Two 04 Chambolle Villages

Hi everyone, long time no post.

Its high summer in Brisbane Australia, its been 33 degrees (about 92F) for over a week, so light reds are the order of the day. Well, Mosel is the order of the day, but I hanker for a red every now and then

A good opportunity to take a look at a couple of 04 Burgundies from two bigger houses.

04 Jean Claude Boisset Chambolle Musigny: Cherry red. Animale, mossy undergrowth and ripe redcurrant, forest berry nose and a whiff of VA. Earth, some sap and pure dark berries just laced with an acid tang. Stucturally this is chewy and full for a chambolle, reflected in 13.5% alcohol as well. Classic shape on the palate, fine delicate tannins supporting this through impressive length for this level. Nice enough wine, that hasn't moved for about 3 years.

04 Louis Jadot Chambolle Musigny: Quite a satisyfing deep red colour. A bit of airtime sees a mute nose give up some sweet red berries redskins and some dry earth. The palate is an evolving melange - initially red fruits, then darker berries and a touch of cedar. Theres also a hit of sawn pine greenness to this in the back ground, not distracting but noticeable. The fruit density is surprising, I'm impressed for a villages level Chambolle. A lot of interest here even if it doesn’t soar.

Two solid enough wines, with only the Jadot showing any slight trace of the reputed green streak of the 04 vintage.

cheers

Andrew

Nice that you can fit red Burgundy (even 2004) into a heatwave schedule! I love Burgundy but find that they can become difficult to appreciate in the middle of summer.

And also nice to hear some semi-positive notes about 2004.

I think 04 has been undeservedly talked down. Sure it isnt 05 or 02, but so far I've had some reasonable wines, and haven't had the notorious "green streak" too often (but sadly the worst was in a Jadot Amoreuses).

cheers

Andrew

[David M. Bueker]

Interesting note on the Jadot Chambolle. Since the Chambolle is a negotiant wine I wonder if they were able to buy the product of 1er cru or even grand cru vineyards for it in a difficult year like '04 (from producers who elected not to bottle their own), thus making the village wine a little more gutsy than usual.