Visit to Philippe Pacalet – Tasting the 2021s from Cask

I have followed Philippe Pacalet’s wines since his first vintage almost 20 years ago. I furthermore followed the wines he made at Domaine Prieure-Roch before he began his own endeavour.

I enjoy Pacalet’s wines, and they almost always provide – for me at least – an essential hedonistic joy, despite the ultimate in complexity and detail sometimes being lower priorities.

Painting with a low-sulphur, whole-cluster brush, the wine will often end up on the impressionistic side, with its soul and emotional content as the main elements.

As Burgundy prices rise inexorably, one should (in my view) go all out for hedonism, and find the wines with the most energy, best phenolic ripeness, and greatest balance. We all deserve it!

In essence, I need some Pacalet for my hedonistic pleasure, and without keeping the wines in the cellar for 20 years.

The 2021s here show a cooler, more delicate side of Burgundy, as we don’t have the weighty fruit of recent years that results from global warming.

These are quite cool wines, and this becomes them well – if you like more delicacy.

I would not say that 2021 is a greater vintage than 2019 or 2020. But the wines have a cool charm that appeals to me. While not a vintage for high points, ’21 is a heartfelt vintage with a lovely, cool nature.

Like other vintages of Pacalet, these are wines for the medium term, from a vintage that will develop relatively quickly but still hold their ground.

As always, this is not about outright complexity, rather about pleasure and energy. So follow your heart!

Philippe Pacalet Gevrey-Chambertin 2021

The Gevrey village is a large cuvée, but always offers fine hedonistic qualities. It’s quite intense and rather deep, and while not of the greatest complexity, there is enough to give a lot of pleasure during its early years. The nose is classic Pacalet: red fruit with darker forest berries, spiced with a hint of cinnamon and allspice. Good weight and energy; what a treat. A wine that delivers year after year.

(Drink from 2027) – Very Good (88-89p) – tasted from cask 06/07/2022 –

Philippe Pacalet Pommard 2021

The Pommard village is a bit surprising, showing more complexity. It has good intensity and very fine energy, and a mineral impression and darker fruit give a juicy feeling. A good effort, and while it has a nice Pommard feel, it is above all a Pacalet!

(Drink from 2027) – Very Good (88-89p) – tasted from cask 06/07/2022 –

Philippe Pacalet Nuits-Saints-Georges 2021

The Nuits-Saint-Georges is delightful Pacalet treat. The bouquet is brimming with energy and red/dark berries. This is really showing well, with an outgoing personality. One of my favourite villages year after year.

(Drink from 2029) – Very Good (89p) – tasted from cask 06/07/2022 –

Philippe Pacalet Volnay Robardelles 2021

The Volnay Robardelles is a new treat in the Pacalet line-up. It has lively mid-palate fruit, and I love the energy and effortlessness. This is really showing fine form, and will give lovely drinking in either the short or long term.

(Drink from 2029) – Very Good (89-90p) – tasted from cask 06/07/2022 –

Philippe Pacalet Aloxe-Corton 1er Cru 2021

The Aloxe-Corton is, like the 2020, showing fine energy and intensity. I do prefer this to the 2020, as the cool liveliness of the ’21 gives it a nice hedonistic lift

(Drink from 2029) – Very Good (88-90p) – tasted from cask 06/07/2022

Philippe Pacalet Ladoix-Serrigny Joueuses 2021

Joueuses, Joueuses – this vineyard has a very charming name and style, and gives floral, vivid wines from its spot below the Corton hill on the Ladoix slope. This one of my new favourites at Pacalet, being made for pleasure and joy.

(Drink from 2029) – Fine (90-91p) – tasted from cask 06/07/2022 –

• Visit to Philippe Pacalet – Tasting the 2022s from Cask
  I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: I have followed Philippe Pacalet’s wines since his first vintage almost 20 years ago. I furthermore followed the wines he made at Domaine Prieure-Roch before he began his own endeavour. I enjoy Pacalet’s wines, and they almost always provide (for me at least) essential hedonistic joy, despite ...
• Visit to Philippe Pacalet – Tasting the 2021s from Cask
  I have followed Philippe Pacalet’s wines since his first vintage almost 20 years ago. I furthermore followed the wines he made at Domaine Prieure-Roch before he began his own endeavour. I enjoy Pacalet’s wines, and they almost always provide – for me at least – an essential hedonistic joy, despite the ultimate in complexity and detail ...
• Visit to Philippe Pacalet – tasting the 2020s from cask
  I have followed Philippe Pacalet’s wines since his first vintage almost 20 years ago. I furthermore followed the wines he made at Domaine Prieure-Roch before he began on his own. I enjoy Pacalet’s wines, and they almost always provide – for me at least – an essential hedonistic joy, despite the complexity and detail sometimes coming ...
• Last dance before the new lockdown
  To quote Joni Mitchell: You don’t know what you’ve got ’til it’s gone. For many of us, the freedom to travel, converse, exchange and enjoy is often taken for granted, yet in the current environment it is clear how fragile are these moments with friends and compatriots. One such moment was last week’s Pacalet tasting, held ...
• Corton, Corton, red Corton .. exploring the hill
  This week I attended a tasting of red Corton; a rare thing, in Denmark at least. The tasting included 10 Cortons from five producers, all top-flight amongst the panoply of Corton producers. The purpose was to learn: learn about different parts of the Corton vineyards, learn about the different producers … or in short, LEARN. It was ...