012
- Dennis Mortet, Gevery-Chambertin 2012
- Domaine Cathiard, Vosne-Romanee Aux Reignots 2012
- Domaine Comte de Vogüé, Bonnes-Mares 2012
- Domaine Comte de Vogüé, Chambolle Les Amoureuses 2012
- Domaine Comte de Vogüé, Chambolle-Musigny 1er cru 2012
- Domaine Comte de Vogüé, Chambolle-Musigny 2012
- Domaine Comte de Vogüé, Musigny Vieilles Vignes 2012
- Domaine de Montille, Corton Clos du Roi 2012
- Domaine Denis Bachelet, Gevrey-Chambertin Vieilles Vignes 2012
- Domaine du Clos Frantin, Echezeaux 2012
- Domaine du Clos Frantin, Vosne-Romanee Malconsorts 2012
- Domaine du Comte Liger-Belair, La Romanee 2012
- Domaine du Comte Liger-Belair, Vosne Clos du Chateau 2012
- Domaine du Comte Liger-Belair, Vosne La Colombiere 2012
- Domaine Dujac, Chambolle-Musigny 2012
- Domaine Dujac, Gevrey-Chambertin Aux Combottes 2012
- Domaine Dujac, Vosne-Romanee Les Beaux Monts 2012
- Domaine Faiveley, Mercurey La Framboisiére 2012
- Domaine Forey Père et Fils, Echezeaux 2012
- Domaine Forey Père et Fils, Vosne Les Gaudichots 2012
- Domaine Forey Père et Fils, Vosne-Romanee 2012
- Domaine Forey, Vosne-Romanee Petits Monts 2012
- Domaine Fourrier, Gevrey Les Cherbaudes 2012
- Domaine Georges Roumier, Chambolle Les Combottes 2012
- Domaine Georges Roumier, Chambolle-Musigny Les Cras 2012
- Domaine Georges Roumier, Morey Clos de la Bussiere 2012
- Domaine J.-J. Confuron, Chambolle-Musigny 2012
- Domaine Lamarche, La Grande Rue 2012
- Domaine Marc Roy, Gevrey Chambertin Clos Prieur 2012
- Domaine Marc Roy, Gevrey Chambertin Cuvée Alexandrine 2012
- Domaine Marc Roy, Gevrey Chambertin Cuvée Alexandrine 2012
- Domaine Michelot, Nuits-Saint-Georges Richemone 2012
- Domaine Mongeard-Mugneret, Savigny Les Narbantons 2012
- Domaine Nicolas Faure Nuits-Saint-Georges Les Herbues 2012
- Domaine Poisot, Corton Bressandes 2012
- Domaine Ponsot, Clos de la Roche 2012
- Domaine Prieure-Roch Vosne-Romanee Hautes-Maizières 2012
- Domaine Roumier, Chambolle Musigny 2012
- Domaine Trapet, Gevrey Chambertin 2012
- Domaine Trapet, Latricieres Chambertin 2012
- Hubert Lignier, Morey-Saint-Denis Tres Girard 2012
- Julien Altaber, Bourgogne 2012
- Last dance before the new lockdown
- Mongeard Mugneret, Echezeaux Grande Complication 2012
- Philippe Pacalet, Bourgogne Vieilles Vignes 2012
- Philippe Pacalet, Bourgogne Vieilles Vignes 2012
- Philippe Pacalet, Chambolle Musigny 2012
- Philippe Pacalet, Chambolle-Musigny 2012
- Philippe Pacalet, Echezeaux 2012
- Philippe Pacalet, Gevrey Chambertin 2012
- Philippe Pacalet, Gevrey-Chambertin Bel-Air 2012
- Philippe Pacalet, Gevrey-Chambertin Lavaux St. Jacques 2012
- Philippe Pacalet, Nuits-Saint-Georges 2012
- Philippe Pacalet, Pinot Noir 2012
- Philippe Pacalet, Vosne Romanee 2012
- Robert Chevillon, Nuits-Saint-Georges Les St, Georges 2012
Tasting notes – Red Burgundy 2012 – tasted from cask
- Anne Gros, Richebourg 2012
- Bouchard Pere et Fils, Bourgogne Pinot Noir Reserve 2012
- Cecile Tremblay, Echezeaux 2012
- Chateau de la Tour, Clos de Vougeot 2012
- Chateau de la Tour, Clos de Vougeot Vieilles Vignes 2012
- Comte de Vogue, Bonnes Mares 2012
- Comte de Vogue, Chambolle Musigny 1er cru 2012
- Comte de Vogue, Chambolle-Musigny 2012
- Comte de Vogue, Chambolle-Musigny Les Amoureuses 2012
- Comte de Vogue, Musigny Vieilles Vignes 2012
- Domaine Cathiard, Vosne Aux Malconsorts 2012
- Domaine Cathiard, Vosne-Romanee 2012
- Domaine Cathiard, Vosne-Romanee Aux Malconsorts 2012
- Domaine Cathiard, Vosne-Romanee Aux Reignots 2012
- Domaine du Chateau Gris, NSG “Chateau Gris” 2012
- Domaine du Clos Frantin, Chambertin 2012
- Domaine du Clos Frantin, Clos de Vougeot 2012
- Domaine du Clos Frantin, Echezeaux 2012
- Domaine du Clos Frantin, Gevrey Chambertin Les Murots 2012
- Domaine du Clos Frantin, Grands Echezeaux 2012
