2015 Meursault Premier Cru 'Porusots' $220 (Normally $245) There is a hint of the exotic to the fresh if markedly ripe nose of white and yellow orchard fruit, muscat and floral aromas that are trimmed in just enough wood to notice. The big-bodied, powerful and concentrated flavors brim with dry extract while delivering fine if not truly exceptional depth and persistence on the clean and relatively dry finish. This isn't elegant but I like the balance and it should drink well after only a few years of cellaring if desired. - Allen Meadows (Burghound), Score: 89-91, Tasted: Jun 11, 2017, Drink: 2021+, Issue: 67
2015 Meursault 'Clos des Narvaux' $145 (Normally $160) A wide-ranging nose offers up notes of citrus blossom, pear, apple and a hint of hazelnut. Once again there is a lovely sense of vibrancy to the sappy and dense medium weight flavors that exhibit a subtle minerality on the slightly more complex and persistent finale. This is a bit more tightly wound and worth a look. - Allen Meadows (Burghound), Score: 89-91, Tasted: Jun 11, 2017, Drink: 2021+, Issue: 67, Outstanding Top value
2015 Meursault $125 (Normally $138) There is an interesting hint of brown butter to the hazelnut and white orchard fruit-scented nose. Once again there is a lovely sense of energy present on the forward but sleek and relatively refined medium-bodied flavors that possess good if not truly special depth and persistence on the balanced finish. - Allen Meadows (Burghound), 87-90, Tasted Jun 11, 2017, Drink 2019+, Issue: 67
2015 Chassagne-Montrachet Premier Cru 'Tête du Clos' $215 (Normally $240) Here too the pungent nose is composed by notes of reduction and wood nuances. Otherwise there is impressive volume, mid-palate density and richness to the broad-shouldered and powerful flavors that possess a suave yet entirely serious mouth feel before concluding in a beautifully complex, balanced and lingering finish that is shaped by citrus-tinged acidity. In short, this is impressive and built for mid-term aging. - Allen Meadows (Burghound), Score: 90-93, Tasted: Jun 11, 2017, Drink: 2022+, Issue: 67, Outstanding 2015 Chassagne-Montrachet Premier Cru 'Les Baudines' $175 (Normally $195) Here too there is just enough wood toast present to remark upon framing the cool and relatively restrained nose of citrus, apple and mineral-reduction aromas. There is a bit better intensity and vibrancy to the markedly more mineral-driven flavors that are rich but focused and particularly so on the lingering if slightly warm finish where a hint of lemon zest emerges. - Allen Meadows (Burghound), Score: 90-92, Tasted: Jun 11, 2017, Drink: 2021+, Issue: 67
2015 Chassagne-Montrachet $115 (Normally $128) A pungent and difficult nose is composed of post-malo lactic and reductive aromas. On the plus side there is excellent richness to the very generously proportioned middle weight flavors that possess a caressing mouth feel before terminating in a solidly complex and persistent finish. This is a very competent villages though I underscore that my projected range offers the benefit of the doubt on the nose. - Allen Meadows (Burghound), Score: 88-91, Tasted: Jun 11, 2017, Drink: 2020+, Issue: 67
2015 Puligny-Montrachet $140 (Normally $155) Bright pale yellow. Very ripe but lively aromas of stone fruits, lemon and spices. Quite silky on entry, then firm and reticent on the back half, showing lovely inner-mouth energy. Not at all overdone. Finishes with a touch of positive phenolic character. - Stephan Tanzer 2015 Bourgogne Blanc $65 (Normally $72) Notes of straw, petrol and mildly tropical fruit introduce rich, generous and decidedly round flavors that are sufficiently easy-going to suggest that this should drink well almost immediately after release. - Allen Meadows (Burghound), Score: 85-87, Tasted: Jun 11, 2017, Drink: 2018+, Issue: 67
2015 Chambolle-Musigny Premier Cru 'Les Amoureuses' Magnum $1,275 (Normally $1,400) A strikingly spicy and perfumed liqueur-like nose displays aromas of black berries, sandalwood, tea and plenty of floral elements. There is first-rate concentration to the impressively rich and beguilingly textured flavors that brim with both dry extract and minerality on the complex and highly persistent finish where the only nit is a hint of warmth. - Allen Meadows (Burghound), Score: 92-94, Tasted: Apr 15, 2017, Drink: 2035+, Issue: 66, Outstanding
2015 Clos de la Roche Grand Cru Magnum $1,050 (Normally $1,150) This is also overtly floral in character with its slightly cooler aromas of plum, earth, game and red and black pinot fruit. There is terrific punch if not quite the same mid-palate density to the big-bodied and muscular flavors that possess similarly impressive depth and length. Moreover this is exceptionally firm, austere and imposing and as such it would be pointless to buy this without the express intention of cellaring it. - Allen Meadows (Burghound), Score: 92-94, Tasted: Apr 15, 2017, Drink: 2040+, Issue: 66
