This was an amazing visit to the Worlds Premier producer of Meursault Blanc (IMO anyway). The only thing better than meeting the charming Patrick Javillier was tasting the wines. I was also shocked at the quality of the red wines, which never really come to mind when Javilliers name is mentioned.
2005 Savigny-Les-Beaune Rouge
Fresh and active fruit, Bright bing cherries, rhubarb, all-spice and appealing juiciness. Delicious daily-drinker.
2005 Savigny-Les-Beaune Rouge 'Serpentieres' 1er Cru
Strawberry pie, very floral, lovely spice and rosepetal aromas, delicately balances and loads of acidity.
2005 Aloxe-Corton
Wonderfully animalistic -Both red cherry and darker berry fruit. Fleshy and firm, but not starkly tannic. Very good.
2004 Savigny-Les-Beaune 'Les Grands Liards' Rouge
This is a blend of Aux Serpentieres and Village Savigny - Wild strawberrry, damp earth, sweaty leather, cinnamon. Soft and pleasant for early drinking.
2004 Aloxe-Corton
Silky and restrained -Strawberry, cherry, fresh herbs, tobacco, and roasted game.
2005 Bourgogne Blanc 'Les Forgets'
Rich like a baby Meursault -Creamy apple pie, Buerre Blanc, popcorn. Nicely done.
2005 Bourgogne Blanc 'Cuvee Oligocene'
More length -Punchy apples, white flowers, pure and acidic -bottled 6 weeks ago.
2005 Puligny-Montrachet
Apple, citrus, pear juice, powerfully elegant like a sword stoke-stoney mineral and quite forceful -Very 'Puligny' -a surprise style departure from a master Meursault producer.
2005 Meursault Blanc 'Les Cromiu'
Apples, Tropical fruit, Bannanas and Butterscotch. Broader and rounder in texure. Sappier and more classic Meursault.
2005 Meursault Blanc 'Les Tillets'
More mineral -Orange marmelade, precise like a lightning stike, toffee, caramel -Meursault with a runners body.
2005 Meursault Blanc 'Les Clous'
Pineapple and pear fruit, BIG and creamy -Coconut milk and honey -A classic for Meursault lovers and Patricks showiest white.
2005 Meursault Blanc 'Tete du Murgers'
A little closed right now -Medium bodied -Apples, peach and a little honeycomb. Shows good acidity and length.
The 2006s have yet to be assembled, but here are tasting notes on different barrels which will eventually make up the wines (Just for the fun of it)
2006 Meursault Blanc 'Les Forgets'
Barrel #1 -Buttered popcorn, apples, rich mouthfilling -full of fruit and yet to undergo malo
Barrel #2 -Fresher still, with tart green apple, citrus, lively and sappy
Barrel #3 -Battery acid- Apple seeds, lemons and grapefruit
2006 Savigny-Les-Beaune Blanc
Barrel #1 -Quite bready -apple sauce, full and fruity (1 year old oak)
Barrel #2 -Very Riesling like -Crunchy and acidic and finely textured (7 yr old oak)
2006 Meursault Blanc "Les Tillets' Barrel Sample
Precise and linear apple pie, very spicy- white and bell pepper -not yet honeyied, but hinting at it.
2006 Meursault Blanc 'Les Clous' Barrel Sample
Reductive, but nose of Bannana creme, tropical fruit, dry honey.
2006 Meursault Blanc 'Les Crotots' Barrel Sample
Barrel #1 The skeleton -Little fruit -all acid and mineral
Barrel#2 Feather light citrus fruit, melon, and red fruit
2006 Meursault "PMG" Barrel Sample
Wonderful red apple, exotic pineapple, more Puligny'ness', liquid smoke, steel and power.
At this point Patrick asked us which our favorite wine was. I responded with a sideways glance and a smirk that the Corton-Charlemagne was my favorite (which hadn't been offered). He laughed out loud and said he liked my sense of humour and offered us some CC from barrel.
2006 Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru Barrel Sample
Wow! Wonderful purity of fruit -mouthwatering apple, and apricot fruit, papaya and shimmering steel -like a knife blade. Intensely aromatic at this stage and with searing acidity. Glad I asked!
Prost!
Bill