Côte de Nuits

• Vosne-Romanée

Pale ruby in color, mostly clear and bright.  The nose is nice with cherries, slight cinnamon, and a hint of mocha.  Medium bodied.  Lighter tannins.  Good acidity.  On the palate, cherries and slight black cherries with a bit of spice.  Good finish.  This is still on the youthful side of peak but showing some development.  Nice on its own, this would be better with food.  A hearty beef or vegetable stew would work well.  Drink over the next ten years.  

Great showing for this.  At age 15, it is still youthful but showing some tertiary development.  For Burgundy, this is on the bigger, more powerful side.  deep ruby in color with some purple swirls, mostly clear and bright.  The nose is great with black cherries, cherries, spices, and slight earthiness.  Full bodied.  Light but present tannins.  Great balance.  On the palate, this is delicious with cherries, black cherries and spice.  Long finish.  Showing depth and complexity that will no doubt emerge over the next decade or more.  Great on its own, this would be very nice with a plate of

Burgundy is not the "mine field" it used to be but back when this wine was released, every bottle and most producers seemed like a crap shoot.  Opening this bottle certainly had me concerned, but I need not have been.  It showed very well and at least equaled my highest hopes.  Better than a very good bottle opened about six months ago.

Count me among those who find a certain greenness to the 2004 Burgundies.  Others at the table loved this wine and either didn't find that quality or didn't mind it.  Ruby/purple in color, mostly clear and bright.  The nose has cherries, black cherries, a bit of earthiness and an herbal quality hanging around the background.  It comes across as a sort fresh thyme mixed with cilantro.  Medium to full bodied.  On the palate, black cherries, some cherries, herbal notes and char.  It is also complex and layered.  It works better with food and it would be nice with fresh sashimi.  It has plenty

From magnum.  This bottle seemed to get mixed reactions from the table.  Some thought it needed a long decant and others were more positive.  I found it young, but very enjoyable.  Like many Pinots, a lot depends on what style you like best.  This seemed on the darker, more ripe side especially in this format.  Deep ruby in color, purple at the core, mostly clear and bright.  The nose has black cherries, cherries, black tea, char, and slight earthiness.  Great texture.  Good energy.  Light tannins.  On the palate, black cherries, cherries, with some char and earthiness/minerality.  Long fin

A bit bigger and riper than a "typical" Charmes but quite enjoyable.  Ruby in color, mostly clear and bright, showing no bricking.  The nose is great.  Earthy with cherries and spice along with a nice minerality.  Medium to full bodied.  Light tannins.  On the palate, this is vibrant and drinking well.  Cherries, some black cherries and underlying minerality.  Some complexity.  Good acidity.  This is getting close to peak.  While it may never be ethereal, it is very enjoyable.  Drink over the next ten to fifteen years.  It would work well with coq au vin, of course.  

Ruby in color, some browning at the edges.  The nose has cherries, spice, dried flowers, and slight liqueur notes.  Medium bodied with a lovely, smooth texture.  On the palate, there is some fresh cherries but this is teetering at the edge.  Dried, macerated cherries with spice and a bit of earthy funk.  Slightly drying at the finish.  This is complex and contemplative but still would be better with food.  Maybe some crusty beread and Epoisses cheese?  Drink up.  

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.