Tasting of Bourchard Pere et Fils 2015

This week I had the opportunity to taste a large selection of the 2015s from Bouchard Pere et Fils. The Danish importer of Bouchard, Eric Sorensen and the Export Manager Maisons et Domaines Henriot, Victor Pepin, also this year joined forces to present the new vintage by showing a wide and impressive range of wines from Bouchard Pere et Fils.

Bouchard is a very large house and produce wines from top to bottom – from Montrachet to Bourgogne Blanc and from Bourgogne Rouge to Bonnes Mares.

While 2015 have produced some magnificent wines, the warm conditions and high ripeness levels have however been a bit difficult to manage for many producers, and for a large house like Bouchard it must have been even more difficult to get perfect ripeness in all wines. They have done a very good job in my view, although mother nature have provided changing conditions in the different ares of Burgundy.

There are some areas that were cooler than others in 2015, thus offering more freshness to the wines – not all vineyards have been blessed by a cool breeze from the valleys.

What I’m trying to say is that Bouchard has done surprisingly well with the 2015 whites (despite it’s a lesser vintage for the whites), whereas the red 2015s show bigger variation, with some wines offering the best sides of the 2015 vintage, whereas others are lacking the vibrant energy of the best reds from this vintage. This is the same with all producers as some terroirs are more likely to have produced the 2015 magic, so to speak.

The Bouchard Pere et Fils white 2015s – tasted on May 31st 2017

The annual tasting held by Erik Sorensen is, as mentioned, a very generous event, offering a large selection of whites including the three white Grand Crus and two of the top Meursaults – this is really a treat.

The whites tasted:

• Bourgogne Blanc 2015
• Macon Lugny Saint Pierre 2015
• Pouilly Fuissé 2015
• Beuane du Château 2015
• Meursault Les Clous 2015
• Chassagne-Montrachet 2015
• Beaune Clos Saint Landry 2015
• Meursault Genevrieres 2015
• Meursualt Perrieres 2015
• Corton Charlemagne 2015
• Chevalier Montrachet 2015
• Montrachet 2015

The white 2015s from Bouchard are showing surprisingly fine form and freshness – for a relatively hot vintage. Some of the wines are as always showing better for than others (I do have my personal favourites in the large Bouchard line-up). After a very quick tasting – I want to focus on my favourites of the day – so to speak.

This is a mix of affordable low end wines, and the top wines … and please note the entry level wines are not matching some of the bigger wines not mentioned. I do however find it important to mention the low end wines also, if they show well within their context and at the level they represent.

The Bourgogne Blanc 2015 is pure and balanced – impressive for a wine produced in such quantities. The Macon lugny Saint Pierre 2015 is also showing a fine vibrant energy — quite impressive for the vintage and this level. These wines are perhaps not for collectors – but for professionals that require large quantities – these are nice options.

Normally I’m not so infatuated with the Meursault Les Clous from Bouchard Pere et Fils…. but the 2015 edition is actually performing well – quite energetic and pure, drinking very well and offering a lovely classic expression the appellation. Good+ (87 – 88p)

The Beaune Clos Saint Landry is one of my favourites here – lovely terroir – creamy fruit, lovely depth with a tremendous vibrant acidity for the vintage. One of the best white Beaune wines consistently – and this is a lovely effort for a relatively hot vintage .. do not overlook this wine! Very Good (89 – 90p).

The Meursault Perrieres 2015 is also showing well – quite elegant and somehow light footed compared to several of the Perrieres I have tasted from this vintage. I do normally prefer the Les Perriéres among the Bouchard Meursaults – so is even the case this year. Fine (91 – 93p)

The “regular” Chevalier Montrachet 2015 is showing beautifully – the bouquet is offering fine white and yellow fruit – infused with a intense but filigree minerality. On the palate very vibrant for the vintage, with a very fine concentration and length. This is a remarkably fresh and refined Chevalier-Montrachet for the vintage – and while it’s not a wine of same magnitude as the Montrachet – the freshness is very tempting.
Very Fine+ (93 – 95p).

Last but not least the Montrachet 2015 – a mighty wine – ripeness level up a notch from the Chevalier-Montrachet. A rich Montrachet – with volume and tremendous generosity – yet still with a lovely energy despite the relatively high ripeness. This is what mighty Montrachet can do – the minerality and large frame of this terroir can focus and support these rather voluptuous wines. The style of the 2015 is quite rich and creamy compared to the classic acidity driven and refined 2014. The 2015 appeals more to some palates – I do however stay with the 2014. A Very Fine or even Outstanding effort (94 – 96p).

The Bouchard Pere et Fils red 2015s – tasted on May 31st 2017

The selection of reds tasted is equally impressive … I missed out on a few sadly … would have loved to taste Le Corton also – it was on the table.

• Bourgogne Pinot Noir Réserve 2015
• Beaune du Château 2015
• Beaune Teurons 2015
• Beaune Clos de la Mousse 2015
• Monthelie Les Duresses 2015
• Gevrey-Chambertin 2015
• Chambolle-Musigny 2015
• Volnay Caillerets Ancienne Cuvée Carnot 2015
• Nuits Saint Georges Les Cailles 2015
• Beaune Gréves Vigne de l’Enfant Jésus 2015
• Clos de Vougeot 2015
• Echezeaux 2015
• Chambertin Clos de Béze
• Bonnes Mares

The reds tasted show that while the vintage is considered to be excellent, not all wines are perfect – and sourcing a lot of grapes can sometimes be a challenge in hotter years.

One of my favourites in the Bouchard line-up is the Monthelie Les Duresses – a cool and vibrant wine in the 2015 vintage. The nose offer a lovely variation of cherries – slightly smoky minerality. On the palate juicy fruit with a lovely tension – this is performing well in recent vintages Good++ (87 – 88p).

The Chambolle-Musigny offer a lovely cool fruit – fine tension and energy – this appellation has done very well in the 2015 vintage. It’s a very good village offering both good concentration and a nice expression of Chambolle terroir. Love the sweet core of fruit and the tension on the mid-palate. Very Good (87 – 89p).

Beaune Gréves Vigne de l’Enfant Jésus 2015 is quite impressive – and while I have been a bit sceptical regarding this cuvée in some vintages – this has both the fruit, the length and depth one would expect from a wine that supposedly is from the best terroir in the Beaune appellation. The nose is brimming with red and dark fruit – lovey depth and a lovely earthy minerality. This is serious stuff .. love the energy on the mid-palate – fine core of sweet and vibrant fruit. Fine++ or even Very Fine (92 – 93p)

The Echezeaux 2015 is performing very well – like many others from this vintage. This seems both cool and vibrant – presumably due to the cool breeze from Combe d’Orveau. The nose offer fine minerality and plenty of fruit – cool and transparent. On the palate very composed and minerally focused with a lovely tension on the mid-palate – a Very Fine+ (93 – 95p) Echezeaux in the making.

Last but not least I was very impressed by the Bonnes-Mares 2015. It offers true Grand Cru depth and concentration – the nose offer deep red and dark berry notes brought forward by a deep earthy minerality. On the palate very good weight – a gorgeous sweet and vibrant mid-palate fruit – offering a delightful play between dark fruit and some vibrant red fruit. It’a long, balanced and refined. Outstanding (95 – 96p).

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