DOMAINE ARLAUD
“The 2005’s are excellent, but the 2006’s may be even better in the context of the vintage” Stephen Tanzer. 100% Organic vineyards. Arlaud goes so far as to use a horse drawn disc harrow in his Grand Cru & Premier Cru vineyards to avoid tractor exhaust on the vines.
BOURGOGNE RONCEVIE $22.50: From a parcel planted over 60 years ago by Cyprien’s grandfather, this is Gevrey-Chambertin quality at a Bourgogne price. Look at a map of Gevrey vineyards and you will see what I mean.
CHAMBOLLE MUSIGNY $42/$98 mag: Soft red cherry & red raspberry fruit with good acidity, bright & easy to enjoy.
MOREY-ST-DENIS MILLANDES $56: “Sweet but tangy flavors of wild berries with pungent herbs and spices. Juicy intense & long. (88-90) ST
MOREY-ST-DENIS RUCHOTS $59/$130mag/$325 3L: “Sweet, ripe and densely packed, with wild fruit flavors enlivened by black pepper. Should make a superb premier cru” 89-92 one of his best 1er cru sites.
GEVREY-CHAMBERTIN COMBOTTES $65/$142mag: from 70 yr old vines. Sweet, ripe dark cherry & blueberry with spice & toasty oak. Rich & long. (88-91)
CHARMES CHAMBERTIN $95/$210 mag: I thought this wine was beautiful & sexy out of barrel even before malo. Tanzer calls it sweet, fruity & floral (90-92)
CLOS DE LA ROCHE $95/$210mag: “Wonderfully complex nose melds dark fruits, smoked meat, underbrush, fresh herbs and brown spices” (91-94) ST
CLOS ST. DENIS $108 : “ Clean, vibrant and perfumed in the mouth” (91-93)ST I looked at my notes they were almost identical. Sweet, perfumed, elegant & pure.
BONNES MARES $135 : Only nine short rows belong to Arlaud. This is always the most exotic of his wines with spice, berries & true terroir. Very classy (91-94)ST
GERARD RAPHET
Raphet prefers the 2006 vintage to 2005 because of the classic, light, transparent purity of the vintage. Those who are familiar with Raphet’s style should not be surprised by this, his wines are always delicious, even out of barrel. He has very old vines (45-100+ yrs) in his vineyard holdings and uses very little new oak, preferring the fruit to show through.
BOURGOGNE GRANDS CHAMPS $28:Superb sweet cherry nose, light, fresh, enjoyable red fruits flavors with a bit of minerality in the middle. (88)
GEVREY CHAMBERTIN CHAMPS CHENYS $49: From a vineyard right below Charmes Chambertin. Black cherry and raspberry fruit nose, all berry fruit in the mouth with good balance. (89)
CHAMBOLLE MUSIGNY BOISIERRES $52: Silky, rich berry, very lush texture, cool berry balance in the finish (91)
MOREY ST. DENIS MILLANDES $72: Black raspberry and vanilla with good depth and a long finish with fine tannins (91)
GEVREY CHAMBERTIN LAVEAUX ST. JACQUES $75: Floral nose with a hint of toast. Bigger berry profile with a bit of cocoa powder in the finish (92)
CHARMES CHAMBERTIN $110: Silky, spicy and bright, very pure fruit and more structure than previous wines (92+)
CLOS DE LA ROCHE $110: More depth, big pure fruit, good, vibrant flavors with a bit of earth in the back. Plenty of length. (92)
MAISON FREDERIC MAGNIEN
Fred did a very quick harvest in 2006, bringing in the entire harvest in just 5 days compared to two weeks in 2005. He also handled the wines very gently with shorter maceration time than 2005 and less time in barrel as well. He told me he did this to protect the fruit and make wines with freshness and purity for early enjoyment.
COTE DE NUITS VILLAGES CROIX VIOLETTES $29: “High toned pretty earthy, dark berry aromas, lead to sweet, round flavors supported by fine tannins (86-89) Allen Meadows
MOREY ST. DENIS HERBUOTTES $42: Toasty red cherry and good concentration (88)
MSD CLOS BAULET $56: “refined nose of red and blue pinot fruit nuanced by seductive violet and rose petal notes leads to intense details and delicious full bodied flavors.”(88-90)AM
MSD RUCHOTS $65:“Juicy and flavorful wine with a mineral component giving it precision and structure” (89-91)ST/AM
CHAMBOLLE MUSIGNY FEUSSEOLOTTES $65: From 70 yr old vines. “pure red berry fruit that slides seamlessly into silky, detailed layered and energetic flavors. A wine of finesse and harmony. Outstanding! (89-92)AM
CM BOURNIQUES: $72: From a parcel next to Musigny. “ rich and round but beautifully detailed medium bodied flavors that display a supple mid-palate and a sappy and mouth coating firm finish.”(89-91) AM/ST
CM CHARMES $72: A basket of red fruit on the nose, accented by herbs and spices. Silky and fruit driven, with good lift and intensity. (88-90)ST/AM
GEVREY CHAMBERTIN CAZETIERES $72: Densly packed and supple, with a cool, spicy character and very good inner mouth energy…excellent aromatic persistence. (89-92)ST
VOSNE ROMANEE SUCHOTS $79: “A very ripe and seductive spicy black fruit nose compliments the supple, rich and velvety flavors that coat the mouth. Sweet Spot! Outstanding!” (90-93)AM
CHARMES CHAMBERTIN $95est: “wild aromas of candied fruits, mocha and smoke. Sweet, broad and generous” (90-92)ST/AM
BONNES MARES $150est: A big wine from Bonnes Mares. Earth and spice are wrapped up in exotic berry laden dark fruits. Very good (93) (90-93)AM
CHAMBERTIN CLOS DE BEZE $179est: “Wonderfully silky on entry, then dense and fine grained with lovely restrained sweetness. A remarkable effort considering the hail that affected much of this cru” (91-93)ST