Louis Jadot En Primeur 2010

These days, wine tastings for the trade are fairly equally split between male and female and well, quite frankly, there’s a tendency towards scruffiness.  Very much a jobbing environment, where we get in, taste the wines, scribble (or tap) away, and leave. 

 

Not so at the Louis Jadot En Primeur tasting, held at BAFTA again this year.  There was a tiny handful of men not wearing a suit and we laydees – most definitely in the minority - had pushed the boat out a little. 

The whites were delicious, but some of the reds a little thin – not just from a colour perspective, but rather weedy. There were also some beautiful reds, so tread with care.

 

Prices quoted are per 12 bottles, exc VAT.

An * means it’s a beautiful wine.

Tasted January 2012

 

Côte de Nuits Villages Le Vaucrain, DOMAINE LOUIS JADOT

Nicely perfumed. Ripe but with some refreshing grapefruit tartness and texture. Quite sweet and with lemony acidity rather than grape brightness, if that makes sense.

£141

 

Santenay Clos de Malte, DOMAINE LOUIS JADOT

Much more overt oak on the nose and also perhaps beeswax. Really, a very lovely nose. Quite oaky in the mouth at the moment.  There is fruit and a grapefruity tang, but the oak's a bit forward now. Fair length.

£154

 

Pernand Vergelesses Clos de la Croix de Pierre, DOMAINE LOUIS JADOT

Bright and exciting aroma. Luxurious and complex. Really lovely acidity. Tangy and exciting. 

£163

*

Savigny Les Beaune 1er Cru Clos des Guettes, DOMAINE GAGEY

Sweet ripe fruit on the nose. Really very perfumed. Savoury, oaky, Big and long.  A great big brute, which seems odd for a white, but it's pretty good.

£176

 

Beaune 1er Cru Bressandes, DOMAINE GAGEY

Quite muted on the nose. Sweet, ripe and a little New Worldy initially but then the texture, the acidity, the balance, give it away.

£236

 

Beaune 1er Cru Les Grèves Le Clos Blanc, DOMAINE GAGEY

Tropically perfumed, with a little black pepper. An awful lot of oak at the moment. Definitely for the long term. Quite a sweet finish.

£263

 

Meursault 1er Cru Blagny

Creamy, tropical fruit nose. Nice balance. A degree of complexity.

£336

 

Meursault 1er Cru Charmes

Lovely jasmine nose. Can I say "charming" of a wine called Charmes? Lovely bright acidity. Some oak texture but it's in balance.  Long, ripe and pithy finish.

£363

*

Meursault 1er Cru Genevrières, DOMAINE LOUIS JADOT

Lightly fruity nose. Oaky and ripe palate.  Bright and exciting. Perhaps just a little warm.

£402

 

Chassagne Montrachet 1er Cru Morgeot Clos de la Chapelle, MONOPOLE, DOMAINE DU DUC DE MAGENTA

Muted nose.  Fruity and perhaps with some jasmine. Nice balance, nice feel.  Needs time to become lovely.

£332

 

Chassagne Montrachet 1er Cru Caillerets

Rich, heavy and perfumed nose. Quite a lot of weight, of oak, rich, ripe fruit.  Extraordinarily different from the Morgeot above.

£349

 

Puligny Montrachet 1er Cru Champ Gain, DOMAINE GAGEY

Something green about the nose. Not corked, not faulty, but different. Warmish alcohol and a slight discord in the sweetness. Somehow not quite right.

£328

 

Puligny Montrachet 1er Cru Les Referts, DOMAINE LOUIS JADOT

Lovely complex nose. A spicy hint of oak, ripe but not heavy fruit and some cleansing grapefruit - very inviting. Full, bright and lovely taste.  It needs a little time as the oak is just forward on the palate.

£332

 

Puligny Montrachet 1er Cru Clos de la Garenne, MONOPOLE, DOMAINE DU DUC DE MAGENTA

Ripe, golden fruit - maybe apricot. Lovely feel. Great finesse. 

£384

 

Puligny Montrachet 1er Cru Les Folatières, DOMAINE DES HÉRITIERS LOUIS JADOT

Nice, ripe, peachy nose. Pithy, freshly acidic and with some oak texture.  Lovely finish.

