An evening at the Fig Café in Glen Ellen with old friends both of whom are wine professionals. We each bring a bottle of wine without any communication about what it should be. Curiously, we both bring Vosne-Romanée.
1999 Dom. Bruno Clavelier, Vosne-Romanée Les Beaux Monts:
More about vintage than dirt, with some roasted fruit notes and plenty of flesh. Good depth, some development, good length and grip. Fine with steak.
1996 Jadot, Vosne-Romanée Les Suchots:
Also more about vintage than dirt but in a different way; firm, acidic, linear; some development, good length and grip. Fine with steak.
Neither was stellar, both were enjoyable. Mainly, they were savory, not sweet; each showed some secondary character; neither was especially complex, and, both reflected vintage reasonably well.
We did not pick a favorite nor did any of us think either was so exceptional as to be one.
Sacrilege though it might be, the more I drink old Burgundy, the more I prefer well-made, California pinot. At a fraction of the price (but even without the price difference).
And yes, I have had the “Burgundy experience,” problem is, not very often.
Best, Jim
). That being said, the watchword as always is producer. Certain producers can reliably make wines that will provide great pleasure and, occasionally, transcendence. The best strategy is to cultivate deep-pocketed friends who periodically open incredible bottles for you. Alternatively, become one of those deep-pocketed friends yourself and open those bottles for your friends.