Volcanic Wine Awards | The Jancis Robinson Story

Burgundy 2016 – Bl–Bz

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See the full guide to our coverage of Burgundy's 2016 vintage. 


GRÉGOIRE BICHOT — see Burgundy 2016 – Cl–Cy under DOMAINE DES CLOS


DOMAINE MARC-ANTONIN BLAIN, Chassagne-Montrachet

Red

Cask sample. Ripe raspberry and redcurrant fruit with loads of primary charm. Light but not mean, with a tasty marzipan aroma on the finish. (RH)

Drink: 2018 – 2028
Price: £214 per case of 12 ib Haynes Hanson & Clark
Red

Cask sample. Equally light as their villages Chassagne, but no lack of flavour. Even so, the premium for premier cru seems a little steep in this instance. Good, but not significantly better. Perhaps time will change that. (RH)

Drink: 2020 – 2030
Price: £304 per case of 12 ib Haynes Hanson & Clark

DOMAINE BLAIN-GAGNARD, Chassagne-Montrachet
RH: Consistent and classic, with signs of better things to come with bottle age.

White

Crunchy green apple fruit with some dairy and cream aromas on the palate. Earthy and herbal on the palate – lots of flavour on offer. (RH)

Drink: 2018 – 2024
Price: £295 per case of 12 ib Haynes Hanson & Clark
White

Crisp and delineated with spicy notes on the palate and tighter structural bite that their Chassagne, as you might expect. Long and zingy to finish. (RH)

Drink: 2019 – 2026
Price: £320 per case of 12 ib Haynes Hanson & Clark
White

Seems a bit musty and earthy – not in as good condition as their village wines at this tasting. Seems to have a flat, almost mouldy sort of tone to it. Faulty sample? (RH)

Drink: 2019 – 2029
Price: £435 per case of 12 ib Haynes Hanson & Clark
Red

Delicate but with loads of floral scent giving interest to the palate, and light tannic fur on the finish. Has the gentility of burgundy, as well as the aromatic complexity. (RH)

Drink: 2020 – 2034
Price: £208 per case of 12 ib Haynes Hanson & Clark
Red

Cask sample. More concentration than the village wine and more tannic grip too. Not sure the flavour is much more complex though – time will tell. (RH)

Drink: 2021 – 2036
Price: £295 per case of 12 ib Haynes Hanson & Clark

DOMAINE HENRI BOILLOT, Meursault 
RH: Stylish, vivid and memorable. Not cheap, but you can taste where the money goes (in a good way).

White

Flint and matchstick aromas, vivid green fruit with fearsome concentration on the palate. Over-delivers for this combination of producer, appellation and vintage – but isn't cheap! (RH)

Drink: 2018 – 2026
Price: £225 per case of 6 ib Lea & Sandeman
White

Saline, refreshing and citric with a sharper, more vivid palate than their village Puligny, but not much more complexity. Better length and pith, however, so this is promising for the future. (RH)

Drink: 2020 – 2030
Price: £435 per case of 6 ib Lea & Sandeman
White

Suitably broad and ripe in style, but more lean and precise than the buttery Meursaults of old. Tense, vivid, flavoursome. (RH)

Drink: 2018 – 2031
Price: £450 per case of 6 ib Lea & Sandeman
White

Slaty and nutty on the nose, with highly intense cooked apple fruit and very punchy acidity. Potent and powerful, and has the gutsiness to age over a long period. (RH)

Drink: 2018 – 2036
Price: £725 per case of 6 ib Lea & Sandeman
Red

Smoked, toasted oak aromas on the nose with incredible concentration and intensity. Gunflint on the palate, and rich, indulgent bramble fruit. Very stylish and bold, but requires high oak tolerance to enjoy it in its early days. (RH)

Drink: 2022 – 2046
Price: £670 per case of 12 ib Lea & Sandeman
Red

Distinctive aromas of coffee grounds on the nose, from heavy oak influence. Aromatic smoky quality to the palate and a long, fragrant persistence on the finish. Less fruit power to match the oak than their Frémiets, it seems. (RH)

Drink: 2020 – 2040
Price: £670 per case of 12 ib Lea & Sandeman

DOMAINE JEAN-MARC BOILLOT, Pommard 
JR: These rich whites were as hedonistic as usual. 

White

Bottled. Stony and subtle on the nose but not lacking fruit. Dry and tangy with mandarin and mandarin pith giving both freshness and texture. Bone dry and really tangy. Long for a village wine. (JH)


Drink: 2019 – 2023
Price: £192 per case of 6 ib Lay & Wheeler
White

Racy and smoky on the nose with masses of ripe, lime fruit on the mid palate. Long and relatively rich. Maybe not that long lived but great delivery. (JR)

Drink: 2018 – 2023
Price: £225 per case of 6 ib Goedhuis & Co
White

A little herbal and off dry without the nerve of some. (JR)

Drink: 2019 – 2024
Price: £325 per case of 6 ib Goedhuis & Co
White

Bottled. Has the stony minerality of the village wine but also a more evident creamy, oatmeal richness. Excellent balance between sour-citrus precise freshness and a depth of fruit that gives a long, clean finish. Power and precision. (JH)

Drink: 2020 – 2028
Price: £312 per case of 6 ib Lay & Wheeler
White

Real nerve, depth and excitement with some liquorice notes. Slightly astringent finish for the moment. (JR)

Drink: 2019 – 2025
Price: £325 per case of 6 ib Goedhuis & Co
White

Bottled. So inviting, with that leesy richness combined with tangy spiced citrus of lemon and mandarin. On the palate it is quite full but seems a little flatter on the finish than the Referts. (JH)

Drink: 2020 – 2026
Price: £312 per case of 6 ib Lay & Wheeler
White

Light nose but great depth of fruit and admirable structure. Rather fiery on the end. Very satisfying. (JR)

Drink: 2019 – 2026
Price: £325 per case of 6 ib Goedhuis & Co
White

Cool and lively and sleek with lemon-cream character and lots of potential. (JR)

Drink: 2020 – 2027
Price: £425 per case of 6 ib Goedhuis & Co

DOMAINE LOUIS BOILLOT and LOUIS BOILLOT, Chambolle-Musigny
JR: Louis has joined the ranks of those who are venturing south to...

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