WTN: What’s new Pousse Cat?

[David M. Bueker]

• 2002 La Pousse d'Or Santenay 1er Cru Clos Tavannes - France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Santenay 1er Cru (6/16/2026)
  From my late father’s cellar this was about as good as one could expect from a non-trophy Burgundy. While not the most complex, the aromatics were enthralling, the fruit and savory notes completely in harmony, and the palate was nothing but silky. I have three more bottles and I would like to drink them all this week! What a wonderful drinking experience.

In general I find Pousse d'Or in this century doesn't have the magic of the G. Potel era. But in a tasting a few years ago (all Volnays) the 2002s showed best, and someone with more experience said the Santenay bottlings remained strong because the new owners didn't care enough to change anything.

[David M. Bueker]

I’ve only ever had one more recent Pousse d’Or bottling, a 2005 which was horribly closed. What did they change? I am not familiar at all.

I'm not the most experienced, but my impression was they did the typical "well a wine will be better if riper, more concentrated, with more new oak." The Potel wines were ethereal, the later wines imposing. I have heard in the last decade they backed off the new oak. But I think the implication from my friend was the Santenays were never considered worthy of all that new oak (which helped).

[David M. Bueker]

Interesting. Of course the odds of my buying any Burgundy are so low at this point.

[Jenise]

A Pousse was the first Volnay that really turned my head, and it was the aromatics that did the job. I own some recent vintages of the Tavannes but I haven't enjoyed them as much.