This is a great thread.
You're right, Rousseau is utter shite, I'll give you a tenner for the lot.
Forget that - I'll stretch to 12 quid.
and there's no earthly reason why we all have to like burgundy or Chateauneuf any more than we all have to like liver or Crunchie bars.
And as you said further above livers aren't indestructible, although Crunchie bars probably are.
It's a bit like seeing the Fall back in the day
Being a veteran of at least 35 Fall gigs I can totally concur with this. I also feel very privileged to have attended what I am sure was the last Fall gig ever. Only really got Brix and The Extricated to quench my Fall thirst now, sadly. It even got to the stage once that when they were playing the Arches in Glasgow that I drove through with the intention of only buying a ticket if the ticket desk could confirm that MES was actually in the building. He was and it was a stonking gig. However, comparing him with red Burgundy is perfectly valid - will he/it turn up? If he/it does, will they actually perform? Will they disappear mid-gig, never to return? Or will he just come back for the encore? Or will he/it sit and sulk, but still sing at the back of the stage? Perhaps that's why I loved The Fall and why I love red Burgundy.
Being slightly more serious, I had my first real introduction to red Burgundy when the wine merchant, Cockburns of Leith was closing their shops, to merge with another iconic Edinburgh wine merchant, Jimmy Hogg, at the wine warehouse (iirc) at Haymarket, and they put on quite a large tasting in their Stockbridge shop. The only thing that sticks in my mind to this day (and that must have been around 1991) was one of the staff saying, "you must try a glass of this, Paul". I sniffed it and thought "wow, this is something special". A couple more swirls and took a mouthful and it blew my mind. "This is the best red wine I have ever tasted", I thought. "What is it?" I asked. He showed me the bottle. Richebourg 1985, DRC. I hadn't a clue who DRC were and what/where Richebourg was. But I knew this was something special. I very quickly discovered what I could about red Burgundy and spent many a holiday there, plus most of the kids' inheritance trying to recreate that experience, fully knowing by then that I could never afford such a wine, ever. It never stopped me trying though and Burgundy (both red and white, in spite of the pox and ever-increasing prices) has been my crock of gold at the end of the rainbow. It has brought me great joy and excitement, as well as deep disappointments. There's no denying it has been a roller-coaster, and an expensive one, but I would repeat the journey again.
The main thing is that, while I never touched the magical experience of Richebourg 1985 DRC, I have had some seriously good and interesting wines and met a load of welcoming and generous producers and for that I am truly grateful, and it has kept my runaway Burgundy train still firmly on the rails and I'm sure will continue to do so until I pass from this mortal coil.
Having spouted all of that nonsense, it does sound like you had a bum deal, Kevin, with the wine you tasted. Its not a top vintage (but, in most cases it shouldn't matter, as it is really the producer that is what should guide your selection) and Charmes-Chambertin is arguably on the fringe of Grand Cru status and Crottin (using the name of Potel) is probably below average, so the odds were stacked against you. All I can say is keep persevering but if, as you say, your 'best' Burgundys have been at village level, then just stick to them to avoid further disappointment.
