Highlights from Morris & Verdin’s Grand Burgundy Tasting, presenting mainly 2000s with a handful of 1999s. Prices per 12 bottles, excluding 17.5% Value Added Tax. Morris & Verdin Limited. 10 The Leathermarket, Weston Street, London SE1 3ER. Telephone: 020 7357 8866, Fax: 020 7357 8877.
whites
Didier & Pascal Picq Chablis 2000- £78.00
Good mineral nose; quite firm, rounded palate with good acidity and fruit
Didier & Pascal Picq Chablis ler cru Vaucoupin 2000 – £108.00
Firm nose, quite closed, but a rounded palate, with ripe fruit, good concentration and a firm backbone of acidity. Didier observed that 2000 has the same level of ripeness as the excellent 1996 vintage, but with more finesse.
Les héritiers des Comtes Lafon Mâcon blanc 2000 – £72.00
A smoky nose, with rounded, elegantly grassy fruit on the palate. The Mâcon Milly-Lamartin at £85 had more structured and concentration, with a lightly leafy nose. Undoubtedly throwing a new light on Mâcon
Olivier Merlin Mâcon la Roche Vineuse, Vieilles Vignes 2000 – £85
Another good Macon, quite an oaky nose, with concentration and herbal notes on the palate. Should develop well.
Domaine de la Soufrandière Pouilly Vinzelles les Quarts 2000 – £120.00
Quite elegant oak on both nose and palate. Whilst Pouilly Vinzelles les Quarts was millerandée (ie it had a bad set, resulting in a small crop), it was wonderfully concentrated, with ripe fruit.
Francois d’Allaines Givry 2000 – £90.00
Rather firm closed nose, with some elegant leafy fruit. An austere note, but attractively so.
Domaine Vincent and Francois Jouard – Chassagne Montrachet Morgeot ler cru 2000 – £240.00
Quite a tight oaky nose; the same on the palate, with firm fruit and quite an austere finish. But should develop well.
Domaine Jean Philippe Fichet Bourgogne Blanc 2000 – £96.00
Firm smoky nose; elegant fruit and acidity on the palate. Quite tight knit with a fresh finish. He was also showing cask samples of various Meursault; all rather closed, with oaky overtones and good structure, promising well.
Domaine de la Vougeraie Clos Blanc de Vougeot 2000 – £205 for six bottles
Quite rounded dry smoky oaky nose, and the same on the palate. Subtle and understated.
reds
Domaine Raquillet Mercurey les Puillets 2000 – 105.00
Ripe raspberries on nose; a fresh fruity palate, with some tannin and acidity, and underlying fruity ripeness
Domaine Carré Courbin Volnay 1999 – £125.00
Quite a rounded nose, quite structured palate with fruit and tannin; balanced. Compared favourably with the 2000.
Domaine des Comtes Lafon Volnay 2000 – £165.00
Quite a sold smoky nose; solid liquorice fruit, rounded with good concentration
Dujac Fils et Père Morey St. Denis 2000 – £160.00 (cask sample)
raspberries and spicy fruit. Good weight; character and flavour on the palate, with spice and hints of oak.
Domaine Dujac Morey St. Denis 2000
sold out, but to show what we missed: quite firm structured nose; firm raspberry fruit on the palate; a stylish combination of concentration and elegance
Domaine René Engel Vosne-Romanée 2000 – £180.00
Quite light colour; attractive spicy fruit on nose; quite a supple palate with light fruit and some tannin
Domaine René Engel Grands Echézeaux, grand cru 2000 – £395.00
Firm smoky nose and palate. Very stylish elegant fruit. Should develop well. A lovely long finish.
Domaine Patrice and Michèle Rion Bourgogne Rouge les Bon Batons 2000 – £90.00
Fresh raspberry flavour with fruit and acidity
Domaine Patrice and Michèle Rion Chambolle Musigny les Cras 2000 – £195.00
Firm nose; quite sold firm fruit, with balancing tannin. Altogether more substantial, as you would expect.
Domaine Patrice Rion Nuits St. Georges ler cru les Cailles 2000 – £240.00 cask sample
Firm closed nose; quite tight liquorice with some raspberry fruit on the palate. Inevitably still very closed, but promises well.