Tasting of Philippe Pacalet 2012 from Cask – Village

Philippe Pacalet is, as mentioned before, one of my favorite winemakers in Burgundy. I love the style of the wines, the drinkability, the lightness, the purity, the delicate expression of pinot fruit and the terroir.

The 2010 vintage was a big succes for Pacalet, the quality was very high, and the transparancy of some of the reds were almost second to none. The 2011s were also very fine for the vintage, and I was therefore eager to visit Philippe and taste his 2012s.

Tasting the 2012s from Philippe Pacalet

It’s allways a pleasure to taste wines in the cellar of Philippe Pacalet – and this year was no exception – Philippe was on a business trip but his right-hand man Mr. Cola received us. While it’s great fun to taste wine with Philippe – I must say we equally enjoyed our tasting with Mr. Cola – who is a both knowledgeable and very cheerful chap.

It was quite a big tasting with more than 20 wines, and in this article I will only cover the village wines. The 1er crus, the Grand Crus and the whites will follow shortly in three separate articles.

Notes from tasting March 19th 2013 – Red village wines

The wines were all very accessible and charming and they showed deep and nuanced pinot aromas already at this early stage.

The fruits in the 2012 Pacalet wines is juicy, and the expression of the terroir is very fine, as the wines are very transparent. The wines have more weight and body than the 2011s but are nevertheless very refined and somehow still lightfooted. The acidity is quite fresh and with a good nerve – very promising indeed.

Gevrey Chambertin 2012

The Gevrey Chambertin show fine delicate red fruit – good depth with notes of cherries, raspberries and pommegranate – hints of allspice and cinnamon. On the palate juicy red fruits, a fine depth for this level with a good nerve from the dine acidity. Nerve, depth and drinkability are the keywords for this wine.
(Drink from 2021) – Very Good (88 – 89p) – Tasted 19/03/2013 from CASK

Pommard 2012

The Pommard village is very impressive in 2012. In the bouquet quite delicate red fruit – a slight reduction – but lovely notes of red and dark cherries – spiced with hints of cinnamon and white peppar. On the palate juicy red fruits, well structured with a fine depth for this level. Best Pommard village I have tasted from Pacalet.
(Drink from 2022) – Very Good (88 – 90p) – Tasted 19/03/2013 from CASK

Chambolle Musigny 2012

The Chambolle village is as always a step up in delicacy and refinement. The bouquet is slightly closed – but still showing notes of forest strawberries, cherries and pommegranate – spiced with hints of allspice and cinnamon. On the palate delicate but quite rubust fruit – intense with a lovely playful Chambolle minerality. More tannins than usual – but still juicy with a good energy and nerve. The transparancy is fine – love the terroir expression in this wine. More weighty than both the 2011 and 2010 – could perhaps rival the lovely 2010.
(Drink from 2021) – Very Good+ (89 – 91p) – Tasted 19/03/2013 from CASK

Nuits-Saint-Georges 2012

The Nuits-Saint-Georges village is a step up in concentration. In the nose lovely sweet pinot fruit, with notes of red and dark cherries and raspberries – spiced up with cinnamon and a hint of white pepper. On the palate more muscular and rustic than the Chambolle village, showing true Nuits-Saint-Georges character. Quite impressed by the layers of intense vibrant fruit – and the matching framework of tannins and minerality.
(Drink from 2021) – Very Good+ (89 – 91p) – Tasted 19/03/2013 from CASK

Vosne Romanee 2012

The Vosne-Romanee village is really showing well. The bouquet is very forward with a layers of lovely red fruit – notes of strawberries, raspberries and cassis – spiced with violets, cinnamon and white peppar.The fruit is somewhat darker than the ofther village wines, and show additional depth, focus and nuances – very impressive for this level. A lovely intense village with a nice terroir expression.
(Drink from 2021) – Very Good+ (90 – 92p) – Tasted 19/03/2013 from CASK

2012 compared to the 2010 and 2011 vintages

Philippe Pacalet has produced very fine wines in both 2010 and 2011. In my view both vintages really suits the domaine style, as the quite transparant style of the vintages is a perfect match for the organic low SO₂style of the domaine. The 2012s have more weigth and fruit concentration – but somehow the transparancy and energetic style is maintained dispite the more dense fruit.

The 2012s are very different from the 2011 vintage – and in my view the 2012s are a step up in quality from the otherwise fine 2011s – and they could perhaps even rival the fantastic 2010s from this domaine.

Tasting Notes for this producer

• Philippe Pacalet, Chambolle Musigny 1er cru 2009 July 26, 2018
• Philippe Pacalet, Corton Charlemagne 2011 May 15, 2018
• Philippe Pacalet, Chambolle Musigny 2015 September 7, 2017
• Philippe Pacalet, Vosne-Romanee Les Chaumes 2014 August 25, 2016
• Philippe Pacalet, Chambolle Musigny 1er cru 2014 July 24, 2016
• Philippe Pacalet, Gevrey Chambertin 2002 May 17, 2016
• Philippe Pacalet, Chambolle Musigny 1er cru 2004 May 17, 2016
• Philippe Pacalet, Chablis Beauroy 2005 May 9, 2016
• Philippe Pacalet, Chablis Beauroy 2004 May 9, 2016
• Philippe Pacalet, Echezeaux 2010 April 28, 2016
• Philippe Pacalet, Chambolle Musigny 2010 January 17, 2016
• Philippe Pacalet, Vosne Les Chaumes 2013 November 12, 2015
• Philippe Pacalet, Chambolle Musigny 2013 September 18, 2015
• Philippe Pacalet, Chambolle-Musigny 1er cru 2010 August 21, 2015
• Philippe Pacalet, Corton Charlemagne 2010 February 5, 2015
• Philippe Pacalet, Vosne Romanee 2012 February 4, 2015
• Philippe Pacalet, Puligny Montrachet 2013 January 16, 2015
• Philippe Pacalet, Bourgogne Pinot Noir 2013 November 13, 2014
• Philippe Pacalet, Chambolle-Musigny 1er cru 2009 September 17, 2014
• Philippe Pacalet, Gevrey Chambertin, Laveaux St. Jacques 2013 September 13, 2014
• Philippe Pacalet, Gevrey Chambertin, Bel Air 2013 September 11, 2014
• Philippe Pacalet, Vosne Romanee, Les Chaumes 2013 September 9, 2014
• Philippe Pacalet, Chambolle Musigny 1er cru 2013 September 5, 2014
• Philippe Pacalet, Nuits-Saint-George 1er cru 2013 September 4, 2014
• Philippe Pacalet, Pommard 2013 August 19, 2014
• Philippe Pacalet, Nuits-Saint-Georges 2013 August 16, 2014
• Philippe Pacalet, Chambolle-Musigny 2013 August 15, 2014
• Philippe Pacalet, Vosne-Romanee 2013 August 13, 2014
• Philippe Pacalet, Gevrey-Chambertin 2013 August 12, 2014
• Philippe Pacalet, Chambolle-Musigny 2012 August 10, 2014

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