Wednesday, February 28, 2018

Domaine de MONTILLE (Meursault) -- 2016 Part III -- Whites Tasted from Barrel Samples



Information on vintage conditions is here.

(Continue reading here.)

posted by Claude Kolm has been writing The Fine Wine Review since 1986. At the end of 2014, it switched to a blog in order to allow more timely and in depth information about estates. @ 11:34 AM  

Monday, February 26, 2018

Domaine de MONTILLE (Meursault) Part II -- 2016 Côte de Nuits Reds Tasted from Barrel Samples

InInformation on vintage conditions is here.

This is a small, but impressive, collection of wines.Information on vintage conditions is here.

This is a small, but impressive, collection of wines.formation on vintage conditions is here.

This is a small, but impressive, collection of wines.Information on vintage conditions is here.

This is a small, but impressive, collection of wines.Information on vintage conditions is here.

This is a small, but impressive, collection of wines.
Information on vintage conditions is here.

This is a small, but impressive, collection of wines. (Continue reading here.)

posted by Claude Kolm has been writing The Fine Wine Review since 1986. At the end of 2014, it switched to a blog in order to allow more timely and in depth information about estates. @ 6:32 PM  

Friday, February 23, 2018

Domaine H. de MONTILLE (Meursault) -- 2016 Part I: Côte de Beaune Reds Tasted from Barrel Samples


Harvesting for de Montille and associated Château de Puligny-Montrachet began on 17 September. There was light chaptalization for a couple of cuvées, otherwise none, and no acidification.

The vintage required 13 treatments for mildew and oïdium vs. 8 in 2017.

Overall, the estate was down 20% from a full harvest, but some areas such as Pommard and Beaune, suffered much more seriously. (Continue reading here.)

posted by Claude Kolm has been writing The Fine Wine Review since 1986. At the end of 2014, it switched to a blog in order to allow more timely and in depth information about estates. @ 8:40 PM  

Thursday, February 22, 2018

CHATEAU DE PULIGNY-MONTRACHET (Puligny-Montrachet) -- 2016 Tasted from Barrel and Tank Samples




Although a separate label, everything here is operated under Etienne de Montille and his team.

Harvesting began on 17 September. (Continue reading here.)
Although a separate label, everything here is operated under Etienne de Montille and his team.

Harvesting began on 17 September. (Continue reading here.)

posted by Claude Kolm has been writing The Fine Wine Review since 1986. At the end of 2014, it switched to a blog in order to allow more timely and in depth information about estates. @ 10:21 PM  

Wednesday, February 21, 2018

Domaine David DUBAND (Chavannes) -- 2015 Tasted from Bottle

David Duband characterized the amount of production in 2015 as “rather good.”

As with the 2016s discussed in the prior posts, these are very elegant wines, stressing the finesse more than most and light on the palate. They they may not be to the taste of all.The estate has been certified organic since 2006.

As mentioned previously, the same wines may also be found under the François Feuillet label. (Continue reading here.)

posted by Claude Kolm has been writing The Fine Wine Review since 1986. At the end of 2014, it switched to a blog in order to allow more timely and in depth information about estates. @ 5:44 PM  

Tuesday, February 20, 2018

Domaine David DUBAND (Chavannes) -- 2016 Part II: Grands Crus Tasted from Barrel


Background information on the vintage at Duband is located here.

As I mentioned in the previous post, these wines may be sold under either the David Duband or the François Feuillet label. (Continue reading here.)

posted by Claude Kolm has been writing The Fine Wine Review since 1986. At the end of 2014, it switched to a blog in order to allow more timely and in depth information about estates. @ 2:57 PM  

Monday, February 19, 2018

Domaine David DUBAND (Chavannes) -- 2016 Part I: Premiers Crus, Village, and Regional Wines Tasted from Barrel


David Duband said that overall, he lost about 40% of a normal production in 2016; Morey was ok, there were some losses in Gevrey, and heavy losses in Nuits and Chambolle.

Harvesting began on 25 September. There was no triage. Generally, the wines in Chambolle were composed 80% of whole clusters, for Gevrey it was 95-100%. Malolactic fermentations finished over the winter. New oak is 30% for the Hautes Côtes de Nuits and village wines, 40% for the premiers and grands crus.

These wines are in a style of great finesse — some may find them too light, but I appreciate them for their purity and overall harmony.

You may also find some of these wines under the François Feuillet label; Feuillet is a financial backer of Duband. (Continue reading here.)

posted by Claude Kolm has been writing The Fine Wine Review since 1986. At the end of 2014, it switched to a blog in order to allow more timely and in depth information about estates. @ 7:23 PM  

Sunday, February 18, 2018

Domaine Jacques PRIEUR (Meursault) -- 2016 Part III -- White Wines Tasted from Barrel Samples



The malolactics for the white wines here generally finished over the winter of 2016-17. (Continue reading here.)

posted by Claude Kolm has been writing The Fine Wine Review since 1986. At the end of 2014, it switched to a blog in order to allow more timely and in depth information about estates. @ 4:01 PM  

Wednesday, February 14, 2018

Domaine Jacques PRIEUR (Meursault) -- 2016 Part II -- Red Grands Crus Tasted from Barrel Samples





Prieur’s grand cru holdings are among the most enviable in the Côte d’Or. Not just these reds, but also Montrachet, Chevalier-Montrachet, and Corton-Charlemagne (as well as Meursault-Perrières and Puligny-Combettes) in white, which I’ll review in my next post. (Continue reading here.)

posted by Claude Kolm has been writing The Fine Wine Review since 1986. At the end of 2014, it switched to a blog in order to allow more timely and in depth information about estates. @ 5:48 PM  

