Taupenot Merme - Burgundy 2006 En Primeur wines

The impeccable Romain Taupenot continues his crusade to put both his village and his domaine back into the spotlight. His 2005s were warmly received last year but in 2006, he was made to work much harder putting in endless hours in the vineyards and conducting lots of leaf-thinning and triage. The hard work has paid off and there is excellent typicity across the range and a lovely relaxed, natural feel to the wines.

All prices are quoted Duty Paid (DP) unless otherwise stated

Romain Taupenot is very attached to this appellation but with more reason than simple association of names. St Romain is a lovely source of precise, minerally whites without the great depth of the famous trio over the hill but with a lovely honest freshness and citrus fruit. This is no exception and shows once again the value that can be had by looking outside of the obvious. Drink from release. - armit

This is a dark, burly Gevrey, full of spice and leather and gamey notes. Black fruits and rich savoury tones combine to produce a masculine style. Drink from 2009. - armit

Here the nose is more reserved, indeed almost discreet though it’s possible to coax an earthy combination of red and blue fruit notes as well as underbrush and Gevrey sauvage character that persists on the supple and very fresh flavors that possess good finishing drive and energy. Qualitatively, this is as good as the Morey and as villages Gevrey goes, this delivers the goods and is certainly worth a look. 2012+ - 87-89 points, Allen Meadow's Burghound #29, Jan. 2008

The natural contrast to the Gevrey, this brims full of red fruit coulis and has a crunchiness and a whiff of mineral. Finely grained, this would also appreciate a year or two in bottle. Drink from 2009. - armit

As one would reasonably expect, this is substantially more elegant and refined with airy and really pretty red pinot fruit aromas complementing the detailed, fresh and admirably pure barely middle weight flavors that are delicious, balanced and offer impeccably integration of the structure. The only aspect holding this back from ascending to the next level is the absence of a bit more depth but this is a classic Chambolle in every other respect. 2010+ - 86-89 points, Allen Meadow's Burghound #29, Jan. 2008

Roses and violets on the nose and moving through plums and dark cherry on the palate, this is layered and fresh with admirable structure. Plenty of matter. Drink from 2010. - armit

(a little known 1er that sits directly above Chambertin-Clos de Bèze made from vines planted in 1973). A very discreet touch of wood spice sets off equally high-toned but cooler red berry fruit aromas that possess only a dash of Gevrey earth that merge into pure, balanced and slightly more complex middle weight flavors that possess real finishing punch as this does a slow build from the sappy mid-palate to the long finale. This is definitely worth a look and recommended. 2013+ - 89-92 points, Allen Meadow's Burghound #29, Jan. 2008

Floral, raspberry liqueur notes on the nose and additional richness of fruit on the palate. This is always a classy Chambolle and certainly does not disappoint on any measure. Drink from 2010. - armit

(from 35+ year old vines). A very pretty and seductive blend of red and blue pinot fruit is nuanced by floral notes, particularly violets with very subtle background traces of spice, earth and anise that beautifully introduce the delicious, refined and textured yet utterly serious medium-bodied flavors underpinned by moderately firm tannins and lovely balance. This too is very Chambolle but with the requisite depth to really deliver. 2012+ - 88-91 points, Allen Meadow's Burghound #29, Jan. 2008

A new addition to the Taupenot portfolio, Romain has just 5 barrels of this lovely Grand Cru, from one of finest sectors of the hill. Spice and brambles on the nose with a little herbal, gamey note on the palate, this shows plenty of energy and given time to soften, it will surely emerge as a rich and relatively exotic example. Drink from 2013. - armit

A densely fruited nose of stylish, pure and layered red pinot fruit, subtle spice and ample earth notes combines with rich, full and sleekly muscled big-bodied flavors that are highly complex, long and serious. 2014+ - 89-90 points, Allen Meadow's Burghound #29, Jan. 2008

A gorgeous, inviting nose of black cherries with a backup cast of wood spice and earthiness, the Charmes firms up on the palate, reminding the taster that you are tasting an infant Grand Cru. The finish is beautiful- very poised and refined and leaving a “come back and see me in 5 years” message. Drink from 2011. - armit

This is a clear step up in aromatic purity and elegance, which is saying something as the Pruliers is gifted too in this regard with an elegant, pure and complex nose that is both seductive and complete while dissolving into serious yet extremely pretty medium-bodied flavors that also coat the mouth with extract, which confers a real sense of volume and focused muscle. Lovely and very long. - 90-93 points, Allen Meadow's Burghound #29, Jan. 2008

Another wine that again shows the purity of fruit in 2006, this is full of crunchy black fruit with licquorice and leather notes in the background. Tremendous length and seriously impressive, this is an outstanding wine in this and any other vintage. Drink from 2014. - armit

As is virtually always the case, this is bigger and more robust though at the price of less elegance with a much earthier and more obviously sauvage character on the red and dark berry fruit nose that introduces rich, full and more serious big-bodied flavors underpinned by more robust and rustic tannins though not any more depth or length. A qualitative choice but note that the respective characters are miles apart. 2014+ - 90-93 points, Allen Meadow's Burghound #29, Jan. 2008

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