Albert Bichot Chablis Les Preuses 2010 (MJ) 
Bonneau du Matray Corton-Charlemagne 2012 (DC)
Henri Boillot Corton-Charlemagne 2007 (ST)
Chanson Beaune Clos des Mouches 1996 (PW)
Mongeard-Mugneret Beaune Les Avaux 2004 (PT) 
Gaston and Pierre Ravaut Corton Les Hautes Mourottes 2002 (AP) 
Jean-Louis Moissenet-Bonnard Pommard Les Epenots 2010 (MJ)
Chateau Lafaurie-Peyraguey Sauternes 2005 (MJ)


DAVID CHAN Wrote:
24th Martch 2017

Hi Everyone,
 
Firstly, thanks to Marty for organising yet another wonderful Cellar Geek dinner in the lovely Athena dining room within the Athenaeum Club.
 
The chosen theme was also very appropriate, given that the Beaune sub region of Burgundy was not an area that the Geeks have explored systematically.
 
As usual, here are my personal impressions of the wines, along with some photos (attached) that I took that evening.
 
CG Dinner #1 – March 24th 2017 Wine list:
 
0.       Albert Bichot Chablis Les Preuses 2010 (MJ) - starter
1.       Bonneau du Matray Corton-Charlemagne 2012 (DC) - bracket 1
2.       Henri Boillot Corton-Charlemagne 2007 (ST) - bracket 1
3.       Chanson Beaune Clos des Mouches 1996 (PW) - bracket 2
4.       Mongeard-Mugneret Beaune Les Avaux 2004 (PT) - bracket 2
5.       Gaston and Pierre Ravaut Corton Les Hautes Mourottes 2002 (AP) - bracket 3
6.       Jean-Louis Moissenet-Bonnard Pommard Les Epenots 2010 (MJ) - bracket 3
7.       Chateau Lafaurie-Peyraguey Sauternes 2005 (MJ) - dessert/cheese
 
Some brief notes:
 
0.       Colour (C): gold, fairly deep colour;
Nose (N): initially aged, developed nose of madeira, honey, oxidative note;
Palate (P): structured with a strong acid backbone, kumquats and madeira. Honey and flinty minerality appeared once the oxidative notes blew off. Long finish.
Comment: Was surprised it was a 2010 given the colour and aged notes; much discussion around table about premox, that it may not be due to oxidation but some other reaction. It was then decanted which further blew off the oxidative notes. I thought it was pleasant.
 
1.       C: very pale and light straw, almost water white;
N: kaffir lime and hint of sandalwood, very distinctive!
P: High acid well balanced by the fruit of kaffir and finger limes, white peach, all very primary and fresh, integrated oak, chalk/minerals and a very long finish.
Comment: Balanced, elegant yet powerful wine, I wonder how long it will age and develop for?
 
2.       C: palish gold, glowing in the ambient light;
N: spicy, hints of white pepper, honey and pineapple;
P: concentrated and intense palate, savoury oak, hints of honey and pineapple, and coconut!
Comment: Delicious given the tropical notes and coconut, the colour of the wine was very striking, almost iridescent gold.
 
3.       C: medium maroon body with a brick rim;
N: cherry raspberry with a tiny hint of forest floor
P: Ultra-fine tannins, sweet cherry and raspberry fruits, mature aroma of tobacco leaf, hints of cold roast and leather, longish length;
Comment: Still held together well given it is entering its 21st year! Goes to show the aging capability of Cote de Beaune Reds, something most of us previously thought only applied to the Cote de Nuit reds.
 
4.       C: medium-deep maroon body with a watery brickish rim;
N: distinctly brambly, forest floor almost dominating the classic pinot raspberry fruit nose.
P: very fine tannins, still fair tight structure, raspberry fruit dominated by the forest floor/brambly character, drying finish not quite as long as the previous wine.
Comment: 2004 was a difficult red burgundy year, yet this wine is drinking well and provided another view of aged Cote de Beaune Reds
 
5.       C: crimson with a touch of marron, medium tight rim.
N: dusty but concentrated ripe black cherry nose cuts through all that dust;
P: Ultrafine tannins with a grippy finish, a great acid backbone well balanced by the black cherry fruit, very long length.
Comment: Despite 15 years out from vintage, this wine is still display very primary fruit characteristics with little signs of developed aroma profiles. The slightly grippy very fine tannins shows its Pommard origin?
 
6.       C: crimson with a tight rim, looks young colour-wise
N: cherry and coconut oil!!
P: Ultrafine grippy tannins, sweet cherry fruit, well balanced with a long lingering finish and an unusual aroma of coconut oil (but in a pleasant way to me)
Comment: Young-ish Pommard from a famous vineyard, again the very fine grippy tannins appear to be a signpost of its origin.
 
7.       C: pale gold/straw;
N: apricots
P: sweet, viscous, complex, with ripe yellow peaches, apricots and a hint of nougat;
Comment: A top year for Sauternes, still very primary with hardly much ageing at all compared to when I tasted it soon after release and subsequently over the years.
 
Best Regards,
DC