2005 1er Cru, Is this Burg ready to drink?

I have a 2005 Aloxe-Corton Les Guerets 1er Cru by Domaine Doudet. I tried this wine about 18 months ago and it was tight and not ready to drink. I am thinking about having it for Thanksgiving Dinner. This wine has been stored in my wine fridge, which I keep at about 50 F.

Anyone tasted this wine or other 2005 1er Crus recently? Did you think they were ready to drink?

I haven't tasted any '05 Burgundies.
It's in my mind that if you have a younger Burgundy, it might be a better bet. I've been thinking of a '99 Aloxe-Corton, or maybe a '00 Ladoix.
'05 is pretty much in the middle of the classical close-down period.
50 F is pretty cold, that temp will slow down the development. I generally aim for a year-round average of about 58. If I owned a limestone cavern, the ideal temperature in my mind would be the temperature of that particular cavern. As it is, I just make do with the 8 or so degrees top to bottom variation that the Vinotemp in my Californicated garage provides - a hot spell in summer, maybe 62; a cold spell in winter, maybe 53.
If you're having turkey or ham and all the rich stuff, maybe it would work, given some decanting and air time, plus the thought that Thanksgiving isn't usually a party where people sit and analyze a wine to little tiny bits.

John

I've pretty much stayed away from opening my '05 red Burgundies although there is always the temptation. I'm considering opening a 2006 Pommard 1er Cru for a wine tasting/fund raiser at my church this Saturday. I bought three bottles of this one and would like to open one this year and wait on the other two.

I have a small number of '05 Burgs, mostly 1er Volnay. I am leaving them on the shelf until at least 2013.

[David M. Bueker]

Put down the corkscrew and step away from the bottle!

2005 Burgs are closed down hard right now - even the basic Bourgognes for the most part.

Put down the corkscrew and step away from the bottle!

2005 Burgs are closed down hard right now - even the basic Bourgognes for the most part.

That was what I was afraid of. Most of my current burgs are 2005s and they seem to be a bit tight. I have a 2006 bourgognes that are much more open than the 2005s.

I opened a 2006 Bachelet Gevrey Chambertin VV last night, and, while it isn't showing a lot, what it did show was quite nice, and a huge step up from a bottle I drank over a year ago. I am enjoying some 2002s now, and leaving my 2005s alone.

While predicting the closed period for Burgundies is notoriously difficult the people I know with the most experience think 2005 will have an unusually long one. Touching them before at least age 15 is likely to be a bit of a waste.

If you are looking for burgs to open at Thanksgiving, you might want to look at the following alternatives

(1) 02 Boujoulais (the real stuff)
(2) if you can find any '99 and ''00 Burgs or as you noted 06 and 07 village level burgundies.
(3) Finger Lakes PN's such as Ravines and Heron Hill (current vintages are fine)
(4) Rose Champagnes like Bollinger

If you are looking for burgs to open at Thanksgiving, you might want to look at the following alternatives

(1) 02 Boujoulais (the real stuff)
(2) if you can find any '99 and ''00 Burgs or as you noted 06 and 07 village level burgundies.
(3) Finger Lakes PN's such as Ravines and Heron Hill (current vintages are fine)
(4) Rose Champagnes like Bollinger

Thanks Michael,

I may take your suggestion of trying 06 or 07 village wines as I have some of those in my cellar. I rarely drink beaujolais and although I love your suggestion of a Bollinger rose champagne, those are a bit pricy.

[David M. Bueker]

2007 Burgundies are very forward and tasty now. They are unlikely to have a long life (except for some top GC exceptions), so drinking them now would be a very good idea.

We did open the 2006 Pommard 1er Cru (Domaine de Montille Pommard "Les Pezerolles") for the church fundraiser and it was drinking nicely. I think my collection is lacking 2007 red Burgundies (I have a few whites from Alex Gambal I believe) so maybe I will have to look into purchasing some for consumption this year or next. I groaned inwardly when I saw that recommendation to age the 05's for 15 years--I'm a senior citizen now and I don't know if I can be that patient. Will probably try some in 2013.

We did open the 2006 Pommard 1er Cru (Domaine de Montille Pommard "Les Pezerolles") for the church fundraiser and it was drinking nicely. I think my collection is lacking 2007 red Burgundies (I have a few whites from Alex Gambal I believe) so maybe I will have to look into purchasing some for consumption this year or next. I groaned inwardly when I saw that recommendation to age the 05's for 15 years--I'm a senior citizen now and I don't know if I can be that patient. Will probably try some in 2013.

If you can find some 2002s at decent prices, I think you would be pleased with the way they are drinking now. I opened a 2002 Chevillon Chaignots not too long ago, and it was lovely. I just ordered some 2002 Jadot Gevrey Chambertin at not unreasonable prices.

Diane, I might have a few 2002's but not enough to last me until I can open the 2005's. I may reorder some 2006's and will look into the 2002's also. My stock of 1999's has dwindled.

Diane, I might have a few 2002's but not enough to last me until I can open the 2005's. I may reorder some 2006's and will look into the 2002's also. My stock of 1999's has dwindled.

Hi JC,

At least you have a stock of 1999s and 2002s. I do not have any burg older than my 2005s, which I have a good number of. I, too, was groaning a bit when I found out how long I would have to age the 2005s. Although, I do have a Drouhin village wine from 2005 that should be ready sooner plus a 2006 1er Cru.

[David M. Bueker]

Tom - not sure which Drouhin village wine you're writing about, but things like their Chambolle can are very well. I doubt you wanted to hear that, but there it is!