Volcanic Wine Awards | The Jancis Robinson Story

Burgundy 2015 – Bl-Bz

Saturday 7 January 2017
Image

See this guide to our extensive coverage of Burgundy 2015. Our picture shows the vineyards of Chassagne seen from Bruno Colin's courtyard. 

Now that the wines have been sorted into groups by producer, you can sort the wines within those groups by score or appellation.


DOMAINE MARC-ANTONIN BLAIN 

White

Great acidity and raciness. More exciting and precise than many a Chassagne premier cru. Lots to chew on. Very correct and deep-flavoured. Real fan of flavours on the finish. (JR)

Drink: 2021 – 2029
Price: £285 per case of 12 ib Haynes Hanson & Clark
Red

Cask sample. Mid ruby. Precise and fresh with some real interest. Bright, lightly floral fruit. Fairly lightweight but well made. (JR)

Drink: 2020 – 2026
Price: £198 per case of 12 ib Haynes Hanson & Clark
Red

Cask sample. Really quite deep-flavoured. Very youthful and still wearing a bit of oak on its sleeve. Aggressively chewy for the moment. (JR)

Drink: 2024 – 2039
Price: £289 per case of 12 ib Haynes Hanson & Clark

DOMAINE BLAIN SOEUR ET FRÈRE

Red

Deep crimson. Rocky, dark fruit. Dry textured and just a little meaty on the palate. Savoury finish and plenty of freshness. Just not sure about that meaty note for long life though the tannins and acidity are there for longevity. Hence scored down a little. (JH)

Drink: 2019 – 2022
Price: £147 per case of 12 ib Clarion Wines
Red

Deep greyish crimson. Sweet, ripe, dark-red fruit and some oak-sweet spice. Again that slight meaty note (brett?) – though it is slight and some might describe it as complexity. Worries me for the longer term though you could overlook it now. (JH)

Drink: 2019 – 2025
Price: £180 per case of 12 ib Clarion Wines

DOMAINE BLAIN-GAGNARD 
These 2015s seemed a little heavy-footed and old-fashioned to me.

White

Correct, sweet, floral nose. Could do with a little more tension. A tad plump and candified. (JR)

Drink: 2018 – 2023
Price: £275 per case of 12 ib Haynes Hanson & Clark
White

Well etched and lively. Sweet start and a tad flabby. Then chewy on the end. (JR)

Drink: 2019 – 2025
Price: £295 per case of 12 ib Haynes Hanson & Clark
White

Not 100% clean. Very heavy and solid. Aggressive chew on the end. (JR)

Drink: 2021 – 2025
Price: £395 per case of 12 ib Haynes Hanson & Clark
White

Light and fresh. Very racy. Lifted and very Cailleret. A real flirt. Great stuff. (JR)

Drink: 2023 – 2029
Price: £435 per case of 12 ib Haynes Hanson & Clark
White

Much lighter than most Bâtards. A little less dramatic than one would hope for the price. Muted finish. (JR)

Drink: 2025 – 2035
Price: £650 per case of 6 ib Haynes Hanson & Clark
Red

Quite pale ruby. This doesn’t smell quite brimming with cleanliness and health to me. And it’s rather thin. Polished tannins and a little sweetness but not quite fresh enough. Stringy finish. (JR)

Drink: 2021 – 2026
Price: £255 per case of 12 ib Haynes Hanson & Clark

DOMAINE DANIEL BOCQUENET 

Red

Cask sample. Mid to deep cherry red and sumptuously perfumed with red cherry. Deep, yet restrained in structure. Juicy and moreish. (JH)

Drink: 2020 – 2028
Price: £330 per case of 12 ib Clarion Wines

DOMAINE HENRI BOILLOT

White

Flinty and fragrant on the palate, with beautifully integrated baked-apple fruit. Tingles with acid on the finish. Super-lively. (RH)

Alcohol: 13%
Drink: 2018 – 2028
Price: £450 per case of 12 ib Lea & Sandeman
White

Mouth-filling fruit – really juicy and distinct. Simply tremendous – gets all the savoury mineral flair of Puligny with great fruit clarity. (RH)

Alcohol: 13.5%
Drink: 2017 – 2024
Price: £850 per case of 12 ib Lea & Sandeman
White

Combines vivid green fruit with creamy texture and a touch of banana. Very savoury saline finish, and superb fruit definition. Long, dry finish that leaves an austere impression – lots of ageability. (RH)

Alcohol: 13.5%
Drink: 2017 – 2027
Price: £870 per case of 12 ib Lea & Sandeman
White

Subtle nose, impeccably fresh but lacking the nutty complexity normally associated with the appellation. Having said that, there is an incredibly dense palate and long, concentrated fruit which should age for a long time. Judging from their other 2015s, this will be magnificent – but it needs time to get there. (RH)

Alcohol: 14%
Drink: 2020 – 2035
Price: £685 per case of 6 ib Lea & Sandeman
Red

Vibrant red fruit with a dark chocolate character and something like olive or juniper. Juicy, refreshing  with astute bitterness that complements the cherry flavours perfectly. (RH)

Alcohol: 13%
Drink: 2018 – 2035
Price: £640 per case of 12 ib Lea & Sandeman
Red

Herbal and redcurrant character. Wonderfully punchy nose – angular acid, but with enough fruit ripeness and tannin to balance. Chewy finish. (RH)

Alcohol: 13%
Drink: 2018 – 2035
Price: £670 per case of 12 ib Lea & Sandeman

DOMAINE JEAN-MARC BOILLOT
As usual, or possibly even more than usual, almost over the top in terms of smoky richness – but why not?

White

Unusually light on the nose for this producer – and a bit sweet on the end. Disappointing. Though could do the trick in flight? (JR)

Drink: 2018 – 2023
Price: £290 per case of 6 ib Goedhuis & Co
White

More refined than most from this stable. Lots to contemplate and chew on. But a bitter note at the end. (JR)

Drink: 2020 – 2026
Price: £295 per case of 6 ib Goedhuis & Co
White

Honey nose. So flattering because of the richness initially! But actually it's a bit bitter on the end too. Not classic! But chock full of easy appeal. (JR)

Drink: 2019 – 2025
Price: £295 per case of 6 ib Goedhuis & Co
White

Racy and smoky with really rich undertow. Very sweet! Another airline wine? (JR)

Drink: 2019 – 2025
Price: £420 per case of 6 ib Goedhuis & Co
White

Really rather light on the nose. Definitely not worth the money. A little soft and light. Too sweet! (JR)

Drink: 2023 – 2030
Price: £495 per case of 3 ib Goedhuis & Co

DOMAINE LOUIS BOILLOT

Red

Sweet and candified. But very direct. Crunchy fruit. (JR)

Drink: 2022 – 2030
Price: £295 per case of 12 ib Goedhuis & Co
Red

Refined and round. Super smooth and fun. Admirable freshness that makes me realise this is quite rare in 2015. Graceful. (JR)

Drink: 2023 – 2032
Price: £365 per case of 12 Goedhuis & Co
Red

Refined and racy. A light hand and very appetising. Long and racy. (JR)

Drink: 2025 – 2040
Price: £420 per case of 12 ib Goedhuis & Co
Red

Solid ripeness and lots of spice. Good substance, freshness and structure – three elements that are not always there in 2015s. Bravo! (JR)

Drink: 2023 – 2040
Price: £545 per case of 12 ib Goedhuis & Co

JEAN-CLAUDE...

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