Tasting of some 2015s .. how are they doing?

The Danish Burgundy importer Vinrosen offer a large range of fine Burgundy wines – and their annual vintage tasting is therefore a great opportunity to visit a vintage – or should I say re-visit ,, and taste the wines from bottle.

Impressions red 2015s

The reds 2015s are showing their best and most balanced side. They are quite a lot fresher and more vibrant than the critics of the vintage predicted – and as I expected very balanced, energetic and with a both vivacious and generous personality.

Some wines are starting to shut down a bit, yet most are showing a expressive outgoing youthful personality … this is simply a truly delightful vintage.

Yes I know – some purists say that its hot year, not classic – but to be honest its in my view one of the very best vintages I have tasted – and a most enjoyable vintage

Furthermore – some of the great wines produced in 2015 are amongst the best red Burgundies I have tasted!

The tasting held by Vinrosen showed modest variation in quality of the reds, although some whines are closing down a bit already – some reduction in a few wines, as expected in a somewhat solar vintage.

I was very impressed by the wines from Camille Giroud and Domaine des Croix – the Beaune Les Avaux – Fine (91 – 92p) from Camille Giroud showing beautifully as did the Aloxe Corton Les Boutières from David Croix – Very Good (89 – 90p) – delightful wine from a very overlooked appellation.

The Bourgogne Rouge from Domaine Trapet is a delightful glass – made for pleasure and no regrets. The Gevrey village from Trapet showed very well indeed – displaying plenty of concentration and detail Very Good (89 – 90p). The mighty Chambertin is a bit closed and the tremendously generous organic fruit is somewhat packed down .. an extraordinary wine (96 – 97p) – love the energy – but will need time to unfold the layered fruit.

Of other favourites were Domaine Berthaut-Gerbet – the Vosne-Romanée from Amélie is lovely and vibrant – but is slightly closed at this stage.

Two new wines for me in this vintage – the Domaine de l’Arlot Clos des Forets-Saint-Georges is showing lovely energy and seductive fruit – love acidity and juicy fruit – a treat really – Fine+ (92 – 93p).

and … Domaine Robert Sirugue have made some elegant and rather light-footed 2015s – the Vosne offer lovely silky fruit – transparent and elegant – with a lot of detail and lovely balance – delightful drinking.

The Corton Bressandes from Domaine Poisot show very well indeed – lively fruit, fine purity and freshness – offering a vivacious side of the Corton hill – Very Fine (93 – 94p), great to see Remi Poisot making the most of this vintage.

All in all – this is a collectors vintage – get plenty if you can

On the slightly negative side – I do often wonder about Domaine Alain Michelot – and so also in 2015, the Nuits-Saint -Georges Les Vaucrains is dark and rather tannic – quite or even very extracted it seems. In my view this is not how one preserve the vivacious energy and juiciness of the 2015 vintage – but so is the style of this estate.

The Domaine Clos de la Chapelle is presumably playing the VA game – and the wines are expressive and appear rather complex. I do however not quite like all the nuances brought forward in the Volnay Clos de la Chapelle. I have seen better wines from Volnay in this vintage. The Pommard Les Chanlins Bas is showing better – without setting land speed records or shattering the earth out of orbit.

Impressions white

The whites are suprisingly good – yet not great. It’s a rich vintage with a lovely freshness but a rather low acidity.

The wines are generous – some even opulent – but the have a lovely freshness and energy – making them charming and enjoyable. They do lack the ultimate in freshness, detail and definition – and the acidity backbone is on the weak side for my palate.

It’s a vintage for enjoyment – and if one like fat and generous chardonnays also a vintage for collecting. The wines are indeed charming – more so than 2009 – but not a year for hoarding whites in my perspective.

I rather liked the Domaine Mark Morey, Puligny Les Referts 2015 – rich yes – expressive yes – but also a quite complex wine with plenty of stuffing and aromatic juiciness – Fine+ (91 – 93p).

Another favourite is the Rully Blanc La Chaume from Devevey .. a delightfully expressive wine for this level – a fine producer.

Otherwise a bit up and down for the white 2015s – that suffered a bit as the temperature in the room rose – note to self – take the whites first.

The 2015s do have a fine freshness – but only when sufficiently cool – when they get even a bit too hot the lack of acidity really shows – and sometimes this is not a pretty sight.

A great event and tasting as always – the team from Vinrosen is doing a great job.