The 2010 Chambolle-Musigny 1er Cru Les Amoureuses has a very refined, delineated bouquet, perhaps a little timid at the moment, which is unusual for an Amoureuses. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannins. There are layers of tightly-knit red cherries intermingling with raspberry fruit, but the tense finish is sprinkled with spice and white pepper. It develops more complexity and intensity as it aerates in the glass. Superb. Drink 2015-2025+
This was the first time I had been back to Louis Jadot’s expansive winery on the northern outskirts of Beaune since their memorable 150th anniversary tasting back in 2008. As I quipped in the previous issue, Jacques Lardiere was then talking about his imminent retirement that seemed to never come. But on this occasion, there was new winemaker Frederic Barnier there to greet me. He has large shoes to fill but he seems up to the task of steering this important Burgundy name to a new chapter, having worked alongside Jacques for a couple of years. “At the beginning, we were not so confident about the whites,” he explained in reference to his 2011s, “but it has been a nice surprise. The dry spring of 2011 affected the level of ripeness but it has lent freshness, but with low acidity.” We did not have time to taste the entire portfolio of over 80 crus, but instead took a sample of 20 white and reds from both the 2010 and 2011 vintages.
Importer: Kobrand, Purchase, NY; tel. (914) 253-7700