2015 Bonnes Mares Grand Cru Magnum $1,050 (Normally $1,150) Background wood nuances are present on the brooding if very fresh and floral red berry fruit liqueur and earth-inflected nose. The succulent and extremely rich big-bodied flavors possess a taut muscularity and almost painful intensity that continues onto the balanced finish that goes on and on. This imposingly scaled effort is very firmly structured and in magnum format plenty of patience will ultimately be required. - Allen Meadows (Burghound), Score: 92-95, Tasted: Apr 15, 2017, Drink: 2040+, Issue: 66
2015 Clos Saint Denis Grand Cru $540 (Normally $595) An exuberantly, indeed gorgeously spicy nose features notes of liqueur-like red berries and soft floral nuances, all of which are trimmed in subtle wood nuances. The rich and relatively full-bodied flavors remain refined and graceful while delivering fine length on the well-balanced and sophisticated finish that isn't quite as complex. - Allen Meadows (Burghound), Score: 91-94, Tasted: Apr 15, 2017, Drink: 2027+, Issue: 66
2015 Volnay Premier Cru 'Clos de la Cave des Ducs' $195 (Normally $215) The floral elements are even more prominent here with a similar fruit profile. The tighter and even more delineated flavors possess a taut muscularity as well as firmer if slightly less fine structure on the impressively long, youthfully austere and balanced finale. - Allen Meadows (Burghound), Score: 90-92, Tasted: Apr 15, 2017, Drink: 2025+, Issue: 66
2015 Volnay $110 (Normally $122) An attractively layered if not particularly elegant nose offers up pungently earthy aromas of red pinot fruit, violet and game. There is better refinement to the sleek middle weight flavors that are shaped by relatively fine-grained tannins on the saline, dusty and well-balanced finale. The contribution of the 1er proportion is evident and overall this is an especially good Volnay villages. - Allen Meadows (Burghound), Score: 89-91, Tasted: Apr 15, 2017, Drink: 2022+, Issue: 66, Outstanding Top value
2015 Gevrey-Chambertin Premier Cru 'Les Champeaux' $185 (Normally $205) As one might reasonably expect this is cooler, more restrained and more elegant with its pretty and layered combination of red currant, lilac, forest floor and discreet earth and sauvage nuances. Here too there is excellent volume to the sleek, delineated and intense middle weight flavors that exhibit even more minerality on the youthfully austere finish that isn't quite as complex, at least not today in any case. - Allen Meadows (Burghound), Score: 91-93, Tasted: Apr 15, 2017, Drink: 2027+, Issue: 66, Sweet spot Outstanding
2015 Gevrey-Chambertin $125 (Normally $140) A relatively pretty nose combines notes of red currant, pomegranate, pinot spice and soft earth nuances. There is both fine energy and delineation to the caressing middle weight flavors that immediately tighten up on the bitter pit fruit-inflected finish. This excellent Gevrey villages should be approachable on the younger side but clearly has the stuff to reward up to a decade of cellaring. - Allen Meadows (Burghound), Score: 89-91, Tasted: Apr 15, 2017, Drink: 2023+, Issue: 66, Outstanding Top value
2015 Morey Saint Denis $125 (Normally $140) An unusually perfumed and elegant array is comprised by wafting aromas of red berries, lilac and lovely spice wisps. There is less volume but more refinement to the wonderfully textured, intense and delineated medium weight flavors that exhibit good minerality on the dusty, youthfully austere and strikingly complex finale. This is a first-rate Morey villages and highly recommended. - Allen Meadows (Burghound), Score: 89-92, Tasted: Apr 15, 2017, Drink: 2022+, Issue: 66, Outstanding Top value
2015 Savigny-lès-Beaune Premier Cru 'Les Hauts Jarrons' $99 (Normally $110) This is at once cooler and more elegant with its pretty combination of violet, red cherry, earth and a hint of oak. The sleek, focused and more evidently mineral-driven medium-bodied flavors possess good verve as well as fine intensity on the beautifully well-balanced finale. Lovely. - Allen Meadows (Burghound), Score: 90-92, Tasted: Apr 15, 2017, Drink: 2023+, Issue: 66,
2015 Savigny-lès-Beaune $80 (Normally $88) A pungently earthy and lightly oaked nose offers up notes of forest floor, red currant and plum. The vibrant middle weight flavors possess a lovely texture thanks to the solid mid-palate density, all wrapped in a punchy and mildly rustic finish where a touch of warmth arises. - Allen Meadows (Burghound), Score: 87-89, Tasted: Apr 15, 2017, Drink: 2021+, Issue: 66
2015 Bourgogne Rouge $65 (Normally $72) A fresh, bright and ripe yet cool nose consists mostly of red pinot fruit and soft earth nuances. There is good volume to the round, delicious and appealingly vibrant flavors that terminate in a mildly rustic if persistent finale. - Allen Meadows (Burghound), Score: 86, Tasted: Apr 15, 2017, Drink: 2018+, Issue: 66 |