WTN: 2010 Jean-Marc Burgaud Morgon Côte du Py James

[David M. Bueker]

2010 Jean-Marc Burgaud Morgon Côte du Py James
As with its sister bottling (Javernières), this is initially quite stern in profile, even to the point of being austere and out of balance. An hour later the fruit starts to fill in, and two hours later there is an overall harmony that was nowhere to be found on opening. The fruit remains austere, and overall the wine is quite stern, but it has a sense of balance, so give it some (lots) time.

On a Beaujolais vintage rant, I'm not any more comfortable with 2010 than some geekier Beaujolais fans are with 2009 (my second favorite recent vintage after 2005). 2010 so far has been a hard, relatively austere vintage that either has already clamped down tight or doesn't have much in the way of charm anywhere in its make up. Time will tell.

I think Burgaud's style is also a pretty hard style and the James is the hardest wine in his range - it's hard as nails even in hot years.

I have liked what I've tasted of 2010; but I guess it's no surprise that I like a leaner year. I think Burgaud's plain Morgon CdP is the best he's done.

On a Beaujolais vintage rant, I'm not any more comfortable with 2010 than some geekier Beaujolais fans are with 2009 (my second favorite recent vintage after 2005). 2010 so far has been a hard, relatively austere vintage that either has already clamped down tight or doesn't have much in the way of charm anywhere in its make up. Time will tell.

I haven't had a lot of 2010 Beaujolais, but the one that I've been drinking the most is Foillard CdP and for me it's nowhere near hard or even relatively austere. It's quite delicious and I like it just as much as the 2009, which I also liked very much. But then I'm a huge Foillard fan and can't remember a vintage that they 'missed' for my palate. Just different interpretations of the same theme.

[David M. Bueker]

Thanks guys.

Not a ton of experience with Burgaud's named cuvees, so had no idea they had a stylistic bent towards hardness.

Haven't had the 2010 Foillard yet. Will seek out a bottle.

Not a ton of experience with Burgaud's named cuvees, so had no idea they had a stylistic bent towards hardness.

The two more "humble" wines, Morgon Charmes and the straight Morgon CdPy, are IMO the nice ones that Burgaud makes. Even these are hard, but they never feel over-extracted to me. The Réserve and James are just too concentrated and lacking in charm. Though I have never had older vintages - apparently both age brilliantly. But since the straight Morgon CdP also ages well and is lovely on release as well, that's the one I tend to drink.

I had another bottle of 2010 Foillard CdP tonight and it was as gloriously silky Foillard as ever. Sure it's not as ripe as 2009, but if you like Beaujolais this is not at all austere.

I was a bit worried and wanted to check in because my previous bottle had been dominated by brett, something that has not been an issue for me with Foillard in the past. But no problems with this bottle. Which of course does not necessarily mean much for the future. But I bought my 2010 Foillards from 3 different stores and one of them is less reliable with temperature, so I'm hoping that's the explanation.

Either way, given my palate, I plan to buy more.