£384

Allocation exhausted

 

Corton Charlemagne Grand Cru, DOMAINE DES HÉRITIERS LOUIS JADOT

Very rich nose.  Heady and heavy. Extraordinary mouth feel. Alive, exciting, complex, long. Really excellent.

£632

*

Bâtard Montrachet Grand Cru

Lime and lime flowers on the nose. Tangy, bright and with some weight but the oak isn't in your face. Lasts beautifully.

£1,289

 

Le Montrachet Grand Cru

Lovely fresh new oak on the nose. Also some toast and jasmine. Typical and beautifully executed palate.  Perfect.

£2,202

 

Moulin à Vent Rochegrés, CHÂTEAU DES JACQUES

Pale, quite watery red. Light, fragrant, cranberry nose. The palate is pretty sweet. Lightly fruity. A glugging wine and fairly pleasant.

£154

 

Moulin à Vent Clos du Grand Carquelin, CHÂTEAU DES JACQUES

Just a hint of oak spice on the nose. Adds complexity and interest. Ripe, lightly oaky and very pleasant.  Slips down nicely and with a degree of complexity. Good value.

£154

 

Moulin à Vent La Roche, CHÂTEAU DES JACQUES

Quite restrained on the nose. Gritty texture and drying tannins, seem all wrong.

£154

 

Morgon Côte du Py, CHÂTEAU DES JACQUES

A little cranberry on the nose. Dry, with some woody flavours. It's OK.

£136

 

Côte de Nuits Villages Le Vaucrain, DOMAINE LOUIS JADOT

Very pale indeed. Just a whisper of pinot on the nose. Nice, juicy, pleasant taste. Little complexity, but good for lunch.

£140

 

Santenay Clos du Gatsulard, DOMAINE GAGEY

Very pale. Again, a mere whisper of pinot on the nose. However, it's bright and lovely in the mouth.  Alive. Good.

£149

 

Savigny Les Beaune 1er Cru Clos des Guettes, DOMAINE GAGEY

Very pale. Quite perfumed, almost like a white wine. The oak leads and the alcohol is warmish. Just not quite balanced.

£166

 

Savigny Les Beaune 1er Cru La Dominode, DOMAINE LOUIS JADOT

Nicely oak-perfumed, but also with a ripe cranberry slant. Some oak texture, so needs a little time. Still seems raw. Everything's there, though.

£180

 

Pernand Vergelesses 1er Cru Clos de la Croix de Pierre, DOMAINE LOUIS JADOT

A bit lacking on the nose. Light, elegant, delicate, smooth. Not particularly my thing, but rather nice.

£158

 

Beaune 1er Cru Boucherottes, DOMAINE DES HÉRITIERS LOUIS JADOT

Pale cherry red. Interesting, slightly herbal, nose. Bright and exciting in the mouth. Tart, sour cherry flavour. Lovely.

£197

 

Beaune 1er Cru Clos des Couchereaux, DOMAINE DES HÉRITIERS LOUIS JADOT

Pale cherry red. Lovely pinot nose. A little gentle oak. Beautifully smooth, with freshness and fragrance. Lovely.

£197

*

Beaune 1er Cru Les Grèves, DOMAINE GAGEY

Really very pale. Not a great deal on the nose. A little woody. The same taste. I often get this stale hazelnut flavour on wines. Often in Burgundy.

£197

 

Beaune 1er Cru Clos des Ursules, MONOPOLE, DOMAINE DES HÉRITIERS LOUIS JADOT

Pale. Light, cherry aroma. Pretty sweet, cherry-flavoured. Nice enough.

£287

 

Volnay 1er Cru Clos de la Barre, MONOPOLE

Lovely hint of new oak. Gosh, what an inviting nose. Sweet fruit, a little grip and a nice refreshing finish.

£287

 

Volnay 1er Cru Clos des Chênes

Quite a farmyardy, composty nose for something so young. Sweet fruit, very attractive. Bright and delicious. Lastly, freshly.

