WTN: Two 2008 Burgs

Plus a bonus Sancerre, and More signs that the '08 red Burgs are going to be very bad for my wallet...

2007 Domaine François Cotat (Paul & François) Sancerre Les Monts Damnés
Packed with ripe grapefruit and some mineral notes, but there's really not much else going on - it's a pretty static, dull wine where the first sip feels and tastes the same as the last, which would be fine if it weren't so boring and one-note from the start.

2008 Domaine G. Roumier / Christophe Roumier Chambolle-Musigny
Popped, poured and followed over a few hours alongside the CSJ. Starts out a little reticent but after a little air it really takes off, developing an amazing scent of raspberries and black cherries with gentle floral and spicy accents. There's a sense of purity and clarity to the flavours, and a really finessed, polished texture with bright acids and surprisingly gentle tannins. Obviously very primary right now, but it's already quite compelling.

2008 Louis Jadot Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Cru Clos St. Jacques
Hard to put this one into words, other than it's a wine that I really need to get more of. This is tremendous. Amazing depth and breadth; layers of red and dark fruited flavours, spicy and meaty accents, savoury earth and so much more, all conveyed with impeccable balance, moderate weight and a sense of restrained power. Wow!

2007 Domaine François Cotat (Paul & François) Sancerre Les Monts Damnés
Packed with ripe grapefruit and some mineral notes, but there's really not much else going on - it's a pretty static, dull wine where the first sip feels and tastes the same as the last, which would be fine if it weren't so boring and one-note from the start.

Well it's sauvignon blanc, what do you expect!

I am partially kidding. I think I like sauvignon blanc more than you do and I don't usually think of the Cotat wines as boring (although I haven't tasted this vintage and don't know what happened that year). But the main reason I don't buy more Sancerre is that even the great ones never show all the dimensions of a great riesling or chenin blanc. Not all grapes have the same potential, IMHO.

You probably do like SB more than I do - that said, I have had some Cotat (can't remember which one) before that I did enjoy, so had approached this with higher expectations.

But as far as Sauvignon Blanc's potential... whatever Vatan Sancerre I've had has certainly set the bar for the grape, and a bottle of the '02 Vatan Clos la Neore a couple of months ago was a truly amazing experience - for me, one of the great white wines I've had and up there with any of my favourite Rieslings/Gruners/Chenins.

But as far as Sauvignon Blanc's potential... whatever Vatan Sancerre I've had has certainly set the bar for the grape, and a bottle of the '02 Vatan Clos la Neore a couple of months ago was a truly amazing experience - for me, one of the great white wines I've had and up there with any of my favourite Rieslings/Gruners/Chenins.

I agree. Vatan is great and thrilling and makes me want to drink more Sauvignon Blanc. Or at least more Vatan.

But it is not a complex/multi-dimensional wines in the same way as a great riesling/chenin. I've always thought it was primarily thrilling because of the energy and the life and the way its fairly one-note tune was sung with such beauty. And even if Vatan manages to coax more textural nuance out of the grape than anyone else (even in Chavignol) that is pretty much the exception that proves the rule.

While I agree with Rahsaan's general opinion of SB, I've found Dageneau's stuff to be as multi-dimensional as any Bourgogne Premier Cru, even moreso.

Although I'm inclined to think that Riesling is generally more complex than any Bourgogne.

Sancerre? Check this out!

http://blogs.gangofpour.com/three-2008-loire-whites

While I agree with Rahsaan's general opinion of SB, I've found Dageneau's stuff to be as multi-dimensional as any Bourgogne Premier Cru, even moreso.

I think there is also a terroir issue here, as Sauvignon Blanc is not planted in the prime Cote d'Or or Mosel sites. And grand terroir (which gives multi-dimensionality) is rare. I haven't had a ton of Dagueneau but even if you add him, Cotat and Vatan as the top producers of sublime sauvignon blanc, they're still coming in way behind Burgundy or the Mosel. In part that may be the respective marketing of the different regions. But grape and terroir are also relevant here.

chacun a son gout. i liked the 07 culs de beaujeau, though more on 2nd day. but right now is the time i'd generally avoid 07s,. i usually like cotat at release for a year or so, and then let sit till 8 years or so. leaner years i might avoid the release drinking, and riper years might do better in middle, but that's my general feeling.
as to grand terroir, i generally think of culs de b as more simple and fruitdriven than montes damnes (which includes clos de la neore) but i'm not sure that there's any evidence than somehow either is inherently less grand or noble than any given mosel or burg vineyard. as there isn't sb in wehkener sonnenuhr, or riesling in monts dames, we'll never know (sand even that wouldn/t prove anything, as suitability is also a factor). i think its fine to say you don't like wines, not so sure evidence of what good terroir is.

not so sure evidence of what good terroir is.

The fineness of the texture.

... it's a pretty static, dull wine where the first sip feels and tastes the same as the last, which would be fine if it weren't so boring and one-note from the start.

You've been hanging out with David too long...