2011 Chablis does not have the razor sharp minerality of the 2010s, but the wines are none the worse for that. They tend to be just a little softer and more rounded, making for some undemanding and enjoyable drinking. And in the Côte d’Or the red wines seems remarkably drinkable already, with some appealing freshness and raspberry fruit. And there are some appealingly elegant wines amongst the white wines from the Côte de Beaune too. Prices are either recommended retail price from importer, or per case of 12 bottles in bond (IB), unless stated otherwise.
For a list of all UK merchants offering Burgundy 2011, see wine-searcher.
2011 Burgundy – Chablis
I make no apologies for so many Chablis recommendations, especially of Chablis and Petit Chablis for immediate drinking.
Domaine Séguinot Bordet, Petit Chablis 2011
A Petit Chablis with as much weight and character as a Chablis. Quite rounded leafy and rich on the nose, with quite a rich palate, balanced by firm acidity. £91.00 IB from Montrachet Fine Wine.
Simonnet-Febvre, Petit Chablis 2011
Definitely punches above its weight. Quite rounded and rich for a Petit Chablis. Firm fruit and good minerality. Quite rich and textured with a long finish. The wines from this estate have been steadily improving over the last few years in the hands of Jean-Philippe Archimbaud. RRP £13.99, see all stockists on wine-searcher.
Domaine William Fèvre, Chablis 2011
Elegantly stony, fresh and flinty with good acidity. Lovely balance and drinking well now. It may go into an adolescent sulky in a few months time, as most good Chablis usually does, but will emerge even better. £15.99 from Hailsham Cellars, Noble Green Wines, Fortnum & Mason, Hedonism Drinks.
Domaine Laroche, Chablis St. Martin 2011
This cuvée is always a notch up from the basic Chablis, with firm tight knit stony fruit on the nose and lovely fresh acidity and elegant minerality on the palate. RRP £17.99, see all stockists on wine-searcher.
Domaine Samuel Billaud, Chablis 2011
Light colour; rounded nose with quite a solid palate. Good acidity, youthful and tight knit. Samuel’s Mont de Milieu also promises well, with some minerality, weight and length. £156.00 IB from Montrachet Fine Wine. (not to be confused with Domaine Billaud Simon, run by Samuel’s uncle, Bernard)
Domaine Bernard Defaix, Chablis 2011
Quite a firm nose. Tight leafy fruit with a note of minerality. Lovely balance. Elegant and ready to drink. £98 IB from Flint Wines
Domaine Gilbert Picq, Chablis Vieilles Vignes 2011
From 60 year old vines. Quite firm fruit. Quite solid rounded nose, and on the palate very good concentration with lovely depth and length, though beginning to mature already. Didier is very happy with his 2011s, ‘un joli millésime’. £85 IB from O.W. Loeb
Domaine des Malandes, Chablis ler Cru Côte de Léchet 2011
Quite rounded nose, with good minerality. Elegance and freshness and minerality on the palate. Beautifully balanced, while the Montmains Vieilles Vignes had a little more depth and weight. RRP £17.25, see all stockists on wine-searcher.
Domaine Louis Michel, Chablis ler Cru Montmains 2011
Rounded stony nose. Fresh flinty and acidity, with depth and elegance. Very stylish. Not a stave of oak in sight and plenty of ageing potential. £149.00 IB from O.W. Loeb
Domaine Moreau-Naudet, Chablis ler Cru Montée de Tonnerre 2011
Some herbal leesy notes on the nose and the palate, tight knit firm and flinty. Good body. Tight knit palate, again with plenty of ageing potential. £140.00 IBfrom O.W.Loeb
Domaine Adhémar et Francis Boudin, Chablis ler Cru Fourchaume 2011
Quite an elegant stony nose, with good minerality and on the palate solid and rounded, with some leafy mineral and very good balancing acidity. £147.00 IB from Lea & Sandeman
2011 Burgundy – White
Concentrating on more affordable wines:
Domaine Daniel Barraud, Mâcon Chaintré Pierres Polies 2011
Quite a soft, rounded nose, and a rounded palate; lightly nutty and buttery with good acidity on the finish. Easy drinking. £78.00 IB from Lea & Sandeman
Domaine Bernard Moreau, Bourgogne Blanc 2011
While the main family holdings are in Chassagne-Montrachet, this Bourgogne Blanc definitely over performs. Firm nose, tight knit firm fruit on the palate, with lightly nutty notes. Nice depth and a rounded finish. £126 IB from Flint Wines
Domaine Caroline Morey, Saint Aubin ler Cru Champlots 2011
Quite rich and leesy on nose and palate, but elegantly so, with some satisfying depth. Saint Aubin is a great source of good value Burgundy. £215 IB from Flint Wines
David Moret, Meursault ‘Sous la Velle’ 2011
David Moret makes several different Meursault, so it is difficult to choose between them. Quite rounded but elegant nose, with fresh fruit and good acidity, and nicely understated. I do not like my Meursault too rich and buttery. RRP £41.99, see all stockists on wine-searcher.
