by Jenise » Wed May 23, 2018 12:12 pm
So a bunch of friends got together and shared the cost of nine burgundies currently available at the British Columbia LCB shops
in order to see if there were any killer 2015s around. A jolly thing to do on a sunny day in Les' back yard. I don't think Bill Spohn posted any notes, but he also attended.
The wines were served blind: opened by one guy, bagged by another, and numbered by a third to bury any knowledge/bias. It is complete coincidence that the least interesting wines came out first and the most interesting were later. When it was over, orders were placed for someone in the group to fill.
2015 Antonin Guyon Chorey-les-Beaune Les Champs Longs
Floral, anise, herb, tighter/leaner, slightly bluer hue than the others. An hour later, faded, sour. $70C. Pass.
2015 Bouchard Père et Fils Gevrey-Chambertin Grande Vin de Bourgogne
Less exciting nose than the Guyon, but more fruit on the palate without showing anything compelling. Faded an hour later. $69C, and another easy pass.
2015 Philippe Colin Chassagne-Montrachet Les Chênes Rouge
Nice step up from the first two--nice richness, has charm and feels complete. Everybody but me preferred it to it's flightmate below. $55C.
2015 Domaine Taupenot-Merme Chambolle Musigny
Nose is a bit reductive which puts others off initially, but it's quite complex and I seemingly alone prefer it to the Colin above. Integrates nicely in the glass, so others came around to my point of view later. But it's still not worth the $90C LCB price.
2015 Domaine Michelle Philipon Santenay
Lightest color and body of the day, watery and dilute on the palate. $51C? No takers.
2015 Domaine Taupenot-Merme Morey St. Denis Rouge
Now here's the real deal: fair concentration, effusive aromatics, less giving on the palate but I'm getting a lot of structure along with the distinctive MSD spice. First place so far for me and will remain so for the entire tasting. $91 at the LCB. I didn't order any but might rethink this. Hard to find in the U.S. except on the east coast, and sells for $75, slightly more than I'd pay in BC, currency conversion included.
2015 Nicolas Potel Nuits St. Georges 1er Cru Les Vaucrains
Grippy tannins, concentration equivalent to the Morey St. Denis, lots of depth, spicier. My #3 wine of the day, but $140C. Ouch.
2015 Domaine Jean-Marc / Thomas Bouley Volnay 1er Cru Clos des Chênes
Cherry cola, vitamin minerality, very Carneros-like to my American palate--some ding it for that, I don't. Absolute gorgeous and my 2nd fave of the day, but I balked at $140.
2015 Michelle Philipon Côte de Beaune Villages
Good acidity and tannins, pretty fruit, shows more facets the more it sits but presents more like Beaujolais/gamay to me than pinot noir. Extremely tasty, just lacks typicity. Everybody's 2nd fave and my last place in the final four. However, when the price is revealed at $35C ($28 American), I order six like everybody else.
My wine shopping and I have never had a problem. Just a perpetual race between the bankruptcy court and Hell.--Rogov