After much anticipation the Burgundy 2009 vintage landed this week with a memorable tasting at Middle Temple Hall. One of the most fantastic and historic venues in London, the hall was quickly filled as the starting pistol fired at 6pm.
The wines were represented by 23 producers who collectively showed 96 wines. Attendees were spoiled for choice as nearly every hectare of the Cotes d’Or was represented in a stunning array of reds and whites. From some seriously over achieving ‘village’ wines to the unforgettable monopoles and Grand Crus, there was truly a style to meet every taste.
As ever, the armit staff all arrived early for a comprehensive taste of the full range and this is always a critical moment for us all as it’s our first chance to taste all of the wines side by side under one roof. It’s always fascinating to see how the wines have changed in the year or so since the initial tastings in Burgundy, and they are so close now to being the finished, bottled article. New gems are discovered, old favourites are treasured, and we can all offer our own informed, personal advice to our clients. What’s more, tasting and scoring 96 wines in 1 hour is actually pretty hard work!
Our opinions aside, the most important critiques were from the 200+ attendees as it is their cellars that are to house these great wines in time. As ever, we all had a fantastic time pouring the wines and chatting to such an enthusiastic and knowledgeable crowd. The general mood was of absolute delight at the quality of the wines and the producers were as generous as ever with their time when questioned.
When the final drops were poured and the sound of empties echoed around the magnificent hall, which wines left the biggest impression of the team? The Private Client Team each had a favourite:
Steve Weids:
“The stand out wine for me last night was the brilliant Latricieres Chambertin from the enigmatic Pascal Lachaux (£800 per 6 IB). This is only the second vintage that Pascal has released, and what a wine it is. Masses of wild fruit, an amazing filigreed structure, with layers and layers of fruit and complexity. I am seduced!”
Nick Palmer:
“Domaine de Montille Pommard 1er Cru Les Pézerolles (£265 per 6 IB). It was an incredibly impressive debut display from de Montille at the tasting, with the Pommard 1er Cru Pézerolles a particular highlight. Perfumed and fragrant with pretty purple fruits and a confident, creamy palate. Another fine example of the great performance of the Cote de Beaune in 2009.”
Richard Sutton:
“Fontaine Gagnard 1er Cru Les Vergers (295 per 12 IB ). For me, F-G always represent the benchmark for Chassagne Montrachet, both in terms of quality and value. This year Richard Fontaine has excelled even by his own very high standards. Lovely, zesty fruit, great body and length for this price.”
Matt Thompson:
“Domaine Sigaut Chambolle Musigny 1er Cru Fuées (£450 per 12 IB). What a delight this was to taste! The soft, creamy texture was wrapped around a crisp and refreshing core of red fruit and a touch of spice. The depth and intensity is already impressive and seems to express all of the great qualities of the 2009 vintage.”
Jacqui Renirie:
“Mazis Chambertin Grand Cru, Cuvee Madeleine Collignon, Hospices de Beaune (£660 per 6 IB). Last year we participated in the Hospices de Beaune auction and were thrilled to have acquired this lot. The fruit, sourced from a tiny parcel in the north of the Mazis Chambertin vineyard from the oldest vines offers lovely dense ripe red and black fruits, is wonderfully seductive and offers great complexity. Jerome Flous at Domaine Faiveley has tendered to the barrels for us over the last 12 months.”
The evening was, without a doubt, a triumph on every level and has set the bar incredibly high for the tastings still to come this year. Bravo Burgundy, and thanks again to both the producers who’ve taken the time to take us through their ranges, and to the clients who were able to attend and make the evening so enjoyable. Orders have been racking up and some of these magnificent wines have already sold out, so please act quickly to make sure you secure yours!
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