In the glass – 2011 vs 2012 red Burgundy

I was very impressed and delighted when I tasted the 2012 reds from cask, and recent tastings of the first 2012s from bottle more than confirm the very positive first impressions.

This week we had a modest and relaxed lunch at Restaurant Enomania in Copenhagen, and we had a few top end 2011s and some blind surprises.

The 2011 menu … lovely wines

At the dinner we had the opportunity to taste Rousseau Clos Saint-Jacques 2011, Vogue Les Amoureuses 2011, Sylvain Cathiard Aux Malconsort 2011 and Anne Gros Richebourg 2011 … the first and the last bottle only a small sipp exchanged with a neighboring tables.

The 2011s performed as expected … with the Rousseau fairly closed, the Amoueuses and Richebourg very youthful and the Cathiard Malconsort open, expressive and drop dead gorgeous. In my view the Cathiard Malconsort rivals the Anne Gros Richebourg in 2011 … what a wine!

The 2012 supremacy

After the 2011s we had two blind 2012s and the first was Domaine du Comte Liger-Belair Vosne-Romanee Clos du Chateau.

The Clos du Chateau 2012 came after four top end 2011s and against all odds it almost powered through the 2011s …. not a better wine than the four 2011s .. but with more fruit intensity and volume given its level.

This experience underlines the true quality of the 2012 vintage and while the 2011s are fine … they still lack the energy and fruit intensity of 2010 and 2012 vintages.

The Comte Liger-Belair Vosne-Romanee Clos du Chateau is a brilliant village effort …. displaying all the charming qualities of the 2012 vintage.

Get some 2012 while you can … they are even better than first expected.