- Domaine du Clos Frantin, Nuits-Saint-Georges 2012
- Domaine du Clos Frantin, Richebourg 2012
- Domaine du Clos Frantin, Vosne Romanee 2012
- Domaine du Clos Frantin, Vosne-Romanee Malconsorts 2012
- Domaine du Comte Liger-Belair, Echezeaux 2012
- Domaine du Comte Liger-Belair, La Romanee 2012
- Domaine du Comte Liger-Belair, La Romanee 2012
- Domaine du Comte Liger-Belair, Nuits Clos des Grandes Vignes 2012
- Domaine du Comte Liger-Belair, Nuits-Saint-Georges Les Cras 2012
- Domaine du Comte Liger-Belair, Nuits-St-Georges Lavieres 2012
- Domaine du Comte Liger-Belair, Vosne Clos du Chateau 2012
- Domaine du Comte Liger-Belair, Vosne Colombiere 2012
- Domaine du Comte Liger-Belair, Vosne Les Chaumes 2012
- Domaine du Comte Liger-Belair, Vosne Romanee 2012
- Domaine du Comte Liger-Belair, Vosne Romanee Aux Reignots 2012
- Domaine du Comte Liger-Belair, Vosne Romanee Clos du Chateau 2012
- Domaine du Comte Liger-Belair, Vosne Romanee Colombiere 2012
- Domaine du Comte Liger-Belair, Vosne Romanee Les Brulees 2012
- Domaine du Comte Liger-Belair, Vosne Romanee Les Chaumes 2012
- Domaine du Comte Liger-Belair, Vosne Romanee Les Petit Monts 2012
- Domaine du Comte Liger-Belair, Vosne Romanee Les Suchots 2012
- Domaine du Comte Liger-Belair, Vosne-Romanee 2012
- Domaine Dublere, Beaune Blanches Fleur 1er cru 2012
- Domaine Dublere, Morey-Saint-Denis Les Blanchards 2012
- Domaine Dublere, Nuits-Saint-Georges Les Bousselots 2012
- Domaine Dublere, Savigny Les Planchots du Nord 2012
- Domaine Dublere, Savigny Les Talmettes 2012
- Domaine Dublere, Volnay Les Pitures 2012
- Domaine Dublere, Volnay Taillipeids 2012
- Domaine Georges Noellat, Echezeaux 2012
- Domaine Georges Noellat, Grands Echezeaux 2012
- Domaine Georges Noellat, Vosne Les Beaux Monts 2012
- Domaine Georges Noellat, Vosne Les Chaumes 2012
- Domaine Georges Noellat, Vosne Les Petits Monts 2012
- Domaine Georges Noellat, Vosne-Romanee 2012
- Domaine J.-F. Mugnier, Bonnes Mares 2012
- Domaine J.-F. Mugnier, Chambolle Musigny 2012
- Domaine J.-F. Mugnier, Chambolle-Musigny Les Amoureuses 2012
- Domaine J.-F. Mugnier, Chambolle-Musigny Les Fuees 2012
- Domaine J.-F. Mugnier, Musigny 2012
- Domaine J.-F. Mugnier, Nuits Clos de la Marechale 2012
- Domaine J.-F. Mugnier, Nuits Clos de la Marechale Blanc 2012
- Domaine Mugneret-Gibourg, Echezeaux 2012
- Domaine Poisot, Corton Bressandes 2012
- Domaine Poisot, Pernand-Vergelesses en Caradeux 1er cru 2012
- Domaine Poisot, Romanee-Saint-Vivant 2012
- Domaine Robert Sirugue, Grands Echezeaux 2012
- Domaine Robert Sirugue, Vosne-Romanee 2012
- Domaine Robert Sirugue, Vosne-Romanee Les Petits Monts 2012
- Domaine Roulot, Meursault Tesson 2012
- Domaine Trapet, Gevrey Chambertin 2012
- Gros Frere et Soeur, Richebourg 2012
- Philippe Pacalet, Chambolle Musigny 1er cru 2012
- Philippe Pacalet, Chambolle Musigny 2012
- Philippe Pacalet, Charmes Chambertin 2012
- Philippe Pacalet, Echezeaux 2012
- Philippe Pacalet, Gevrey Chambertin 2012
- Philippe Pacalet, Gevrey Chambertin Bel Air 2012
- Philippe Pacalet, Gevrey Chambertin Laveaux St. Jacques 2012
- Philippe Pacalet, Gevrey Chambertin Les Perrieres 2012
- Philippe Pacalet, Nuits-Saint-Georges 1er cru 2012
- Philippe Pacalet, Nuits-Saint-Georges 2012
- Philippe Pacalet, Pommard 1er cru 2012
- Philippe Pacalet, Pommard 2012
- Philippe Pacalet, Ruchotte Chambertin 2012
- Philippe Pacalet, Vosne Romanee 2012
- Philippe Pacalet, Vosne Romanee Les Chaumes 2012
- Thibault Liger-Belair, Richebourg 2012
Articles from Grands Jours de Borugogne 2014
- Grands Jours de Bourgogne … notes from Clos de Vougeot March 23, 2014
- Grands Jours de Bourgogne – Tasting at Clos de Vougeot March 20, 2014
- Grands Jours de Bourgogne – vintage impression – reds 2012 March 19, 2014
- Grands Jours de Bourgogne – vintage impression – white 2012s March 18, 2014