WTN: Niellon, DRC, and Guigal at Veritas

Sunday night, a few of us shared an evening of laughs, friendship, and the 25% off all wines that Veritas in NYC is offering.

We started with a 1996 Niellon Chassagne-Montrachet Les Vergers - I felt safe ordering this wine at a restaurant since it seems to have a high incidence of prem-ox, and it would be easy to get a replacement. This wine showed just the palest color and had a delicate and restrained mineral nose that hinted at a creaminess that the palate did not show. Good structure and acidity, it showed a minerality and a subtle taste of green apple on the austere palate. Some bumps along the way that lead to an attractive finish.

2001 Domaine de la Romanee Conti Echezeaux - a gorgeous ruby color with exotic aromas. It was bold and lively with spice and dark fruit that turned to red as it sat in the glass. So young, but it is fantastic to drink right now.


1997 Guigal La Mouline - the nose showed dense, ripe fruit. On the palate was an array of berries, white pepper, lush, and large with good acidity and velvety tannins that kept it in balance. Impressive, but still needs time.
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Nice!
I once was at a dinner with 4 vintages each of Niellon Vergers, Batard, and Chevalier. The Vergers held its own. They replanted after I think 98 vintage, so none till recently, and those are young vines. So you're very lucky to taste some of the last old vines Vergers.

I recently read a tasting note on a 2007 Niellon Vergers that sounded amazing. It was that note that pushed me to order the 1996.