Tuesday, February 13, 2018

Domaine Jacques PRIEUR (Meursault) -- 2016 Part I: Village and Premier Cru Red Wines from the Côte de Beaune




Like most producers on the Côte de Beaune, the frost sharply cut back production for many of the vineyards, as discussed below. (Continue reading here.)

posted by Claude Kolm has been writing The Fine Wine Review since 1986. At the end of 2014, it switched to a blog in order to allow more timely and in depth information about estates. @ 4:13 PM  

Sunday, February 11, 2018

Domaine Jean-Marc & Thomas BOULEY (Volnay) -- 2016 Tasted from Tank and Barrel

Thomas Bouley said that overall, he lacked about 70% of a normal crop, making it the smallest vintage since 2012. Harvesting began on 20 September with the reds; the only white was the Aligoté, which is always the last wine harvested here. No red Bourgogne or Beaune 1er Cru Reversées was produced in 2016.

Under the difficult conditions, successful wines were made, and I look forward to tasting the 2017s. (Continue reading here.)

posted by Claude Kolm has been writing The Fine Wine Review since 1986. At the end of 2014, it switched to a blog in order to allow more timely and in depth information about estates. @ 5:46 PM  

Saturday, February 10, 2018

Recently-Tasted Northern Rhônes Part XI -- 2014, 2015, 2016 Faury, Ferraton, François, Gerin, Gripa, Habrard, Jamet, Monier-Perréol/Monier/Perréol, Paris, Robert/Tunnel, St-Désirat, Tardy, Villard



All wines are red except as otherwise stated. (Continue reading here.)

posted by Claude Kolm has been writing The Fine Wine Review since 1986. At the end of 2014, it switched to a blog in order to allow more timely and in depth information about estates. @ 3:45 AM  

Thursday, February 8, 2018

Recently Tasted Northern Rhônes Part X -- 2014, 2015, and 2016: Domaine des 4 Vents, Balthazar, Belle, Burgaud, Clape, Curtat, Darnaud, Durand



All wines below are red unless otherwise indicated. 

2015 and 2016 both are looking like spectacular vintages with more power to the 2015s, a little more freshness to the 2016s, to make a gross generalization; and the 2014s from the proper addresses are not to be snubbed, either. But as always, be aware that your producer is your best guide. (Continue reading here.)


posted by Claude Kolm has been writing The Fine Wine Review since 1986. At the end of 2014, it switched to a blog in order to allow more timely and in depth information about estates. @ 10:41 AM  

Monday, February 5, 2018

Joseph DROUHIN (Beaune) -- 2016 Part V: Red Grands Crus Tasted from Barrel Samples

This sampling of the Drouhin grands crus indicates excellent wines for those who can find and afford them. (Continue reading here.)

posted by Claude Kolm has been writing The Fine Wine Review since 1986. At the end of 2014, it switched to a blog in order to allow more timely and in depth information about estates. @ 8:22 AM  

Sunday, February 4, 2018

Joseph DROUHIN (Beaune) -- 2016 Part IV: Côte de Nuits Village and Premier Cru Reds Tasted from Barrel Samples

Drouhin has put together here an attractive set of reds that should drink well young, yet also have the capacity for at least medium-term aging. (Continue reading here.)

posted by Claude Kolm has been writing The Fine Wine Review since 1986. At the end of 2014, it switched to a blog in order to allow more timely and in depth information about estates. @ 8:46 AM  

Saturday, February 3, 2018

Joseph DROUHIN (Beaune) -- 2016 Part III: Côte Chalonnaise and Côte de Beaune Reds Tasted from Bottle and Barrel Samples



In the areas hit by frost, although later generation grapes largely did catch up to the first generation grapes, substantial triage nevertheless was necessary to eliminate those grapes that did were not fully ripe. Drouhin uses whole clusters in vintages it feels are appropriate, but here, in order to preserve the fresh and fruity quality of the wines, grapes were either mostly or entirely destemmed.

Of particular note, also, is that year-in and year-out, Drouhin provides outstanding wine and great value for the lesser appellations. Continue reading here.)

posted by Claude Kolm has been writing The Fine Wine Review since 1986. At the end of 2014, it switched to a blog in order to allow more timely and in depth information about estates. @ 3:03 AM  

Friday, February 2, 2018

Joseph DROUHIN (Beaune) -- 2016 Part II: Premier and Grand Cru Whites Tasted from Bottle and Barrel Sample

These high-end whites are typical of what I found in my visits for 2016: fresh wines often with good energy that are typical of their terroirs. (Continue reading here.)

posted by Claude Kolm has been writing The Fine Wine Review since 1986. At the end of 2014, it switched to a blog in order to allow more timely and in depth information about estates. @ 12:02 AM  

Thursday, February 1, 2018

Joseph DROUHIN (Beaune) -- 2016 Part I: Chablis Village, 1er Cru, and Grand Cru; Côte Chalonnaise; and Côte d'Or Village Whites Tasted from Bottle



Harvest dates are given below for each wine. All grapes were destemmed.  Many of Drouhin’s whites started malolactic fermentation in the autumn before the weather turned cold. 

In Chablis, Drouhin’s 2016 yield was less than half a crop. All the damage was due to the frost; the hail on 13 May did not affect Drouhin’s wines. What remained on the vines made for very good wines, though.

These Chablis wines go under the name Drouhin-Vaudon, the Domaine de Vaudon being Drouhin’s initial purchase in the region, many years ago.

The Vaudéir and Clos were raised in oak, the others in stainless steel. (Continue reading here.)

posted by Claude Kolm has been writing The Fine Wine Review since 1986. At the end of 2014, it switched to a blog in order to allow more timely and in depth information about estates. @ 2:42 AM