Tasting of Philippe Pacalet 2013 from cask – red 1er crus

The first impressions I get from the new vintage is often a extensive tasting at Maison Philippe Pacalet.

The wines from Pacalet is perfect for this purpose as the finish malolactic fermentation very early and even more important they have a very pure and clear expression of the vintage and the terroir

I really love the style of the wines, the drinkability, the lightness, the purity, the delicate expression of pinot fruit and the terroir.

Photo: Johan Cola from Maison Philippe Pacalet

Tasting the 2013s 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 Johan Cola received me again this year. It’s great fun to taste wines with Johan – 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 red 1er crus. The village wines has been covered in a previous article and the Grand Crus and the whites will follow shortly in three separate articles.

impressions from tasting March 19th 2014

The first impressions of the 2013 vintage is that its a vintage with aromatically rich reds with a classic character. The acidity is crisp and fresh and the fruit is cool and pure.

The reds are aromatically powerful with plenty of structure … the acidity is quite powerful and so are the ripe but sturdy tannins. The wines are in that sense darker and more serious than the 2012s and the 2011s … with less extrovert charm at this time.

They don’t seem to match the transparency of the 2012 or the 2010s for that matter, and the fruit also seems to lack a bit of energy compared to these gorgeous vintages.

I would – so far – not call the vintage rustic … but the wines are sturdy with a slightly introvert well structured nature. The fruit is not as filigree and delicate as in the 2012s … but its pure and quite intense.

Sounds somewhat negative … but its not – the 2013s offer classic well structured red Burgundies – they are pure, focused and aromatically rich. I clearly prefer this style of Burgundies to some of the very hot vintages we have seen during the last decade …

Summing up – at this early stage it seems to be a very good to fine vintage. But this is a very early evaluation based on only a small sample of wines.

Notes from tasting March 19th 2014 – Red 1er crus

All the wines mentioned below were showing well at this early stage, and show a nice potential. But its important to underline that this is very early in the development … much can happen during the following year on cask.

Nuits-Saint-George 1er cru 2013

The Nuits-Saint-Georges 1er cru is a lovely wine although not quite in the same league as the 2012. In the nose – slightly reduced – but with layers of pure red and dark berry fruit, with notes of red and dark cherries – spiced with a quite intense earthy minerality, cinnamon and a hint of white pepper. On the palate quite intense with a pure quite dark fruit – but also a quite classic muscular expression of NSG terroir. Love the combination of NSG power and the delicate and forward fruit.

(Drink from 2021) – Very Good+ – (89 – 90p) – Tasted 19/03/2014 from CASK

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Chambolle Musigny 1er cru 2013

The Chambolle 1er cru is one of my old favorites from Pacalet – have followed this wine with great pleasure since the 2002 vintage. The 2013 version of this wine seem to be another succes – although its a bit darker than usually. In the bouquet layers of juicy red and dark berry – notes of raspberries, dark cherries spiced with a classic Chambolle minerality and hints of allspice. On the palate layers of juicy fruit – quite intense and well structured. Love the expression of terroir and the effortless delivery of pinot fruit.

(Drink from 2023) – Fine – (90 – 91p) – Tasted 19/03/2014 from CASK

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Gevrey Chambertin, Bel Air 2013

The Gevrey Chambertin Bel Air is a step up in intensity from the NSG 1er cru and the Chambolle 1er cru. In the bouquet layers of sweet red and dark berry fruit – notes of raspberries, cherries and white peppar. On the palete intense and juicy fruit – quite tightly structured by the impressive minerality of the Bel Air terroir. It’s powerful, focused, long and gorgeous.

(Drink from 2024) – Fine – (90 – 92p) – Tasted 19/03/2014 from CASK

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Gevrey Chambertin, Laveaux St. Jacques 2013

The Laveaux St. Jacques is a further notch up in quality. The nose is quite expressive with layers of energetic red and dark fruit – notes of strawberries, pomegranate and raspberries – spiced with white pepper and allspice. The palate offer a lovely core of ripe and pure fruit – lovely nerve and energy – supported by a solid framework of tannins and minerality. The finish is long with a refined display of terroir – offering a feeling of effortless balance to the wine. A beautiful wine in the making!

(Drink from 2025) – Fine+ – (91 – 92p) – Tasted 19/03/2014 from CASK

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Vosne Romanee, Les Chaumes 2013

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, pepper and allspice. The palate is crammed with layers of juicy fruit and a playful quite intense minerality. A more introvert and dark wine than the Laveaux – but the elements are there to rival the more forward and charming Gevrey.

(Drink from 2025) – Fine+ – (91 – 92p) – Tasted 19/03/2013 from CASK

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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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