Côte de Nuits

• Vosne-Romanée

Ruby in color, some browning, but appropriate for age 17.  Clear and bright.  The nose is nice with cherries, some earthy funk/Merde notes, spice and slight darker cherry notes.  Medium to full bodied.  Light tannins.  Nice balance.  On the palate, cherries, black cherries and earthiness.  Complex.  Bigger on the nose than the palate.  Nice finish.  Overall, everything one could ask from a 17 year old 1er Cru from a good/not great vintage.  It went very well with Tofu and Veggies (at a Japanese Restaurant).  Pretty much at peak now, but still five to ten more top years left.  

Red/brown in color, mostly clear and bright.  It does look slightly older than expected, but just a bit.  The nose shows fresh strawberries, some cherries, slight clay.  It is a persistent nose although much more "feminine".  Soft texture.  On the palate, cherries and sour cherries.  Plenty to depth and complexity.  Good energy.  Nice finish.  This is drinking very well and at age 13 it seems very close to peak.  Drink over the next five to seven years.  It is nice on its own but better with foods.  It went well with assorted flat bread "pizzas".  

Wow.  Wonderful showing for this wine.  Garnet in color, mostly clear and bright.  The nose is deep (and great) with cherries, black cherries, roasted meats, spice and slight  dark chocolate.  Full bodied.  On the palate, this is complex and layered.  Black cherries, slight sour cherries, and spice with underlying earthiness.  Long finish.  This is great on its own and would be nice to slowly savor but it will work well with food.  Roasted duck would be a nice match.  This bottle was about at peak, but should easily go another ten to fifteen years.  

Serafin has always been a great source of "value" in Burgundy although "value" in Burgundy is relevant.  Ruby in color, a bit flat though clear.  The nose has cherries, some rhubarb, but it is ripe (nothing green).  Also a bit of spice.  Medium bodied.  On the palate, this is a bit one dimensional.  Perhaps it is just young.  Nice cherry fruit and some toasted oak.  Moderate finish.  A bit disappointing as there is little value left.  drink over the next seven to ten years.  Better with food.  This would work well with roasted chicken.  

Great showing for this Premier Cru from the excellent 2005 vintage.  Ruby/purple in color, clear and bright.  The nose is nice with cherries, chervil and spice.  Medium bodied. On the palate, this is bigger than on the nose.  Cherries, black cherries with some spice.  Long finish.  Drinking well at age 17, this should go another ten to fifteen more years.  Better with food, this would work well with a seared Tuna Steak with a seared crust.

These wines don't seem to get the respect that other Bourgogne's get and that is a shame.  This was delicious.  It is more understated, but that is not a bad thing in Burgundy.  Light ruby in color, clear and bright.  The nose is nice with cranberries, rhubarb, cherries and slight char.  Medium bodied.  A bit riper on the palate with cherries and slight rhubarb.  Light tannins.  Sour/tart cherries on the finish.  This works better with food than on its own.  Sweet and sour Pork would work well. 

Pop and pour, this was surprisingly open and accessible.  Deep ruby in color, clear and bright.  This is big and bold.  On the nose, cherries, sandalwood, some black cherries and baking spice.  Full bodied.  On the palate, lots of fresh cherries and sour cherries with some underlying char.  Delicious and vital.  Long finish.  This seems to be a five to ten years from full maturity but drinking well.  It is great on its own and would delicious with salmon or tuna.  

Sadly this was corked (TCA).  Underneath it seemed like a very good, bold wine with plenty of depth.  The TCA showed up almost immediately and but 30 minutes in, it was overwhelming.  

Great showing for this wine and in a perfect place of maturity.  Garnett in color, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose is beautifully perfumed with cherries, cinnamon, sandalwood and slight earthiness.    Full bodied.  On the palate, this clean with bright cherry fruit.  Some underlying earthiness.  Levels of complexity.  Great balance.  Long finish.  This has big fruit.  The oak is now integrated and the tannins are silky.  Everything one could want in a Grand Cru at age 20.  It drinks great on its own.  Contemplative.  It also worked well with food.  While it might last longer, drink over

Tasted two bottles of this.  They were part of a cellar purchase from which most of the bottles had been in excellent shape.  On opening, this was old and off a bit.  With a couple hours of air, it improved quite a bit although never got to the point of not being past prime.  Depending on one's level of enjoyment from wines with this much age, it seemed mostly a miss among the tasters.  I enjoyed it for what it offered.