WTN: Savigny-les-Beaune Les Lavieres 1er Cru 1999

I got a couple of bottles of this at Beltramo's a couple of years ago (EGAD! June '02!), for $22.40 each, and I decided to open one with a veal chop tonight. I got busy and forgot to open it early, so it was opened only half an hour before eating.
Shy at first, opening into a surprisingly tannic mid-palate, with lots of acid to balance. Dark, nearly opaque ruby color. Fruit like cherries (maybe slightly sour cherries). Medium long finish sweetens a bit, but the tannins remain. I'm not sure just what to think. Good, and good for the price, but doesn't really ring my chimes.
I'm thinking that more time would help. I won't be in a hurry to open the other bottle.
BTW, the bottle also says "Comte et Comtesse A. C. de Nicolay" and "Domaine Chandon de Brialles". Not being a native Burgundian, I'm not at all sure what it all means.

Just FYI, the most important thing on label (imho) is the Domaine Chandon de Briailles. Producer, producer, producer.

Area is Savigny, specific vineyard is Les Lavieres, grower is Chandon de Briailles.

Usually a very good wine, though maybe awkward time for '99s right now.

That does sound like an excellent price. 05s are at least double that, plus you'd have to wait a lot longer until maturity. The other bottle should be lovely if you can wait long enough..

Domaine Chandon de Brialles is an excellent producer in the Cotes de Beaune. I had the privilege of a barrel tasting at the estate, hosted by the Comtesse de Nicolay. She was a charming hostess, and the wines were superb.

Savigny is IMO one of the most reliable of the Burgundy communes. One real eye opener for me was the Cremant de Bourgogne (sparkling Burgundy) from Savigny-Les-Beaune. Some of the sparkling wines from this commune are every bit as good as non-vintage Champagne from the top houses (except of course for Krug), but they're a fraction of the price. Look out for it and jump at it, if you get the chance.

-Paul W.

Ok, I wasn't sure whether Chandon or Nicolay was the producer. However, Chandon was on the cork....

Thanks very much. I'll tell my spreadsheet that I want to hold the other bottle for a few more years.

Domaine Chandon de Brialles is an excellent producer in the Cotes de Beaune. I had the privilege of a barrel tasting at the estate, hosted by the Comtesse de Nicolay. She was a charming hostess, and the wines were superb.

Just in case it wasn't clear from this:

Chandon de Brialles is the official name of the domaine. It has excellent holdings in the Cote de Beaune, especially in Corton, Sauvigny, and Auxey. This is a top-rate producer.

The domaine is owned by the Comte and Comtesse de Nicolay.

-Paul W.

Ok, thanks for the clarification.

BTW, the other half of the bottle tonight, after overnight in the fridge, was quite a bit more attractive. It had lost the sour-cherry note and become just PN-like, albeit a lot less ripe than an American PN. And it had got longer and lost the tannic edge. Definitely on the "ignore" list for a while!

Ok, thanks for the clarification.

BTW, the other half of the bottle tonight, after overnight in the fridge, was quite a bit more attractive. It had lost the sour-cherry note and become just PN-like, albeit a lot less ripe than an American PN. And it had got longer and lost the tannic edge. Definitely on the "ignore" list for a while!

As a general rule of thumb, I'd say that in an average good vintage you could set aside a Chandon de Brialles 1er Cru Savigny-Les-Beaune for at least 5-10 years without worry.

It's always going to be more austere than most California pinot noir. But it will likely, at its peak, be more aromatic and complex and elegant. The really great Burgundies that it's been my pleasure to experience have all been wines where I may spend five minutes just swirling the glass and inhaling the ethereal and complex aromas, before taking a sip of the wine itself. You can get lost in a good glass of Savigny from a top producer such as Chandon de Brialles in a good year.

-Paul W.