Tasting of Philippe Pacalet 2013 from cask – village wines

The first impressions I get from the new vintage is often a extensive tasting at 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 village wines. The 1er crus, 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 2010 or the 2012s for that matter, and the fruit is also lacking 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 aromaticly 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.

Tasting Notes – Pacalet red village 2013

Gevrey Chambertin 2013

The Gevrey Chambertin show fine quite delicate red and dark berry fruit – good depth with notes of cherries and raspberries – hints of allspice and a earthy minerality. On the palate aromatic red and dark fruits, a fine power for this level with a good nerve from the strudy acidity. Its surprisingly dark in the fruit and will require some time to unfold.

(Drink from 2022) – Good (86 – 87p) – Tasted 19/03/2014 from CASK

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Pommard 2013

The Pommard village is more expressive and charming than the quite serious Gevrey village. In the bouquet rather delicate red and dark fruit – quite floral – with lovely notes of red and dark cherries – spiced with hints of cinnamon and white peppar. On the palate quite expressive fruit, well structured with a fine depth for this level. Lovely Pommard village ….

(Drink from 2022) – Very Good (87 – 88p) – Tasted 19/03/2014 from CASK

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Chambolle Musigny 2013

The Chambolle village is as always a step up in delicacy and refinement. The bouquet is slightly closed – but still showing fine notes of raspberries and cherries – spiced with hints of allspice and cinnamon. On the palate quite rubust fruit – intense with a playful Chambolle minerality. More tannins than usual – but still quite juicy with a good energy and nerve. A lovely expressive Chambolle village … cant rival the gorgeous 2010 and the 2012 though.

(Drink from 2021) – Very Good (87 – 88p) – Tasted 19/03/2014 from CASK

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Nuits-Saint-Georges 2013

The Nuits-Saint-Georges village is a step up in concentration. In the nose lovely ripe pinot fruit, with notes of red and dark cherries and raspberries – spiced up with cinnamon and a hint of white pepper. On the palate rich and sturdy, showing true Nuits-Saint-Georges character. Quite impressed by the layers of intense vibrant fruit – and the matching framework of tannins and minerality.

(Drink from 2023) – Very Good (88 – 89p) – Tasted 19/03/2014 from CASK

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Vosne Romanee 2013

The Vosne-Romanee village is a notch up in quality. The bouquet is slightly reduced but crammed with layers of red and dark berry fruit – notes of raspberries and cassis – discretely spiced with violets, cinnamon and white peppar.The fruit is somewhat more compact than the ofther village wines, and show additional depth, focus and nuances – impressive for this level. A lovely intense village with a nice terroir expression.

(Drink from 2023) – Very Good+ (88 – 90p) – Tasted 19/03/2014 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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