Tasting of Philippe Pacalet 2012 from Cask – 1er cru

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.

It was quite a big tasting with more than 20 wines, and in this article I will only cover the red 1er crus wines. The village wines were covered in an earlier article – Tasting of Pacalet village 2012 – the Grand Crus and the whites will follow shortly in separate articles.

Notes from tasting March 19th 2013 – Red 1er crus

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

The fruit in the 2012 Pacalet 1er crus is multi layered and juicy, with a very fine expression of the terroir. The wines are very transparent, with a lovely nerve and energy. The wines have more weight and body than the 2011s but are nevertheless very refined and somehow still lightfooted and classic in style. The acidity is quite fresh and with a good nerve – very promising indeed.

Pommard 1er cru 2012

The Pommard 1er cru confirm the high quality of the Pommard village. The nose is slightly reduced but showing notes of red and black cherries – spiced with cinnamon and white pepper. On the palate intense and quite rich red fruit – matched well by the muscular Pommard terroir. It’s refined and quite charming for a Pommard – and very well balanced – lovely effort despite the quite horrible weather conditions in the southern Burgundy.
(Drink from 2020) – Very Good+ (89 – 91p) – Tasted 19/03/2013 from CASK

Chambolle Musigny 1er cru 2012

The Chambolle 1er cru is one of my old favorites from Pacalet – have followed this wine since the 2002 vintage. The 2012 version of this wine is another succes – what a delightful wine. In the bouquet layers of juicy red fruit – notes of raspberries, strawberries spiced with a lovely minerality and hints of violets and allspice. On the palate layers of intense juicy red fruit – with a almost coulis like core of sweet vibrant fruit. It’s beautifully balanced and pure, with a very ine transparancy. Will it rival the gorgeous 2010 – perhaps! Love this wine.
(Drink from 2020) – Fine+ (92 – 93p) – Tasted 19/03/2013 from CASK

Gevrey Chambertin Les Perrieres 2012

The Gevrey Les Perrieres is somewhat overlooked in the Pacalet collection – but the 2012 version certainly deserves your attention. The bouquet is slightly reduced currently but is nevertheless showing layers of ripe red fruits – notes of raspberries and cherries – spiced with allspice and violets. The palate is offering quite powerful aromatics – with a more intense and tightly knit structure than the very charming Chambolle 1er cru. A beautiful Gevrey 1er in the making.
(Drink from 2019) – Fine (90 – 92p) – Tasted 19/03/2013 from CASK

Nuits-Saint-George 1er cru 2012

The Nuits-Saint-Georges 1er cru is a step up in intensity. In the nose lovely sweet pinot fruit, with notes of red and dark cherries – spiced with a beutiful minerality, cinnamon and a hint of white pepper. On the palate layers of lovely organic fruit – but also a classic muscular NSG terroir expression. The minerality is powerful and vibrant adding energy and nerve. A very beautiful Nuits-Saint-Georges 1er cru – classic – but with the organic charm of the Pacalet style. Lovely juice!
(Drink from 2020) – Fine+ (91 – 93p) – Tasted 19/03/2013 from CASK

Gevrey Chambertin, Bel Air 2012

The Gevrey Chambertin Bel Air is a step up in intensity from the NSG and Chambolle 1er crus. In the bouquet layers of sweet red berry fruit – organic style – notes of raspberries, cherries and white peppar. On the palete layers of juicy red fruit – quite tightly structured by the impressive minerality of the Bel Air vineyard. It’s powerful, focused and long – very impressive.
(Drink from 2022) – Fine+ (92 – 93p) – Tasted 19/03/2013 from CASK

Gevrey Chambertin, Laveaux St. Jacques 2012

The Laveaux St. Jacques is a further notch up in quality. The nose is very expressive with layers of energetic red fruit – notes of strawberries, pomegranate and raspberries – spiced with allspice and pepper. The palate offer a lovely core of ripe and pure coulis fruit – adding another dimension to the mulitible layers of energetic red fruit. The finish is long with a refined display of terroir – giving a zen-like balance to the wine. A beauty!
(Drink from 2022) – Fine+ (92 – 94p) – Tasted 19/03/2013 from CASK

Vosne Romanee, Les Chaumes 2012

The Vosne-Romanee Les Chaumes is quite new in the Pacalet collection – and is made from a plot located in the top part of the vineyard – just below La Tache/Malconsort. The bouquet offer complex layers of red and dark berry fruit – spiced with violets, peony rose pepper and all spice. The palate is offering layers of red juicy fruit and a playful minerality. It’s offering a lovely energy and display of terroir – very impressive for a wine from Les Chaumes. A beautiful wine Vosne
(Drink from 2021) – Fine+ (92 – 93p) – 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 much more weigth and fruit concentration than the 2011s – 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 full 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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