DOMAINE DENIS BACHELET, Gevrey-Chambertin
JR: Everyone previously had loved Denis’ Bourgogne Rouge 2016 but, much to Denis’ consternation, it was not showing well for us – on a leaf day. Gorgeous Charmes. And others. Nicolas is celebrating his tenth year working with his father.
30% down. Blend of casks from Gevrey.
Bitter cherries – tastes...
Quite high up the slope above Brochon. Racked after malo at the...
85-year-old vines. 1.5 ha total.
Very fresh and fine – really...
Since 2011. Serious depth but wonderful ripe Pinot fruit. Very...
50% new oak. Vines mainly planted in the 1920s. Cool spot next...
Normally eight barrels, just six in 2016. 50% new oak.
Serious...
DOMAINE JEAN-CLAUDE BACHELET, St-Aubin
Wax capsules. Grr. Back label is a mine of information. East...
South-facing vineyard planted between 1930 and 2008(!) on...
DOMAINE BACHELET-MONNOT, Dezize-lès-Maranges
Orange peel, ripe green apple, and a lovely stony character on...
Cool, citrus nose. Very edgy and with a green streak. Not that...
Solid, straightforward nose. Ticks the boxes. Is not too flashy...
Dense and lively with real nerve. Excellent vibrancy. Lots to...
Edge of something floral on top of sweet, ripe, rather bumptious...
Mid crimson. Precise, mossy and very concentrated. Real extract...
Quite juicy and bouncy. Lots of grip. But lighter than the...
DOMAINE BALLOT-MILLOT, Meursault
JR: Delightfully high-quality whites, albeit in much smaller quantities than usual.
Pale straw. A little muted when tasted just after Niellon’s...
Very juicy and neat but far from fleshy. Chalky chewy finish....
Tight and focused. Not as rich as usual Perrières – maybe it’s...
Light and fresh and very appetising. Almost aperitif style! Very...
Pale blueish crimson. Light nose. This was rather overshadowed...
DOMAINE DANIEL ET JULIEN BARRAUD, Vergisson
RH: Some pretty good scores here considering the prices.
Nutty aromas with ripe apple, preserved lemon and a nice saline...
A touch of buttery character that contrasts nicely with biting...
Cooked apple sauce, some sweet spices and nicely grippy palate...
Buttery and spicy with lots of ripe citrus fruit and creamy...
Saline, but slightly musty too. Lots of non-fruit complexity on...
Butter and cream on the nose, followed by ripe apple and a nice...
Musty oily nose and overripe apple fruit. Lots of flavour, but...
Spicy and rich and with better brightness than their Sur La...
Ripe stone-fruit aromas, rich and full on the palate. No...
DOMAINE GHISLAINE BARTHOD, Chambolle-Musigny
JR: Notable for...