Although obviously still an infant, the 2011 Batard- Montrachet is a wine of tremendous potential. There is gorgeous depth and richness in the fruit, but the minerality and sheer tension of the wine are only apparent on the finish. When I taste the Batard I think of a wine where the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. The 2011 is harmonious and flat-out gorgeous. Anticipated maturity: 2014+. (Not yet released)Henri Boillot recently finished his move to a new modern cellar in Champ Lins, one of the industrial sections of Meursault. Boillot describes his 2011s as having a bit more richness and better balance of fruit and acidity than the 2010s. Based on what I tasted, it’s hard to argue that point. Boillot seems to be one case where the 2011s have the potential to be better across the board than the 2010s. As is often the case here, the village wines are particularly strong.Importers: Massanois Imports, Washington, DC; tel. (202) 470-6769, Cynthia Hurley French Wines, West Newton, MA Tel 617-965-4251 www.cynthiahurley.com and Chelsea Ventures, LLC, 1601 South Canal St, Chicago, IL 60616 tel. 847-920-5052

Tasted blind at the Burgundy 2011 horizontal tasting in Beaune. The Batard-Montrachet 2011 from Henri Boillot was the one disappointment from what was otherwise a strong set of wines from this vintage. It does not have the complexity of Olivier Leflaive’s Batard with light citrus and orange-blossom aromas that seem a little static. The palate has a reductive note on the entry. The acidity is nicely judged, but there is too much SO2 masking the finish.