2012 Joseph Drouhin Chorey-les-Beaune and "new producers" burgundy tasting

So I had a lot of Burgundies this weekend, and can conclude that next time I feel for burgundy I should get Cornu Ladoix or Ladoix Les Carriers again (if I dont do what I usually do: buy something I dont know because it is mo re exciting! e.g. Drouhin Gevrey Champertin). I have one more 2012 Chorey that I will have to wait a couple of years to d rink and hope it will be more like the 2009.

Michael Nielsen wrote in news: snipped-for-privacy@googlegroups.com:

It will not.

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Lol, can you elaborate on that?

Michael Nielsen wrote in news:e696471c-aeeb- snipped-for-privacy@googlegroups.com:

2009 and 2012 were too different in weather.

Jancis Robinson:

2009: The health of the grapes in 2009 was exceptional, without a trace of the rot that perennially plagues the vineyards of Burgundy.

(...) The weather was hugely obliging from about mid July onwards, in fact Le Bault de la Morini?re maintains they will probably never see such a perfect summer again, with hardly a cloud in the sky from the beginning of August to the end of harvest. And yet temperatures were not excessive and, thanks to a few storms in late July that were very worrying at the time, the vines had enough water. As Denis Bachelet put it, 'the amount of water in the soil facilitated perfect photosynthesis, which gave us very rich musts - richer than ever'.

2012: most growers struggled to achieve full ripeness before the September rains arrived, so that natural alcohol levels are in the 12 to 12.5% range, often supplemented by a bit of sugar added to the fermentation vat to prolong fermentation.

(...)

The better reds on the other hand at this early stage in their lives, while being generally lighter than either 2010 or 2005, are almost eerily charming, and expressive of their various origins. Presumably the generally cool summer helped to preserve freshness and aromas. I do wonder about their longevity, but when they offer such pleasure so early, perhaps this is a needless concern.

Clive Coates:

2009: It was a splendid summer. From the middle of May onwards the sun shone; it was warm though rarely very hot; it was dry without being parched; and these favourable conditions continued through until the end of the harvest and beyond.

2012: The first half of 2012 could hardly have been worse. While March was mild, April, May and June were almost uninterruptedly cold, wet and miserable. The development of the vine was retarded, the threat of mildew and o?dium was rife (and hardly had you applied a treatment than the rain would wash it away and it would be necessary to repeat the process), the flowering was late and drawn out, and there was extensive hail damage, particularly on June 30th and August 1st.

Im beginning to see what people write that vintage charts make more sense for france than california(*). While there's small differences between years I havent experienced such drastic differences. Ill try to exchange the other bottle and pay extra for a Marimar Cristina 2010, while they are in stock.

(*)

Michael Nielsen wrote in news: snipped-for-privacy@googlegroups.com:

I don't know if it is France vs California. But I think that wine regions in the borders of the wine production limits are normally those with more differences between vintages. Alsace, Champagne, Burgundy or Loire have more variation between vintages than Languedoc-Roussillon, Bandol or Saint- Chinian. Maybe Oregon or Finger Lakes have more variation than California.

Specially Burgundy, with Pinot Noir which is a grape with very thin skins and a lot of finesse, is very prone to changes between vintages.

I would not exchange the Drouhin. It might be a nice wine in a ligher (and more tart) style. I always prefer to try new things than coming back to a wine you already know.

Regards,

But I know both of them now :)

And Im glad I did, so I learned something about the vintage differences. Bu t I exchanged it, because it is rare they have Cristina and it is the best pinot noir I know of, and I think the Drouhin is way too expensive for tast ing almost identical to a 8E argentina pinot noir (Salentein Barrel Selecti on 2012) - I drank them side by side when I realized it reminded me of that one. I popped one open to check if my memory was correct. Actually, the Sa lentein was a bit more complex with a bit more tertiary notes.

Its interesting that the two Ladoix from 2012 were fine. However, When I ha d the 2010 I did seem to get something more out of it as I mentioned in my notes " the 2009 and 2010 are delicious."

But I exchanged it, because it is rare they have Cristina and it is the bes t pinot noir I know of, and I think the Drouhin is way too expensive for ta sting almost identical to a 8E argentina pinot noir (Salentein Barrel Selec tion 2012) - I drank them side by side when I realized it reminded me of th at one. I popped one open to check if my memory was correct. Actually, the Salentein was a bit more complex with a bit more tertiary notes.

had the 2010 I did seem to get something more out of it as I mentioned in m y notes " the 2009 and 2010 are delicious."

I would urge you to perhaps go in with a couple of friends and splurge on a bottle of 1er or GC wines from one of the premier houses in Burgundy. It can be life changing from a wine perspective and it may spoil you but it wi ll give you a measuring stick against which to measure your Burgundian purs uits by. Finding good servicable consistant Pinot Noirs under $20 USD in t he States is hard. Every now and again I stumble upon one but often the le ss expensive wines are over oaked, filled with additives or just plain bad. Happy hunting.

a bottle of 1er or GC wines from one of the premier houses in Burgundy. I t can be life changing from a wine perspective and it may spoil you but it will give you a measuring stick against which to measure your Burgundian pu rsuits by. Finding good servicable consistant Pinot Noirs under $20 USD in the States is hard. Every now and again I stumble upon one but often the less expensive wines are over oaked, filled with additives or just plain ba d. Happy hunting.

Can any of these be recommended?

3%B8dvin

on a bottle of 1er or GC wines from one of the premier houses in Burgundy. It can be life changing from a wine perspective and it may spoil you but i t will give you a measuring stick against which to measure your Burgundian pursuits by. Finding good servicable consistant Pinot Noirs under $20 USD in the States is hard. Every now and again I stumble upon one but often th e less expensive wines are over oaked, filled with additives or just plain bad. Happy hunting.

No. Try a Premier or Grand Cru from Dujac with at least 5-6 years of age. Denis Mortet, J-F Mugnier, Vogue, Robert Arnoux, Anne Gros, Roumier,