Bastille Day Burgundies

No doubt the wines of Burgundy (French: Bourgogne) are amazing with their elegance and a focus on terroir that is unmatched in the wine world. Indeed one of my so-called "Ah-Ha" wine moments was with a red Burgundy. But while slowly proceeding through the samples of these wines at the Bastille Day Burg Tasting at Wine Warehouse (WW), I couldn't help thinking how incredibly over-priced they are. I only buy a couple bottles of Burgundies (red or white) a year for special occasions, e.g., my wife's birthday (my wife loves red Burgundies). And although WW has some of them marked down by 50%, I would only consider one of the 12 wines featured at the tasting to be an excellent value (see below).

The French region of Burgundy has more AOCs (read: French certified geographic areas) than any other wine region of France (78 by my count), which makes the region one of the most difficult know, which makes it intimidating. Because there are so many AOCs after years of drinking wines from Burgundy, going to Burgundy tastings, etc., you probably still have only scratched the surface of all that Burgundy has to offer. With that out of the way, below are the best wines of the tasting....

Whites

All whites were 100% Chardonnay and had significant variation in character--some had Riesling-like elements, some had Sauvingnon-Blanc-like elements, etc.

1. 2004 Louis Carillon Puligny-Montrachet (Côte de Beaune, Puligny-Montrachet) [Retail $60, WW $30] Great expression of terroir on the nose, viscous body, balanced. Very good Chard. Rating: 89-90. Good Value
2. 2004 Domaine Francois et Antoine Jobard Mersault "En La Barre" (Côte de Beaune, Mersault) [Retail $60, WW $40] Nose: sweet caramel. Sweet caramel & saline up front & on the finish with dry, austere citrus on the mid-palate. Drink now--don't hold. Rating: 87-8

3. 2005 Gerbeaux Pouilly-Fuisse VV (Mâconnais, Pouilly-Fuisse) [Retail $50, WW $33] This one took some warming up to--most othes at the tasting didn't care for it. It didn't have much of a nose, but on the palate it had Sauvignon Blanc-like acidity & body with some petrol & chalk. Rating: 87.

Reds

All reds were 100% Pinot Noir and like the whites all varied significantly in character.

4. 2005 Phillipe Colin Satenay (Côte de Beaune, Satenay) [Retail $30, WW $22] Nose: pepper, cranberry and spice. On the palate light, elegant and finesse with steely tang with a black tea finish. Attractive wine. Rating: 91. Excellent Value

5. 2005 Vincent Girardin Pommard Premier Cru "Grand Epinots" (Côte de Beaune, Pommard) [Retail $80, WW $60] Nose of earth and red fruit. Medium-full bodied, red & black fruit. Longest finish of the tasting. Could stay in the cellar for a few more years. Rating: 90.

6. 2005 Phillipe Colin Maranges "Fussiere" (Côte de Beaune, Maranges) [Retail $35, WW $25] Brick red color, light bodied, elegant, medium-long finish. Rating: 88-9.