6 wine geeks gathered at my house for what was originally a Savigny theme that broadened to Cote de Beaune and Chablis
Chips, cheeses, charcuterie (pheasant terrine and prosciutto)
NV Valentin Leflaive 15-50 Mesnil Champagne (2015 base, 5 g/l dosage)
Slightly nutty, nice pear fruit and chalky finish, but finish is disappointingly short, B-
With the Chablis, razor clam and orange salad
2022 Gueguen Chablis La Vigne de 1975
Acclaimed producer, but I found this ponderously soft and sweet. Others liked more, but I’d like to try in a leaner vintage. B-/C+
2021 Samuel Billaud Montee de Tonnerre Chablis 1er
Chalk and oystershell, taut lemon fruit, this is the racy Chablis I’m looking for. B+
2005 D-E Defaix Cote De Lechet Chablis 1er
Ripeness of the vintage shows, but it pulls it off. Orchard fruit, lemon zest, just a hint of nuttiness. B+
Scallop crudo with ponzu and Tajin
2020 Bize Savigny Les Beaune Blanc
Really lovely for a village white, pear and green apple, mint leaves and chalk, very good finish. B++
2017 Chandon d Brialles “Îles de Vergelesses” Pernand-Vergelesses Blanc 1er
Rich with nectarine and hazelnut, balanced acids, good snap. It seems to lose a step with time, one person thinks it’s on edge of premox, but I still like, though not as much as a previous bottle., B+/B
Ok, red time
2021 Bize Grands Liards Savigny Les Beaune 1er
Crunchy black cherry fruit, smoke and gamebird, nice length. This is very young but drinking surprisingly well already B+
Blind bottle- some structure, spicy red fruit with coffee, I guessed 2009 or 2010 but I would have never guessed appellation. Very impressive.-2010 Drouhin Chorey les Beaune B++
2007 Camus-Bruchon Lavieres Savigny Les Beaune 1er
Tightly wound, usually I find ‘07s pretty approachable> With time some interesting espresso notes and rich black cherry emerge, more like what I had a year ago. Will let last bottle rest. B for now
Usually at wine dinners I do red meat, but this time did chicken and mushroom stew
2002 M. Gaunoux Michel Corton-Renardes
Surprisingly approachable, deep and long. Red fruited (strawberries and cherries), with smoke, citrus zest, and herbs. WOTN for me A-
2001 Pavelot “la Dominode” Savigny Les Beaune 1er
Lifted, a little barnyard, black cherry with a menthol edge. B
NV Roederer Collection 245 Champagne
Citrus, sweet red apple, and buttermilk biscuit, big but with some verve. I like, maybe not as much as 244 though. B/B+
1999 Bize “les Bourgeots” Savigny Les Beaune
Nice showing for a village wine, black plum and cherry with spice and cocoa. Excellent persistence, in a good place. B+
1999 Ecard Narbantons Savigny Les Beaune 1er
Darker fruit, rich, grilled meats and underbrush. Still some tannic backbone. B+ for now, could improve.
1999 Jobard Blagny Piece Sous Le Bois 1er rouge
Apparently this is one of last vintages, this was grubbed up and replaced by Chardonnay. Light red fruits, spicy, but a little flat on palate. B/B-
1999 d’Angerville Volnay 1er
Good body, but shows a little caramel note, think this not a perfect bottle. Maybe heat damage. Good core though (B- for this bottle)
Fun night except for some political strife
Grade disclaimer: I'm a very easy grader, basically A is an excellent wine, B a good wine, C drinkable. Anything below C means I wouldn't drink at a party where it was only choice. Furthermore, I offer no promises of objectivity, accuracy, and certainly not of consistency.
