WTN: Potel, Briailles, Couly-Dutheil, Ochoa

1998 Nicolas Potel Volnay VV
This started out fine fragrant elegant and delicate, a joy to behold. But after about an hour it started to get harder and the flavors were more generic and muddy. I guess we should have consumed it faster!

2006 Chandon de Briailles Pernand-Vergelesses Île des Vergelesses
This on the other hand did not last long after opening because it was so delightful. A charming little jellied jewel, delicate and trembling and clear but not as firm or austere as I remember from previous vintages of this. Is that a function of the stage or the vintage?

2007 Couly-Dutheil Chinon Les Gravières d’Amador Abbé de Turpenay
I was surprised that I enjoyed this, but it was very friendly, supple (almost leaning too polished if I wanted to be critical), yet retaining the nervy snap that one wants in Chinon. Not bad.

2005 Bodegas Ochoa Moscatel Navarra Vino Dulce
A commendable mixture of exotic fruits plus some savory firm structure. Nothing mind blowing but lovely and civilized and a wonderful match with homemade absinthe ice cream and plenty of conversation.

[Jenise]

I'm not trying to answer your question re vintage on the Brialles, but this has been a favorite Burgundy producer of mine for years and years, and something I've loved about them is that these wines have always been very true to vintage typicity.

I'm not trying to answer your question re vintage on the Brialles, but this has been a favorite Burgundy producer of mine for years and years, and something I've loved about them is that these wines have always been very true to vintage typicity.

Yes. I've had 98, 01, 02, 04, and 05 from this vineyard and there was very nice vintage variation although if I had to compare I would say those 4 vintages were much more alike in profile and led me to identify some sort of house/vineyard style which I did not find in this bottle. Maybe that was because this one is still so relatively young and showing the jelly fruit. And I haven't had much exposure to 2006 but I do understand that it is a charming/forward vintage.

I have half a case of the 05 Briailles waiting for some time next century... Haven't had the courage to open not even one, since an 02 opened at a restaurant in Beaune last year was incredibly backward and closed, a total waste.

Not sure about this trembling jellied stuff, what's gotten into you?

I have half a case of the 05 Briailles waiting for some time next century... Haven't had the courage to open not even one, since an 02 opened at a restaurant in Beaune last year was incredibly backward and closed, a total waste.

I had the 05 and the 02 together back in January 2008 and the 02 was indeed very backward and closed. The 05 was lovely and showed plenty of potential although I'm sure it is closed by now. I wish I had more of these wines!

Not sure about this trembling jellied stuff, what's gotten into you?

I find the 'jelly' character in a lot of Burgundy. I don't mean it in an overripe and sugary way, but something about the bright quality of the fruit along with the texture. At the same time, the fresh and clear acidity gave this a 'trembling' character. All very positive in my mind!