It was a bit of a cheeky lark. We wanted to see if at this age, Pinot was so distinguishable from Cabernet and Merlot. No one in our eminent group pegged this as a Burgundy. That aside, the bottle was in brilliant shape, as was the wine. The aromatics were a little subdued (at that age, wouldn't you be?), but on the palate its tannic structure was remarkable, enough acidity to dance with the fruit, which while clearly receding, still had a juicy attractive vigor to it. Not a model of finesse perhaps, but a lovely confection of blackberry, smoky cherry and some intriguing earthiness on the alluringly balanced finale. And it has just transcended its years in so much of its marvelous appeal.
It was a bit of a cheeky lark. We wanted to see if at this age, Pinot was so distinguishable from Cabernet and Merlot. No one in our eminent group pegged this as a Burgundy. That aside, the bottle was in brilliant shape, as was the wine. The aromatics were a little subdued (at that age, wouldn't you be?), but on the palate its tannic structure was remarkable, enough acidity to dance with the fruit, which while clearly receding, still had a juicy attractive vigor to it. Not a model of finesse perhaps, but a lovely confection of blackberry, smoky cherry and some intriguing earthiness on the alluringly balanced finale. And it has just transcended its years in so much of its marvelous appeal.
Jul 10th, 2016
Gevrey-Chambertin, Côte de Nuits, Burgundy, France
