Burgundy 2006 En Primeur - Marquis d Angerville

If there was a visit that dashed in an instant any notion that the Côte de Beaune reds were below par this year, this was it. Another fabulous set of wines from Guillaume, Rénaud and François that were the result, they said, of lots of vineyard work, with particular strictness in pruning and training to avoid the risk of rot and lots of triage. They consider that their 2006s share the same soft ripe fruit of the 1997s with some of the freshness, structure and transparency of 2001 – perhaps in summary 2001 with more charm. In the pantheon of d’Angerville vintages, this vintage is clearly well above the average quality level. We thought that the Champans was an absolute knockout.

All prices are quoted In Bond and only valid while the wine is En Primeur

A ripe, leesy cuvée this year with roasted almond and tangerine fruit. This is full and beautifully textured, rather soft and plush and immediately appealing. Drink from 2008.

A very subtle hint of pain grillé frames an expressive nose of floral aromas, in particular acacia and here too there are discreet notes of straw that are picked up by the rich, full and precise flavor that possess fine balance on the sappy and mouth coating finish. I particularly like the underlying tension that imparts a sense of vibrancy. Lovely. 2010+ - 90 points, Allen Meadow's Burghound

A dark cuvée of black cherry fruit, licquorice and a smoky, earthy style. As usual the must muscular and Pommard in style, suggesting a future pairing with a sturdy piece of game. Drink from 2011.

The aromatic profile is a small step up in elegance and refinement though here too the nose is discreet and reserved with simply gorgeous layered and equally airy red pinot fruit aromas that introduce with flair the intensely mineral-driven and beautifully textured flavors that possess striking precise and finishing cut. I really like the sophisticated quality of the tannins and this should be really lovely in time. In sum, classic Frémiets. 2014+ - 89-92 points, Allen Meadow's Burghound

A voluptuous wine that brims full of black berry fruits and the scent of summer pudding. There is wonderful pure material here and the wine is already extremely expressive, suggesting a very positive future. Right up there with the very best in the village this year. Drink from 2011.

Ripe, pure and highly complex red berry fruit aromas are nuanced by a hint of iron oxide (a rusty earth character) that precedes rich, full and intense flavors that carry sleek muscle and real punch and power, all wrapped in a serious, chiseled and built to age finish. This is a wonderfully impressive wine that has the touch of youthful austerity that Champans always seems to display. 2016+ - 90-93 points, Allen Meadow's Burghound

Taillepieds is the most overtly mineral wine in the d’Angerville cellar and always expresses reserve in early tastings. Underneath the tannins lies a wine of considerable complexity, tightly wound around its mineral core. Give this one time and it will blossom. Drink from 2013.

This is unusually expressive for young Taillepieds, which is often the most reserved wine in the range, featuring a ripe mélange of red and blue pinot fruit plus violet and rose notes that gracefully introduce sweet, dusty and intense flavors brimming with minerality on the focused, racy and vibrant finish. Like the Champans, this is notably austere, which is typical and will require at least a decade to be at its best. Terrific. 2016+ - 90-93 points, Allen Meadow's Burghound

Always a pretty, silky wine full of finesse and style, this is very true to type. Dense yet smooth and rounded, the young vines give additional vigour and sappiness but never at the expense of balance and elegance. Very complete. Drink from 2011.

This is surprisingly ripe and concentrated for such young vines with a fruit profile that runs to a notably pure and deep mix of both red and black pinot aromas and one can smell the usual stoniness that continues onto the sweet, full and quite rich flavors that just ooze class and grace on the mouth coating and velvety finish that retains perfect focus and balance. This too possesses sophisticated tannins but the natural breed of Caillerets gives this the barest edge in overall quality. 2013+ - 90-92 points, Allen Meadow's Burghound

Truly refined and seemingly possessed of another gear, the Clos des Ducs is intense, energetic, wonderfully layered and very long. A mass of dark damson and forest fruits with savoury, spicy notes adding seasoning but all in a crafted, poised and noble style. A true classic to drink from 2014.

Mild reduction cannot hide the classic brilliance of a fine Clos des Ducs with its red and blue pinot fruit and dried rose petal nuances that dissolve into rich, intense and mineral-inflected flavors of crystalline purity and wonderful cut and precision, all wrapped in an exceptionally fresh, deep and mouth coating finish that seems to go on and on. The balance is impeccable and this too will live for many a year before it reaches old age. A classic Ducster. 2016+ - 91-94 points, Allen Meadow's Burghound

Basket

Tools

Menu