This weekend in Weybridge we are focussing on some great wines from Burgundy. All reports suggest that 2015 is going to be one of the best vintages for a long time.
We are privileged to be able to offer you the chance to taste a few of these for yourselves.
2015 Daniel Rion, Nuits-St Georges, ‘Aux Vignerondes’ Premier Cru
This 18 hectare estate is run by brothers and sister Olivier, Christophe and Pascale Rion. The emphasis is on succulent, aromatic wines with careful extraction of tannins so the grapes are picked at full maturity, 100% de-stemmed and fermented at a relatively low temperature in order to extract the maximum of fruit.
This fine premier cru is on the northern side of Nuits in the direction of Vosne and is planted with forty-five and sixty-five year old vines. Combines the power of Nuits with the elegance of Vosne, a splendid combination.
2015 Domaine de Perdrix, Vosne-Romanée
These vines adjoin grands crus Echézeaux and Clos Vougeot. This is a rich, powerful wine mid crimson in colour with oak and dark fruit sweetness on the nose. The fruit is magnificent and the tannins are well integrated.
2015 Jean Mark Pillot, Chassagne-Montrachet
While surprising today, Chassagne was a village traditionally known for its red wines. Jean-Marc Pillot continues to create wines which hark back to the commune’s rich red history, and his Clos St-Jean is one of the finest examples we know. He also crafts whites of definition and complexity that sit squarely between a steely style and fuller examples.
There’s a nice richness to this Chassagne village from Jean-Marc, with lemon fruit supported by grapefruit and a hint of melon. It’s recognisably Chassagne, with good precision and a stony texture.
As well as those three, here are two more that we had on tasting last week. They are so good we thought you’d like a second taste
2015 Domaine Gaelle & Jerome Meunier, Mercurey Blanc, 25.99
Mercurey is one of a cluster of villages just to the south of the Côte de Beaune; the Côte Chalonnaise. Here it tends to be a little warmer, so the whites - in this case Chardonnay, tend to be a little softer and rounder than their cousins in the Côte d’Or, but they retain a good dose of acidity to keep them fresh. This wine displays rich citrus fruits – lemons, sweet grapefruit with a nice creamy vanilla touch. It is all hand harvested and sorted, and the fruit is the focus with the oak used gently.
2012 Ghislain Kohut, Marsannay, Les Genelieres, £23.99
Domaine Ghislain Kohut is a completely natural winery, using organic farming and indigenous yeasts. What they have created is an elegant and balanced wine with loads of lemon zest, mineral and red apples with a touch of old wood box and spiciness on the nose. Clean and well balanced on the palate, there is no need for food here, but if you must, I’d suggest grilled chicken salad or lighter pork dishes.
And then, for those of you that fancy something that isn’t from Burgundy…..
2016 Hawksdrift Sauvignon Blanc
The wonderful wines of Hawksdrift are grown and produced in the Dillons Point region of Marlborough. This part of the region receives more sunshine hours than most other and therefore has a much longer ripening period. This allows more complexity to develop in the grapes.
The 2016 Sauvignon Blanc has aromas of fresh gooseberry, passionfruit and papaya. The palate is full of tropical fruits and citrus characters which continue through to a long refreshing finish.
2014 Le Croizillon, Malbec, Cahors
Le Croizillon is a pure, unoaked 100% Malbec from vines of an average age of 30 years old.
Deep purple in colour, velvety and plush with an abundance of juicy blueberry and a touch of violets on the palate.
A rich yet accessible wine which would marry with grilled or roasted red meats. This fruit-forward wine is already drinking beautifully.
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