During my last trip to Burgundy in 2009 I stopped to visit Frederic Esmonin as one of our travelling companions was a long time friend of the Esmonins. Fred was a likeable sort and as we tasted his wines he made us an offer we couldn't refuse on buying some of his 2007 vintage as he was trying to fill out a shipment to the US. I bought four cases at serious discounts. That being said, the wines would not win a beauty contest but they are firm, competent table wines. Last night with roast chicken I opened a bottle of 2007 F. Esmonin Gevrey Chambertin 1er "Les Champonnets". The wine was quite light in the glass more of a dark rose than light garnet. The nose was tight with a bit of Gevrey dirt and a citrus tartness to the aroma. The wine was quite light bodied on the palate with sour cherry a bit of minerality, firm tannins and a high acidity. The wine lacked finesse or ripeness but was drilnkable with the chicken and actually improved with the food. "C+/B-"
- posted
13 years ago