Wine Connect: February 2018

NEWSLETTER AND BURGUNDY INDENT OFFER

Burgundy 2015 Rouge and 2016 Blanc

The 2015 Burgundy vintage is one of the most highly rated in recent times and so it is with great pleasure that Wine Connect announces our current indent offer of the 2015 Domaine Michel Gros wines from this wonderful Vosne Romanée producer.

Wine writers such as “Burghound” Allen Meadows have been heaping praise on the 2015 vintage, writing, “2015 – A Great Vintage, Indeed the Greatest Since the Legendary 2005”. However the excitement has been tempered somewhat by the small quantities of wine produced thanks to hail and frost damage to the vines during the growing season.

This means that we are unable to receive the full range of wines this year that we were able to offer last year. In addition to the smaller selection of wines we will only receive small quantities of the available wines. So orders will be filled on a first come first served basis.

There is one new addition to our range this year and that is the Cotes de Nuits 2016 Blanc. We trialled 2 cases of this beautiful Chardonnay at our Domaine Michel Gros dinners late last year and everyone was overwhelmed with the quality and the value.

Right, Michel Gros and Georgia Gros in front of their Clos de Reas vineyard.

Speaking of Chardonnay, I have been a great fan of the wines of Meursault for many years as I feel they are wines of real depth and complexity of flavour with beautiful minerality and acidity. With this in mind John and I have been searching for a top quality producer from Meursault since we established Wine Connect. It is our belief that we have found such a producer in the form of Domaine Yves Boyer-Martenot.

The Domaine is currently run by Vincent Boyer who is the fourth generation to be making wine at this family property which is located in the heart of the Meursault village.

Entrance to the cellar at Dom Yves Boyer Martenot. Vincent Boyer in his L’Ormeau vineyard.

Tasting Notes
2016 was an exceptional year following straight on from the excellent 2015 vintage but many vineyards were again hit by hail and frost and so once again quantities are limited. With regard to the following tasting notes, my notes will be marked IL, notes from the Jancis Robinson website will be marked JR and BH if they are from the Burghound newsletter.

My tasting notes were made during my most recent visit in June 2017 before the wines were bottled. Samples were drawn either from tank or barrel.

Domaine Yves Boyer-Martenot

2016 Meursault Les Narvaux. (Village) $79.00
The vineyard is located to the west of the Meursault village. The wine has a bright youthful colour with a peachy aroma. The palate has a lovely creamy texture with full intense fruit and bright acidity. Extremely good. IL

2016 Meursault Les Perrieres 1er Cru. $145.00
Tremendous length and depth of fruit. Beautiful oak and palate weight. Sweet fruit with excellent acidity and a fresh clean finish. Undoubtedly the pick of the 1er Crus. A stunning Chardonnay. IL.

Domaine Michel Gros.

2016 Fontaine St Martin Blanc – Monopole. $48.00

The overwhelming aroma is that of peach with a dash of butterscotch and the slight influence of oak. The palate is creamy with lovely weight and length of flavour. There is an excellent balance of fruit and acidity on the finish. IL

2015 Fontaine St Martin, Rouge. Monopole. $48.00
Medium cherry red colour which is darker than 2014. Some oak aromas but the fruit is the overriding characteristic, balanced. The palate is a bit fuller than 2014, showing the intensity and concentration of the 2015 vintage. IL

(a 7 ha monopole of the domaine, 4 of which are planted to pinot). A discreet touch of wood sets off the slightly riper red and blue pinot fruit aromas that are liberally laced with hints of earth and spice. There is slightly more richness and volume to the medium-bodied flavours that are shaped by moderately firm tannins that confirm that this will need at least a few years of cellar time. ......BH (86-89)/2019+

2015 Nuit St Georges. (Village). $79.00
(from 4 different lieux-dits, all on the Vosne side that include Aux Athets, En la Perrière Noblot, Les Lavières and Bas de Combe). This too is trimmed in just enough wood to notice though the aromatic profile is much more deeply pitched with its layered array of dark berries, plum, earth and forest floor scents. There is outstanding richness to the full-bodied, concentrated and muscular flavours that are shaped by moderately rustic tannins on the sappy and mouth coating finale. This will also need at least a few years of cellar time first. BH (88-91)/2022+

2015 Vosne Romanée 1er Cru. Clos de Reas – Monopole. $170.00
Clean, fresh, spicy oak and fruit. Fine, elegant palate which is deceptive at first as the complexity of the wine grows in the glass and across the palate. The palate finishes strong and firm with lovely fine tannins. A truly excellent wine. One for the cellar. IL.

(a 2.12 ha monopole with vines averaging 35+ years of age). A ripe yet attractively fresh nose combines notes of red currant, spice, herbal tea and a hint of dark pinot liqueur. The vibrant medium weight flavours possess a finer mouth feel if less minerality and muscle, all wrapped in a sleek, delicious, focused and beautifully well-balanced finale. BH (90-93)/2026

Rich and deep- a work of architecture. Beautifully structured, elegant,resonant, long. 97 points. Margaret Rand, The World of Fine Wine. Issue 55.