WTN: Lucky 13 Savignys in Cobble Hill

Sasha and I headed to Levant on Smith in Brooklyn Saturday for a Savigny-fest lunch. We joined our organizer Jeff at a nice outdoor table, and the rest of the crew arrived fairly soon.

2008 Delamotte Champagne
Apples and toast, very refreshing, I really am loving 2008s including this one, though this might not be the one to age, but very tasty now. B+/A-

We ordered some appetizers to share- shrimp, zucchini pancakes,tuna tartare, roasted vegetables, plus there was a goat cheese canape that I skipped. Everything was pretty good, though the zucchini pancakes would have been better without tomato sauce.

On to the Savigny, with a lot of Pavelot La Dominode to start

2010 Pavelot Dominode Savigny les Beaune 1er
Light lifted note, floral nose, pretty tight on the palate at first, opens up. Lovely dark fruits, smoky, floral needs time. B/B+ for now, serious potential,

2008 Pavelot Dominode Savigny les Beaune 1er
Structure but with a real sense of elegance, black cherry with a touch of beet, violets and roses. Nice length. B+

2007 Pavelot Dominode Savigny les Beaune 1er
In a lovely place, similar floral nose but more red fruited on the palate, no hurry but really drinking well. B++

2006 Pavelot Dominode Savigny les Beaune 1er
First one I didn’t really like, chunky, clunky,and a little short. Some thought maybe an off bottle, i just think 2006 can be hit or miss, this is mostly a miss. B-/C+

2005 Pavelot Dominode Savigny les Beaune 1er
Lovely profile, but this is tight and tannic and really needs time. B with serious potential.

2004 Pavelot Dominode Savigny les Beaune 1er
Redder fruits, lots of green herb but not the green pine needle lady bug thing. Good but not exciting. B/B-

Mains arrived about here (I had an open faced steak sandwich with mushrooms and caramelized onions, along with french fries)

2005 Chandon de Briailles Lavieres Savigny les Beaune 1er
WOTD so far. Young but more open than the 05 Pavelot, Lovely complex and complete, with red fruits,citrus zest, smoke, flowers. A-

2005 Chandon de Briailles Savigny les Beaune
Actually seemed a bit tighter than the 1er at first, but opens with red fruits and truffles. B/B+

2005 Marechale Lavieres Savigny les Beaune 1er
I liked this more than table but it suffered next to the CdB Lavieres. Crunchy, bright red fruit, but not the depth of the CdBs. B

1998 Pavelot Dominode Savigny les Beaune 1er
(I hope I have this correct, my note just says 1998 but think I remember it’s Pavelot). Sun was hitting the table, and my initial pour was too warm A refill after time in ice bucket was much better, dark fruits with lots of forest floor. B/B+

2002 Bize aux Vergelesse Savigny les Beaune 1er
Lovely black and red cherries, mocha, smoke, lush 2002 style but with plenty of acidic backbone. My note reads “wowza” A-

1999 Ecard Jarrons Savigny les Beaune 1er
Color was a bit concerning with a brown tinge, but I felt the wine was solid. Red cherry, beet, with just a touch of saddle leathery (brett?) notes. Pretty good finish. B/B+

1999 Ecard Narbantons Savigny les Beaune 1er
Young and vigorous, black cherry, mushroom, and cocoa, plenty of structure, long complex minerally finish. A-

Really fun afternoon. Thanks to Jeff for organizing and all for good wine and company;


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.

Nice, I think we are pretty much in complete agreement on the wines. My highlights were the Chandon de Briailles Lavieres, the 02 Bize, and the 99 Ecard Narbantons.

Something about the Marechal seemed glossy and high-toned (volatile?) and lacking depth compared to the 05 Briailles. But as you note, it might have tasted different on its own.

Perhaps our biggest source of disagreement would be the zucchini pancakes, because I thought the tomato sauce was a fine accompaniment!

And overall, while it was a lot of good wine, it reinforced what I had already suspected over the years, which is that Pavelot does not speak to me. Not sure exactly what it is in the winemaking, but it doesn't have the structural energy or the succulent fruit of other Savigny producers I enjoy more. Which is fine. Enough wine for everyone!

1998 Pavelot Dominode Savigny les Beaune 1er
(I hope I have this correct, my note just says 1998 but think I remember it’s Pavelot). Sun was hitting the table, and my initial pour was too warm A refill after time in ice bucket was much better, dark fruits with lots of forest floor. B/B+

You have it correct, here's the photographic proof!

Thanks, Dale and Rahsaan: these are very useful notes, as I have a few of those wines in the cellar.

Thanks Rahsaan, as I say my note only said 1998, but was 99.5% sure Pavelot and 95% sure Dominode.
While I like I can see why they might not fit everyone's groove.