WTN: a few 2014 red Burgundies

2014 Louis Boillot Gevrey Chambertin Les Evocelles
I'm usually not a huge fan of this bottling, but bought a few as a way of putting things in context with my more favored Les Brouillards. As usual, it is frank and simple and does not bowl you over with depth, complexity or elegance. But, there is a juicy expressiveness that is very nice with dinner. I never get too excited, but that's the way life goes sometimes.

2014 Louis Boillot Volnay Les Brouillards
Reserved and needs some serious air to start showing its layers. Eventually it is broad and dense with thick tannins at the end. Of course I use those adjectives in a certain context, it is still a chiseled crystal jewel of a Boillot Volnay. At the end, very promising but I'll be waiting on the other bottles.

2014 Chandon de Briailles Île de Vergelesses
Have not had a new release here in some years, but have they changed anything to make these more approachable young? This bottle was all about dazzling young and precise Burgberry fruit, with much more stylish sap than the Boillots. Very fun, although even when the tannins came on at the end they were just a modest background structure. Looking forward to more.

[David M. Bueker]

Thanks Rahsaan. From my limited sampling so far, 2014 seems to be a winner. I am hoping 2015 hype leaves some gems on the shelves.

Thanks Rahsaan. From my limited sampling so far, 2014 seems to be a winner. I am hoping 2015 hype leaves some gems on the shelves.

Yes, from my early readings of the vintage reports it also seemed like a promising vintage for drinkability. Something which is a good thing! I was hoping the Boillots would be more appealing young and would be something I could drink more of now, but maybe I came a bit too late to the party.

I'm ITB but to me the price of Burgundy has become a little absurd. How do you guys feel. We've had manycustomers just stop buying Bordeaux and Burgs.

I'm ITB but to me the price of Burgundy has become a little absurd. How do you guys feel. We've had manycustomers just stop buying Bordeaux and Burgs.

I'm hardly a high roller (at least among wine geeks) so I definitely agree burgundy prices can be crazy. But thankfully there are still relative 'values'.

Boillot is a great example with 1ers from $60-80 that are plenty elegant and more than worth that money to me. Chandon de Briailles' IdV is even cheaper and also well worth the money to me. Who knows if prices will keep escalating and get beyond my threshold, but for now there is still a fair amount of burgundy worth buying.

Of course I also buy wines from other regions at cheaper prices but there is nothing like burgundy elegance!

[David M. Bueker]

Given the pricing for the top California Pinots (e.g. Rhys, Littorai), equivalent quality Burgundies are still cheaper, and better ones are the same price. Rhys now has 4 bottlings that are $99 or higher! Heck, Littorai is charging $60 for Chenin Blanc!!!