GRÉGOIRE BICHOT — see Burgundy 2016 – Cl–Cy under DOMAINE DES CLOS
DOMAINE MARC-ANTONIN BLAIN, Chassagne-Montrachet
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)
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)
DOMAINE BLAIN-GAGNARD, Chassagne-Montrachet
RH: Consistent and classic, with signs of better things to come with bottle age.
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
DOMAINE HENRI BOILLOT, Meursault
RH: Stylish, vivid and memorable. Not cheap, but you can taste where the money goes (in a good way).
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)
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)
Suitably broad and ripe in style, but more lean and precise than the buttery Meursaults of old. Tense, vivid, flavoursome. (RH)
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)
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)
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)
DOMAINE JEAN-MARC BOILLOT, Pommard
JR: These rich whites were as hedonistic as usual.
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)
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)
A little herbal and off dry without the nerve of some. (JR)
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)
Real nerve, depth and excitement with some liquorice notes. Slightly astringent finish for the moment. (JR)
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)
Light nose but great depth of fruit and admirable structure. Rather fiery on the end. Very satisfying. (JR)
Cool and lively and sleek with lemon-cream character and lots of potential. (JR)
DOMAINE LOUIS BOILLOT and LOUIS BOILLOT, Chambolle-Musigny
JR: Louis has joined the ranks of those who are venturing south to...