2011 Burgundy – Red
Again, the emphasis on affordable reds first:
Domaine Bachelet-Monnot, Bourgogne Rouge 2011
Quite fresh raspberry and liquorice fruit on nose and palate. Some appealing youthful fruit. Good balance. £115.00 IB from Justerini & Brooks
Domaine Bachelet-Monnot, Maranges 1er Cru la Fuissière 2011 Offers fresh liquorice notes on the nose, and some ripe and appealing fruit on the palate. Remarkably easy drinking already. £160.00 IB from Justerini & Brooks
Clos de Tavannes, Santenay ler Cru 2011
Light colour. Quite a firm nose, with ripe raspberry fruit and a certain depth of flavour. Rounded and fresh. £200.00 IB from Justerini & Brooks
Domaine Sylvain Pataille, Marsannay la Montagne 2011
Quite a solid rounded nose, with good fruit. A rounded palate with ripe red fruit and a tight tannic note. Medium weight and promises well. £185 IB from OW Loeb
Domaine Huguenot, Marsannay Champs Perdrix 2011
Quite a firm nose. Tight knit structured palate with acidity and tannin and some spicy fruit. Good length. £174.00 IB from Lea & Sandeman
Domaine François Raquillet, Mercurey Vieilles Vignes 2011
Quite a firm, tight knit nose, but on the palate some elegant liquorice flavours, with balancing tannin. Good length. 129.00 IB from Lea & Sandeman
Domaine Joël Rémy, Chorey les Beaune Les Beaumonts 2011
Quite a fresh dry raspberry nose. Some intriguing liquorice notes with raspberry fruit. Good tannins and acidity balance. Nicely refreshing flavours. £111.00 IB from Lea & Sandeman
Domaine Bernard Coillet, Côte de Nuits Villages 2011
Quite a ripe nose, with liquorice fruit, and more liquorice fruit on the palate, with a tannic streak. Good balance with some appealing fruit. £135 IB from Flint Wines
And now for some more serious reds, with some lovely Volnays from Domaine Nicolas Rossignol.
Nicolas Rossignol, Volnay ler cru Roncerets 2011
Medium colour. Quite a firm dense nose, and on the palate quite solid and tight knit, with elegant fruit. Very appealing balance of fruit and tannins. Great potential. £348.00 IB from Lea & Sandeman
Domaine de Montille, Volnay 1er Cru les Taillepieds 2011
A touch of sweet oak on the nose, and on the palate quite firm fruit, quite solid and ripe with a hint of oak and some good concentration., Lots of potential. £600.00 IB from Justerini & Brooks
AF Gros, Pommard ler Cru les Pezerolles 2011
Medium colour. Firm tight nose, with some raspberry fruit And on the palate, raspberries, liquorice and spice, with a streak of tannin. Medium weight. RRP £58.00, see all stockists on wine-searcher.
Domaine Jean-Claude Boisset, Pommard les Vaumuriens 2011
The winemaker Gregory Patriat explained how they had forgotten about this plot of vines. It was picked on 22nd September, rather than around 5 – 8th September, but as a cooler plot, no harm was done. Medium depth of colour. Quite a rich nose, and even more richness and supple fruit on the palate. A combination of elegance and concentration and great length. 50% whole bunch pressing makes for finesse, according to Gregory. RRP £41.99, see all stockists on wine-searcher.
Domaine Arlaud, Morey St Denis ler Cru les Chezeaux 2011
Quite a firm nose with some oak, and good fruit on both nose and palate. Elegant and structure with great finesse. £210 for 6 IB from Flint Wines
Domaine Christophe Perrot-Minot, Chambolle Musigny 2011
Quite a solid nose; quite a fresh, rounded palate. Some oak; quite supple, ripe and spicy. His Charmes Chambertin Grand cru is also absolutely stunning, with depth and elegance and ripe sweet fruit, and lots of nuances, fresh fruit and concentration. £372.00 IB from Lea & Sandeman; £175.00 IB for 6 from Justerini & Brooks
Domaine Ghislaine Barthod, Chambolle Musigny 2011
I have a soft spot for the wines of this estate, and they did not disappoint. Ghislaine admitted that the 2011s had turned out better than expected. Her Chambolle has fresh raspberry fruit, with an appealing balance of structure and fruit on the palate. £380.00 IB from Justerini & Brooks
Domaine Ghislaine Barthod, Bourgogne Rouge 2011
This is good too, with quite a deep colour. Quite a rounded nose with some fresh fruit on the palate. £165.00 IB from Justerini & Brooks
Domaine Bruno Clair, Marsannay les Longeroies 2011
Lovely and complete with raspberry and liquorice fruit. Rich and balanced with an elegant finish. £190.00 IB from Justerini & Brooks
Domaine Bruno Clair, Chambertin Grand Cru Clos de Bèze 2011
And if money were no object, this offers enormous potential. Quite a solid nose and on the palate, ripe and rounded, spicy elegant and rich with beautiful concentration. Drinking pleasure galore in years to come. £1250.00 IB from from Justerini & Brooks
Bouchard Père et Fils, Bonnes Mares 2011
Firm structured fruit on nose and palate. A combination of raspberries and tannin. Elegance and depth with a certain freshness. Great length. £784.50 for 6 IB, shipped by Fells.
For a list of all UK merchants offering Burgundy 2011, see wine-searcher.