Tuesday, November 8, 2011

2009 Bourgogne, Domaine Jean Michel et Laurent Pillot & 2009 Bourgogne Rouge, Domaine Albert Boillot

Dear Rene,
2009 was a stellar year for red Burgundy. And the great news is that this is true at all levels-- it's not just the top-end collectible Grand Crus and 1er Crus that did well in 2009, but also many village and regional level wines.

Today's e-mail feature has the proof-- two great red Burgundies that also represent great values. Both are small-production, boutique, traditionally-styled, estate-bottled beauties that show the depth, character, texture and quality that make 2009 a special vintage.

Order today and save:

  • Order 6 or more bottles of these two red Burgundies (mixed however you like) and save 15% off your entire order.
  • Order a case (12 or more bottles) of these two red Burgundies (mixed however you like) and save 20% off your entire order.
You're in for a real treat when you try these wines.
Please look at what Perry has on special this week in the Tuesday Boucher.
Doug Rosen


2009 Bourgogne, Domaine Jean Michel et Laurent Pillot


2009 Bourgogne, Domaine Jean Michel et Laurent Pillot
2009 Bourgogne, Domaine Jean Michel et Laurent Pillot
Reg. $21.99
(Best price $17.59)

Brothers Jean-Michel and Laurent Pillot (pictured below with Laurent's wife, Catherine) are the third generation of the Pillot family to make wine from their outstanding vineyard near Mercurey in Burgundy's Côte Chalonnaise, an area south of Beaune named for the village of Chalon-Sur-Saône. Just as with the best Côte d' Or red Burgundies, this is made from 100% pinot noir.

If you know somebody that claims you have to spend a ton of money to get a good Burgundy, this will prove them wrong. Likewise, if you know somebody that thinks you need to age Burgundy for five or more years for it to taste delicious-- just open a bottle of this beauty and watch them backpedal. This is knock-out Burgundy and it's already drinking wonderfully (though you can certainly keep it for at least 3-5 more years if you'd like to). Don't hesitate to open with your Thanksgiving meal or with just about any other robust meal featuring poultry or pork.


Pillots
Here's how it tastes:
This deep ruby-colored Burgundy has a beautifully fragrant bouquet of strawberry tarts and ripe bing cherries with hints of toasted pine-nuts and pink violets. Fully ripe, the palate shows loads of strawberry preserves and baked cherries with a long mouthwatering finish showing sweet fruit combined with a refreshing touch of toasted nuts and cherry pit. This is longer, brighter, and more fresh and pure than pinots costing twice the price from Oregon or most areas of Burgundy.

To order, please call us at 703-525-0990, e-mail orders can be delayed. We will need your name, phone number, and Visa or MasterCard information (with expiration date). The wines will arrive tomorrow, Wednesday November 9th.


2009 Bourgogne Rouge, Domaine Albert Boillot

Domaine Albert Boillot Bourgogne
2009 Bourgogne Rouge, Domaine Albert Boillot
Reg. $27.99
(Best price $22.39)

Now this is serious Burgundy for an amazingly low price. Raymond Boillot (of Domaine Albert Boillot, pictured below) makes stunning wines. His are some of the most elegant and filigreed wines that I have tasted from the famous Burgundy villages of Volnay and Pommard.

His deep, ageworthy, terroir-driven, traditionally-made Bourgogne is his most affordable wine and it is a great introduction to this classic Burgundy producer based in the revered village of Volnay in the Cote du Beaune (named for the nearby city of Beaune).

The Boillot family is famous, with many of the Boillot estates producing and exporting large volumes of Burgundy in all price ranges. Unlike many of his relatives from a family that's been making wine for over 300 years, Raymond Boillot never exported his wonderful wines until 2005. Instead, he sold his tiny production out the cellar door to clients that included many top restaurants in Paris.




Raymond Boillot
My friend and "Burgundy Insider" Stephen Murray-Sykes, an Englishman who has lived in Burgundy for over 15 years, and his American business partner, Jim Ungerleider, coaxed and cajoled Raymond (and his cousin Louis) into selling some wine for the U.S. market, telling them that these wines were too good to keep to a lucky few Europeans. I can tell you that Stephen's portfolio of growers is special. Stephen knows wine. He's been a panel judge, jury member and professional taster for many of the most respected French wine publications, such as Guide Hachette, Bourgogne Aujour d'hui and Fleurons de Bourgogne. In short, he knows his wine and he's well connected.

This delightful Bourgogne is from a single vineyard named "Les Sorbins". The vineyard is less than one hectare in size and is located on the plain just below the Pommard village boundary. The vines are, on average, 50 years old. Because of the nobility of the site, the character of the old vines, and the nature of the exceptional vintage, this Bourgogne has surprising structure that will allow it to age very well. Age this for one to two more years, then enjoy it over the next 3-5 years. Only 500 cases were made.

This is what it tastes like:
The color is medium depth ruby to garnet. The aromas are dense with red cherries and sweet raspberries. The medium-bodied and satin-textured palate is compact and dense, showing jammy cherries and concentrated ripe raspberries and blackberries along with fresh herb. This is fleshy and engaging and shows great harmony of ripe fruit, elegant snappy acidity, and ripe yet firm tannic structure. This is tasty now but there is exciting potential promising much more. With air, the palate develops a medium bodied personality with a flavor profile balanced between red and black fruit. It is made more complex by hints of nutmeg and a wet stone minerality. If you're looking for a finely-balanced, food-friendly Bourgogne that's elegant, structured and precise, then act fast to get some of this amazing value. It's best give it two to three hours of air, or better yet, one to five more years in the bottle.

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