Visit Philippe Pacalet, tasting of the 2015 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

Tasting the 2015s from Philippe Pacalet

Let me start by saying that Philippe Pacalet has made some very fine 2015s – they are rich and generous with more weight than one usually find in the wines from Maison Philippe Pacalet.

The 2015s are quite a contrast to the 2014s … as they offer a much more dense and intense fruit – or simply put they are bigger wines. The transparency is however still fine, although not at the same level as 2014 and 2010. They are balanced wines, and while its clear that the vintage is on the hotter side, this does not translate into overripe fruit, high alcohol or a poor expression of terroir.

So .. expect more weight and power from the Pacalet wines in this vintage, and they will no doubt offer tremendous drinking over the years. And while I may prefer the 2010s, I think the 2015 could attract a new audience to the Pacalet wines, as the extra concentration may appeal to some wine drinkers.
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 will follow shortly in a separate articles.

Notes from the tasting – 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 Les Argillas 1er cru 2015

The Nuits-Saint-Georges 1er cru Les Argillas is a lovely wine in the making – but currently somewhat reduced. It comes from a terroir located on the northern side of Nuit-Saint-Georges, just south of Aux Thorey. In the nose fine delicate red and dark fruit notes spiced with some cinnamon and white peppar – all induced by a fine earthy minerality. On the palate lovely fruit .. fine core of red and dark berries – notes of pomegranate – very good energy and nerve. It’s quite refined for the appellation … really enjoyable.

(Drink from 2023) – Fine – (91 – 92p) – Tasted 21/03/2016 from CASK

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Chambolle Musigny Les Sentiers 2015

The Chambolle 1er cru has always been one of my favorites from Pacalet, but now its replaced by a Chambolle Les Sentiers. The result is a more focused and also a somewhat more serious wine. The nose offer juicy and forward red berry fruit supported by a intense somewhat earthy Chambolle minerality. On the palate fine concentration with a core of ripe and quite cool fruit – generous and almost velvet – fine lenght and focus. A fine Chambolle in the making … I do however somehow miss the lesser and more playful 1er cru – but no doubt the Sentiers is a better and bigger wine. So I guess it’s just me being nostalgic. 

(Drink from 2025) – Fine+ – (92 – 93p) – Tasted 21/03/2016 from CASK

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Gevrey Chambertin, Bel Air 2015

The Gevrey Chambertin Bel Air is (as usual) a mineralic powerhouse. It’s a structured and quite cool terroir – thus it should be perfect for a vintage like 2015 – and it is!. In the bouquet layers of sweet red and dark berry fruit – notes of raspberries, cherries, white peppar and cinnamon. On the palete intense cool and juicy fruit – generous – with a powerful focusing minerality. Love the cool fruit and the gorgeous minerality of the Bel Air terroir …. 

(Drink from 2025) – Fine+ – (92 – 93p) – Tasted 21/03/2016 from CASK

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Gevrey Chambertin, Lavaux St. Jacques 2015

The Lavaux St. Jacques 2015 is a generous wine offering plenty of fruit. In the nose ripe pinot fruit – raspberries, plum and a earthy minerality. On the palate rich and weighty for a Lavaux St. Jacques with layers of relatively sweet ripe fruit. It’s balanced and quite refined, and offer more mid-palate weight than the mineralic Bel Air. A fine Lavaux in the making – but somehow I prefer the cooler Bel Air in 2015.

(Drink from 2024) – Fine+ – (92 – 93p) – Tasted 21/03/2016 from CASK

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Vosne Romanee, Les Chaumes 2013

The Vosne-Romanee Les Chaumes is a step up in intensity – made from a plot located in the top part of the Les Chaumes vineyard – just below La Tache/Malconsort. The bouquet offer complex layers of cool red and dark berry fruit – slightly reduced – but nvertheless spiced with violets, cinnamon and allspice. The palate is crammed with layers of relatively cool juicy fruit and structured by a rather powerful minerality. A mighty Chaumes .. very balanced and complex .. will be exiting to follow this wine over the next 15 years.

(Drink from 2029) – Very Fine – (92 – 93p) – Tasted 21/03/2016 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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