£287

 

Pommard 1er Cru Clos de la Commaraine

Mid to pale red, with some black. Beautifully fragrant. It seems unbalanced. The alcohol leads. Needs some time, perhaps.

£245

 

Pommard 1er Cru Rugiens, DOMAINE LOUIS JADOT

Pale cherry red. Really lovely nose. Cherry, cranberry, even lemon. Juicy and bright. Nice feel. Light for Pommard.

£354

 

Nuits St Georges 1er Cru Les Boudots, DOMAINE GAGEY

Mid red colour with blue lights. Sweet, ripe nose. The taste is not good.  The alcohol is out of kilter, there's a hardness.  Not for me.

£404

 

Vosne Romanée 1er Cru Les Suchots

Not very aromatic. Some tannin, dark, plummy fruits.  Hasn't yet started to be wonderful. Juicy, red and light.  Wait.

£489

 

Vosne Romanée 1er Cru Les Beaux Monts

Slightly spicy cranberry nose. Lovely flavour. Bright, exciting, lively, like tangy cranberry sauce, with spice. Nice.

£489

 

Chambolle Musigny Les Drazeys, DOMAINE GAGEY

Frighteningly pale. The merest whiff of pinot, if you really inhale hard. Gentle, with delicate fruit.  Hasn't even started to become beautiful.  Wait.

£254

 

Chambolle Musigny 1er Cru Les Fuées, DOMAINE LOUIS JADOT

Very light on the nose. Nice taste.  Good balance of fruit and oak.  Harmonious, integrated. Good

£410

 

Chambolle Musigny 1er Cru Les Baudes, DOMAINE GAGEY

Bright, fruity nose. A little oak texture and nice fruit, but the alcohol's disjointed.

£410

 

Gevrey Chambertin 1er Cru Poissenots, DOMAINE LOUIS JADOT

Pale, dirty raspberry colour. Fruity nose. Bright acidity. Nice plummy fruit on the finish. Hint of liquorice. Nice.

£376

 

Gevrey Chambertin 1er Cru Estournelles St Jacques, DOMAINE LOUIS JADOT

Interesting nose.  Creamy and with vanilla.  Almost like a crème brulee. Very ripe fruit. Bright acidity. Long and lovely.

£419

 

Gevrey Chambertin 1er Cru Clos St Jacques, DOMAINE LOUIS JADOT

Pale grey/rose colour. Beautifully fragrant. Floral, even. Intense, bright and long. VG indeed.

£632

*

 

Corton Pougets Grand Cru, DOMAINE DES HÉRITIERS LOUIS JADOT

Wonderful raspberry aroma. Juicy acidity, lovely raspberry fruit.  Delicious.

£376

 

Corton Grèves Grand Cru, DOMAINE LOUIS JADOT

Strangely woody nose. Sweet, ripe fruit and warmish alcohol.

£410

 

Clos Vougeot Grand Cru, DOMAINE LOUIS JADOT

Wonderfully toasty oak on the nose. Beautiful. The most intense and exciting aroma of the tasting. Lovely flavour, too. Still very young with cherry/cranberry fruit, but enormous potential. Wow.

£636

*

Echézeaux Grand Cru, DOMAINE GAGEY

Young, cherry fruit on the nose. Very attractive and ripe fruit on the palate. Beautiful now, but please wait.

£767

 

Griotte Chambertin Grand Cru

Simple pinot nose. Sweet, light and needs time.

£802

 

Chapelle Chambertin Grand Cru, DOMAINE LOUIS JADOT

Lovely spicy oak on the nose. Very inviting. Some texture from the oak, but this is alive and beautiful now. Essence of pinot.

£880

 

Clos de la Roche Grand Cru

Fascinating smell. Yes, oak, yes, cranberry, but then there's a whole extra dimension of aroma, which is so promising. I'd like to dab this behind my ears.  Lovely balance - savoury/sweet. Again, there's another dimension after the obvious. Intoxicating wine, if that's not tautologous.

£1,158

*

Clos St Denis Grand Cru, DOMAINE GAGEY

Fragrant new oak on the nose. Bright and alive. Cherry - ripe and inviting. It's juicy, slightly savoury and, in fact, pretty perfect.

£1,158