WTN: Bellivière Jasnières saved by Boillot Brouillards

Took a chance on a 2013 Domaine de Bellivière Jasnières Calligramme that someone else had decided to offload to retail. Well they knew more than me, because it was pretty boring. Not bad and not dead, some juicy orchard fruit and some rocky crunch. But overall feels on the downslope, not much complexity, not much interest, at least for my palate.

Should have listened to the odds!

Switched directions completely and opened 2009 Louis Boillot Volnay Les Brouillards and immediately found pleasure. Lovely fragrant aged Burgundy orchard aromas, still some delicate Burg berry fruit in the middle, and a nice silky stage of evolution. More vigor than my previous bottle of 09 Brouillards from earlier this year. But this stuff is hard to predict.

I really enjoyed it, although those with more refined palates might balk at the rustic dusty cocoa tannins that still provide structure and resistance. Whether or not you consider that rustic quality to be a 'flaw', the whole package was a very nice way to spend dinner.

[David M. Bueker]

Good save!

Glad it worked out!
I used to buy a lot of Belliviere, but all Coteaux du Loir.
And I think I've had one Louis Boillot wine in my life (a Pruliers NSG). Are you buying these locally?

And I think I've had one Louis Boillot wine in my life (a Pruliers NSG). Are you buying these locally?

The Boillot Pruliers has some crazy old (100+ years at this point) vines.

I started buying Louis Boillot when I moved to NC in 2013 and fell in with VLM. He was a fan and sold them through his wine shop, and later through his restaurant. They were delicate and elegant Burgundies, but with firm structure (a bit too firm in certain years), and they were well-priced. So they suited my tastes and with limited local options, I really focused on Louis Boillot for red Burgundy while I was down there. (Also supplemented with some bottles bought in France)

Over time, Nathan and I have an ongoing debate about how well they age and whether it is worth continuing to buy. I have stopped buying new releases at the same rate, especially now that I'm in Nyc with so many other options. But the son has taken over and I enjoyed a 2022 Gevrey village. So would consider buying some more 1er crus in the future. But mainly focusing on drinking down my stock when I can catch them in a good window!

And I think I've had one Louis Boillot wine in my life (a Pruliers NSG). Are you buying these locally?

The Boillot Pruliers has some crazy old (100+ years at this point) vines.

I started buying Louis Boillot when I moved to NC in 2013 and fell in with VLM. He was a fan and sold them through his wine shop, and later through his restaurant. They were delicate and elegant Burgundies, but with firm structure (a bit too firm in certain years), and they were well-priced. So they suited my tastes and with limited local options, I really focused on Louis Boillot for red Burgundy while I was down there. (Also supplemented with some bottles bought in France)

Over time, Nathan and I have an ongoing debate about how well they age and whether it is worth continuing to buy. I have stopped buying new releases at the same rate, especially now that I'm in Nyc with so many other options. But the son has taken over and I enjoyed a 2022 Gevrey village. So would consider buying some more 1er crus in the future. But mainly focusing on drinking down my stock when I can catch them in a good window!

Tagging on here, I recently had a truly delightful bottle of 2014 Louis Boillot Cote de Nuits Villages (again, showing the influence of VLM's endorsement). It was all red fruit and poise but with depth and some interesting stuff going on in the nose. I got mine from Posner FWIW. His Gevrey "Evocelles" is also worth looking at.

I don't think I've had the CdNV, but I did have a bunch of Evocelles, which tended to be good for earlier drinking than Volnay Brouillards and Gevrey Champonnet, which were the main wines I bought for aging. Over time, I think I prefer the Champonnet, as the Brouillards becomes maybe a bit too angular, but I do enjoy both.

I think Pruliers and Cherbaudes are his 'top' wines, at least they have the oldest vines. I've only had a few Pruliers but have enjoyed Cherbaudes and has been my favorite bottling overall.